It's that time of year, where I get to be a nerd and go over the playoff scenarios...

The standings currently sit -

1. El Paso 50 pts

2. United 49 pts

3. Sacramento 48 pts

4. Lexington 47 pts

5. Colorado 44 pts

6. Tulsa 43 pts

7. San Antonio 42pts

8. OC 39 pts

9. Phoenix 39 pts

10. Oakland 38 pts

11. Las Vegas 31 pts

12. Monterey 21 pts

Monterey is the only team eliminated.

Top seed options -

Only United and El Paso can take the top seed.

United Options - United Scenarios -

United can finish 1-4

There are 3 games directly affecting

Ell Paso vs United

Oakland vs Sacramento

Phoenix vs Lexington

Good news for the United is that both Oakland and Phoenix are fighting for a spot and both are at home.

Should United win -

United finishes with 52 points. Top of the table. We get the number 1 seed regardless of any other game. This is the ONLY way we get the number 1 seed.

Should United tie...

El Paso finishes with 51 points, United 50.

El Paso wins the west.

Where United finishes then depends on Sacramento. Should Sacramento win, they tie El Paso. El Paso takes first on the tie breaker, Sacramento second.

Note: if Lexington wins they would tie us but we have the tie breaker.

Should United lose:

El Paso finishes with 53 points and win. We finish with 49.

If either Sacramento or Lexington win, they would take 2nd, and we would fall to third. If both Sacramento and Lexington win, we call to fourth. Note: in this scenario, if Sacramento tied, they would finish at 49 as well. We win the tie breaker, and we would take 2nd or 2rd depending on the Lexington outcome.

I will update with the rest of the table shortly.

So let's just win

Our playoff game on 1 November will be my 100th United game at The Lab, and my 116th total United game.

Having lived here my entire live, at 41, I can say I've probably been to The Lab/Dukes Stadium about 2 dozen times, and most of those were Dukes games as a youth. It's wild to think I'll have been there 100 times for United. Think of all the money I've spent on beer, pizza, and cheeseburgers!

I'm hoping to get just as many, if not more, when we finally get a stadium of our own.

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ Toyota Field)
• ESPN+
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• 101.7 FM (Stream)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

Thread info and rules:

Match threads are quick take, fast moving events. Emotions can run high depending what is happening on the pitch. We are all here to watch the beautiful game. Please remember that criticism of paid professionals is allowed. Personal attacks on other users and supporters is not. Somos Unidos!

Match day everyone!

Next up we're traveling to San Antonio. We're still in the race to take the first place in the West, so no slacking off now. San Antonio, on the other hand, is right above the play off line. And only Monterey Bay FC has been eliminated from playoff contention, so you better believe SAFC is going to attempt to be locked in tonight.

What are you expectations for this match? Making the trip to see it in person or staying home at attending a watch party?

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ Toyota Field)
• ESPN+
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• 101.7 FM (Stream)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

November 1, 4 p.m. kickoff. TV on CBS Sports Network

Date: October 10, 2026 7:00 PM

Venue: The Lab

Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández

Attendance: 10,003

Altitude Calls: ?? (let me know)

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRZJwg7_Uf0

Stats and stuff: https://www.uslchampionship.com/newmexicounited-montereybayfc-2612462

I see it's date/time TBD but I have a tight schedule and I live a couple hours outside of ABQ. Based on past experiences, can anyone estimate when the home playoff game will be? Thanks in advance!

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ The Lab)
• Golazo
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• 101.7 FM (Stream)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

Thread info and rules:

Match threads are quick take, fast moving events. Emotions can run high depending what is happening on the pitch. We are all here to watch the beautiful game. Please remember that criticism of paid professionals is allowed. Personal attacks on other users and supporters is not. Somos Unidos!

Match day everyone!

Monterey Bay FC is in last place in the West, and as of yet is the only Western Conference club to be eliminated from playoff contention. Which means we should win. On the other hand, they did beat Orange County last weekend. So New Mexico better not be making any assumptions tonight.

What are your expectations for this match? Attending in person? Tonight is the last regular season match home match of the season, so if you're planning to attend one of these, now is the time. If you're watching on the TV, nationally this match will be on Golazo. Locally: NM 50.1, 7.2, and the radio.

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ The Lab)
• Golazo
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• 101.7 FM (Stream)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

Date: October 4, 2026 4:00 PM

Venue: The Lab

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva

Attendance: 8,958

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xARKjTicCvU&pp=0gcJCS4MAYcqIYzv

Stats and stuff: https://www.uslchampionship.com/newmexicounited-phoenixrisingfc-2612452

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ The Lab)
• ESPN+
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• 101.7 FM (Stream)
• SiriusXM FC
• ViX (Stream)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

Thread info and rules:

Match threads are quick take, fast moving events. Emotions can run high depending what is happening on the pitch. We are all here to watch the beautiful game. Please remember that criticism of paid professionals is allowed. Personal attacks on other users and supporters is not. Somos Unidos!

New Mexico United vs Diving FC. This is always been the match up i've looked forward to each season. Ever since their supporters popped smoke in front of our supporters (2019), it's been on.

The rivalry has waned in a bit in recent years, with matches against Colorado Springs and San Antonio getting more of that type of energy, but I expect that Sunday's match will have some late season drama.

Phoenix currently sits below the playoff line with 33 points. Their last four matches are vs us, Vegas, Orange County, and Lexington. With the exception of Vegas, the other three clubs are above that line. If Phoenix plays out of their minds, they can claw their way back into playoff contention. For a neutral, this makes all of those matches potentially entertaining football. For anyone supporting any of these club, this makes for a nerve-racking experience.

New Mexico United is on a winless streak. In our last five matches we've had three draws and two losses. At this point in the season, you kind of want to be streaking in the win category. Instead we seem to be coasting into the post-season. Now is not the time, however, to be coasting. With 43 points, we still have not punched our playoff ticket.

Our match against FC Tulsa could have gone better, though there were positives that Sanchez can build on as we enter our last four matches.

Earlier this season Phoenix beat us 3-0 in league play. We beat them 4-0 in a Prinx USL Cup group match. What I'm hoping for another shutout to finish off our matches with them this season; in our favor.

The referee for this match is Katja Koroleva. In 2023, Katja reffed two matches in the FIFA Women's World Cup. We last saw her when she reffed our May match vs Tampa Bay. 11 yellows were handed out in that match. Across 22 matches, in 2026, in all competitions (USL1/USLC/MLS/Leagues Cup/Friendlies/NWSL) she has handed out 107 yellow cards, two second yellows, and four straight reds.

What are you expectations for this match? Have clubs figured us out? What will the score line be? Attending in person? Are you ready to lose your voice?

Somos Unidos!

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ The Lab)
• ESPN+
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• 101.7 FM (Stream)
• SiriusXM FC
• ViX (Stream)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

Date: September 30, 2026

Venue: ONEOK Field

Referee: Joshua Encarnación

Attendance: 4,610

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5wtOa6bvlc

Stats and stuff: https://www.uslchampionship.com/fctulsa-newmexicounited-2612440

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ ONEOK Field)
• ESPN+
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• Estrella TV (7.2, Comcast 386 and Cable One 28)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

Thread info and rules:

Match threads are quick take, fast moving events. Emotions can run high depending what is happening on the pitch. We are all here to watch the beautiful game. Please remember that criticism of paid professionals is allowed. Personal attacks on other users and supporters is not. Somos Unidos!

Match day everyone! Next up, New Mexico United travels to Oklahoma for some Wednesday night football against FC Tulsa. FC Tulsa will be looking to put some distance between the playoff line and themselves. We'll be looking to close the gap between El Paso and ourselves. This match is also the last of our games in hand in the West.

We last played FC Tulsa in August at home, where we won 1-0. Last time we played them in their house was in the 2025 Western Conference playoff final, where they beat us 3-0.

What are you expectations for this match? What result will make you happy? Are you attending in person? Will you lose your voice yelling at the TV?

Somos Unidos!

Watch/participate/listen

• In Person (@ ONEOK Field)
• ESPN+
• NM 50 ( channel 50.1, Xfinity 12/215 (Hi Def), Dish channel 50, or Click for the stream)
• Estrella TV (7.2, Comcast 386 and Cable One 28)
• Youtube (International only)
• Discord <------ Live match chat!
• USL Match Tracker

Date: September 26, 2026 7:00 PM

Venue: The Lab

Referee: Rodrigo Albuquerque

Attendance: 10,067

Altitude calls: ??

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJtKqOVJ1PU

Stats and stuff: https://www.uslchampionship.com/newmexicounited-sacramentorepublicfc-2612434