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FC Tulsa 2020 New Regular Season Format and Competition Structure Announced

June 24, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


TULSA - When the 2020 USL Championship season restarts on July 11, the format and playoff structure will look quite a bit different than when the season paused back on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FC Tulsa will now play in a small regional group in a 16-match regular season. Following the regular season, a single elimination playoff tournament will begin to crown a 2020 league champion.

Regular Season Structure

To limit cross country travel and keeping safety front of mind, the USL Championship will divide into eight regional groups for a 16-match regular season. Five of the eight groups will include four teams while three groups will consist of five teams to include all 35 Championship clubs. Which group FC Tulsa is in and the other teams in its group remains to be announced.

The rest of the 2020 regular season matches will occur over a 13-week season, beginning on July 11 and running through the weekend of October 2-4. All matches played prior to the suspension of the 2020 will count towards the 2020 season, meaning FC Tulsa's 1-1 road draw at Sacramento Republic FC will go down as its first of 16 matches this season. With 15 matches remaining, FC Tulsa already has a crucial road point already in the standings.

2020 Schedule Format

FC Tulsa's remaining 15 matches will consist of 12 matches against teams inside its group and three non-group matches. If FC Tulsa is placed in a four-team group, it will play the other three clubs four times a piece. If it is placed in a five-team group, it will play each group opponent three times a piece to reach the 12 group matches.

All teams will have eight home and eight road matches initially scheduled, but that could change and become unbalanced for some clubs based on local health and safety guidelines and venue availability. With FC Tulsa already having played a road match, it's anticipated that the club will have at least eight home matches out of its 15 remaining contests.

2020 Playoff Structure

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top two teams in points from each of the eight groups will qualify for a 16-team regionalized single elimination USL Championship Playoffs tournament. Group winners will be paired with group runners-up in the Round of 16, with home field advantage being determined by record for the remainder of the Playoffs.

Still to be announced are FC Tulsa's group opponents and its 2020 USL Championship regular season schedule. FC Tulsa's Season Tickets For Life at ONEOK Field remains on sale and offers fans the lowest per match ticket prices in the USL Championship. Fans that purchase now will see their per match price locked in for as many seasons as FC Tulsa plays at its home of ONEOK Field.


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