New York Cosmos host Portland Hearts of Pine in season opener

The two USL League One teams face off in a highly anticipated matchup on March 14th.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The New York Cosmos will host the Portland Hearts of Pine in the opening match of the 2026 USL League One season on March 14th at 6:00 PM. This matchup between the two teams is highly anticipated as both squads look to get off to a strong start in the new campaign.

Why it matters

The Cosmos and Hearts of Pine are two of the top teams in USL League One, with the Cosmos looking to build on their success from last season and the Hearts of Pine aiming to unseat them as the league champions. This early-season clash could set the tone for the rest of the year and provide an early indication of which team has the upper hand.

The details

The Cosmos are coming off a strong 2025 season in which they finished second in the league table and made it to the USL League One championship match. Meanwhile, the Hearts of Pine had an equally impressive campaign, winning the regular season title before falling short in the playoffs. Both teams have retained their core rosters and will be looking to get off to a fast start in 2026.

  • The match will take place on March 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

The players

New York Cosmos

A professional soccer team that plays in USL League One, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid.

Portland Hearts of Pine

A professional soccer team that plays in USL League One, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid.

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What’s next

The two teams will meet again later in the season on June 5th in Portland.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Cosmos and Hearts of Pine promises to be an exciting and competitive affair as both teams look to establish themselves as the team to beat in USL League One.