EVANSTON, Ill. (July 21, 2026) – Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Russell Payne, the Northwestern University men’s soccer program unveiled its schedule for the 2026 season on Tuesday. The Wildcats’ 16-game regular season slate will see Payne’s team match up against six NCAA Tournament participants from last season.
Pursuit of Excellence 😤
— Northwestern Men's Soccer (@NUMensSoccer) July 21, 2026
The 2026 schedule is set! pic.twitter.com/jzvbMidiUY
After hosting Bradley (Aug. 8) and Akron (Aug. 14) in exhibition tilts, Northwestern raises the curtain on 2026 on August 20 when it entertains New Haven in its regular season opener. The ‘Cats hit the road for two of their next three games, a stretch that begins with an August 23 visit to perennial Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) power Notre Dame. Following a clash at Evansville (Aug. 28), Northwestern returns home to close out the month of August against Xavier (Aug. 31).
September opens with a trip north up Interstate 94 to Milwaukee, Wis. for a meeting with Marquette (Sept. 5). Big Ten Conference play kicks off just six days later, as Maryland makes its way to the shores of Lake Michigan on September 11. Northwestern heads back out on the road after taking on the Terrapins, squaring off against Michigan State (Sept. 15) ahead of closing non-conference action on September 19 against local rival UIC on Chicago’s West Side.
A September 25 home date with Michigan precedes a two-game road swing that will span the east and west coasts, as the ‘Cats travel to Rutgers (Oct. 2) before a showdown with reigning NCAA National Champion Washington (Oct. 10).
Northwestern’s postseason push heats up with back-to-back home contests against Penn State (Oct. 16) and UCLA (Oct. 19) at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The Wildcats wrap up their road slate across the following two weeks, facing off with Indiana (Oct. 23) and Ohio State (Oct. 30). For the third time in as many years, Northwestern will close the regular season at home, welcoming Wisconsin to Evanston on November 4.
A full listing of Northwestern’s 2026 schedule follows.
2026 Northwestern Men’s Soccer Schedule
Aug. 8 – Bradley ^
Aug. 14 – Akron ^
Aug. 20 – New Haven
Aug. 23 – at Notre Dame
Aug. 28 – at Evansville
Aug. 31 – Xavier
Sept. 5 – at Marquette
Sept. 11 – Maryland *
Sept. 15 – at Michigan State *
Sept. 19 – at UIC
Sept. 25 – Michigan *
Oct. 2 – at Rutgers *
Oct. 10 – at Washington *
Oct. 16 – Penn State *
Oct. 19 – UCLA *
Oct. 23 – at Indiana *
Oct. 30 – at Ohio State *
Nov. 4 – Wisconsin *
^ Exhibition
* Big Ten Conference game