CHARLOTTE, NC (November 13, 2026) – The Charlotte Independence are set to host the first final in the Queen City since 1981 on Saturday against Athletic Club Boise. Here is your USL League One Final match preview.
MATCH DETAILS
- When: Saturday, November 14
- Time: 7:30 PM
- Who: Athletic Club Boise
- Where: Mecklenburg Country Sportsplex at Matthews
- Watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network, WCCB Charlotte
HOW CHARLOTTE GOT HERE
After clinching the club’s first Players’ Shield, Charlotte defeated FC Naples in the quarterfinals and Forward Madison in the semifinals to advance to the club’s second-ever final. Sunday’s semifinal started with three goals in the first half and that closed the scoring. Player of the Year Jon Bakero started the scoring and after Madison equalized, center back Sega Coulibaly netted his first Independence goal that would serve as the game-winner just before the break.
HOW BOISE GOT HERE
After earning the third seed in the regular season, the first-year club took down One Knoxville in the quarterfinals and Chattanooga Red Wolves in last week’s semifinal to earn their way into a chance at a trophy. The semifinal had no shortage of fireworks, as Jesus Barea scored in the 114th minute to lift Boise to a 1-0 win in front of 8,000 fans at Athletic Club Boise Stadium.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two clubs met twice in 2026, and the Independence took four of a possible six points. Charlotte defeated Boise 1-0 on May 6 at American Legion Memorial Stadium behind a Luis Alvarez 81st-minute finish. In September, the Jacks visited Idaho for the first time, where after going down a man ten minutes into the match, Reudd Manin equalized in the second half to snag a big point for the Independence.
INDEPENDENCE AWARDS ROUNDUP
Jon Bakero – Player of the Year
Bakero was named the 2026 USL1 Player of the Year after a record-breaking campaign that saw him win the Golden Playmaker with a single-season league record 18 assists. Those 18 assists also catapulted the Spaniard to the top of the USL1 All-time leaderboard for assists. Bakero also added eight goals on the year, which ties him for the single-season record of goal contributions with 26.
Matt Levy – Goalkeeper of the Year
Matt Levy won the USL1 Goalkeeper of the Year award after backstopping the Jacks to the Players’ Shield. Levy’s 101 saves on the season ranks as the fifth best all-time mark in a single season in league history. He also posted seven clean sheets on the season in 30 starts in the regular season and made four saves on penalty kicks.
Mike Jeffries – Coach of the Year
Mike Jeffries earned the 2026 USL1 Coach of the Year award after leading the Jacks on a historic regular season campaign that saw the Independence lift the first Players’ Shield include history. Charlotte set USL1 records in wins with 20, points with 66, and shattered the previous goals scored record by 13. The Jacks also posted the best home record in league history at 14-1-1 and scored the most home goals ever with 45 in 16 matches at home. Even sweeter, the night the club lifted the Players’ Shield, Jeffries became the all-time winningest coach in USL1 history with 65 wins.
SCOUTING AC BOISE
AC Boise enters the final having finished 3rd in the regular season table with at 17-8-7 record and 58 points. Boise boasts a powerful attack, finishing fifth in the league with 54 goals. The first year club finished middle of the pack in goals conceded, but finished tied for the league lead in clean sheets with 11. Boise eliminated Chattanooga Red Wolves 1-0 in the semifinals, after Barea scored the winner in the 114th minute.
Boise has rode a balanced scoring attack to success all season long, with five players posting six goals or more. Former Jack Tumi Moshobone paced the attack with nine goals, while Barea and Denys Kostyshyn each chipped in with eight. Goalkeeper Jonathan Kliewer posted eight shutouts in the regular season, and has posted two more blanks in the playoffs through the first two rounds. Defender Jake Crull and Midfielder Philip Mayaka both were named to the USL League One All-League Second Team for their pivotal performances for Boise throughout the season. Boise posted a 7-5-4 record on the road and posted four clean sheets in their trips away from Boise.
