Week 7 Preview: what you need to know

First and foremost, stadium capacity is being increased at BBVA Field starting this week, so let’s find all those people who showed up at Legion Field and bring them back. Or if not them, how about some more potential new fans? Spread the word, people.

That aside, there are a total of 19 games in the USL Championship between now and Sunday. That’s a pretty full slate, and for the first time this season every team in the league has at least one game this week. Seven teams have a double-game week, and two of those are in the Central Division. Those two teams are Indy Eleven, and, more importantly, FC Tulsa.

Yes, before heading to the Magic City, Tulsa have a Wednesday night game at Sporting Kansas City II, kicking off at 7pm. So we have an opportunity to see this weekend’s opponent in action ahead of the game. Indy Eleven also play tonight at 6pm against OKC Energy before hosting Memphis 901 on Saturday. All of that means the Legion could drop from 1st to 3rd place by the time they take the field Sunday. Also on Sunday, Atlanta United 2 get Louisville City for the second time, this time at home (6:30pm). They lost 2-0 in Louisville in the first week of the season and have a tough hill to climb this time around, as the team’s head coach Tony Annan left the club Tuesday to take the reins at the University of South Carolina. On the other hand, the MLS team is off for the international break, so who knows who they might bring down for a little revenge.

The international break will affect the Legion game too. Jaden Servania will be with the Puerto Rico national squad as they face off against the Bahamas at 6:30pm this evening and against Guyana at 3:00pm Tuesday. Both games are World Cup qualifiers but are not being televised in the US. Jamaica had to cancel a friendly against Japan this week due to COVID restrictions in Japan, but that unfortunately does not mean Junior Flemmings gets to come home – Jamaica still has a game in Serbia on Monday. Tulsa will also be short a couple of players: they lose the club’s all-time leading scorer Joaquin Rivas to El Salvador and Jorge Corrales to Cuba. Overall, that’s probably advantage Legion, especially as the Tulsans have a midweek road game.

Other possible games to watch this week:

Sacramento Republic v. Oakland Roots – 7:00pm tonight. If you haven’t had a chance to see the USL rookies in action yet, you may want to stay up a tad late.

Austin Bold v. El Paso Locomotive – 8:00pm Thursday. Two strong teams out west should make for entertaining viewing.

Charlotte Independence v. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 6:00pm Saturday. The Independence have struggled a bit so far this season, but have a chance to take down the as yet perfect Rowdies.