Huntsville City FC's Most Interesting Home Matchups in 2025
Huntsville City FC vs. Crown Legacy FC inaugural home match soccer at Wicks Family Field at the newly renovated Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama; Friday May 19, 2023. Credit Bob Gathany | preps@al.com)
MLS Next Pro has officially released its schedule for 2025, and with it, a whole new slate of fixtures at Joe Davis Stadium for Huntsville City FC. After a rocky 2024, the Rocket Men will look to get back on track in their third season in MLS Next Pro, and potentially qualify for the playoffs for the first time.
If you're reading this, you're probably either from the Huntsville area yourself, or perhaps a Nashville fan looking to make the roughly two-hour drive down I-65 to northern Alabama on a weekend the first team isn't playing at GEODIS Park. Whatever your purpose may be, here's some of the more interesting fixtures for you to consider before planning that trip to Huntsville.
Philadelphia Union II, Friday March 28th
Huntsville's home opener for 2025 also happens to come against the reigning Eastern Conference Champions, Philadelphia. (Still known as Bethlehem Steel in the hearts of the people)
It will be the first time Huntsville fans will have seen their team at home in over six months, with the club's last home game coming on September 22nd. It will also be the fans' first competitive opportunity to see new signings such as Alan Carleton and Moisés Véliz, as well as the trio of Nashville SC homegrowns in Isaiah Jones, Chris Applewhite, and Adem Sipic.
Players to watch lists regarding the visiting team will of course include the likes of Cavan Sullivan, the 15-year old homegrown signing who will make a move to Manchester City on his 18th birthday. If Sullivan's career pans out the way many think it can, then you may never find a cheaper ticket to watch him than in Huntsville, Alabama on a Friday night in March.
These two clubs met just once in 2024, with Philadelphia winning 2-0 at home. This will be the visitors' second trip to Joe Davis Stadium, with Huntsville winning the first by a score of 5-2 in 2023.
Chattanooga FC, Saturday May 17th
Nashville SC and Chattanooga FC have a history together, dating back to the days when amateur Nashville FC faced off with Chattanooga in NPSL. In fact, Chattanooga knocked off Nashville FC in the Southeast Conference Semifinals in both 2014 and 2015 by a combined scoreline of 11-2.
However, Huntsville as a city also has a history with Chattanooga. From 2009-14, Rocket City United also competed in the same NPSL conference as Chattanooga (and Nashville FC for one year).
Between these two clubs, there have only ever been three meetings. The 2024 MLS Next Pro season for both opened with a meeting at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga that finished 2-2, with Chattanooga picking up the extra point after a penalty shootout victory. Their second encounter, this time in the Rocket City, came just a month later, with Chattanooga emerging 1-0 victors. However, the Rocket Men would get their revenge in August, defeating Chattanooga 1-0 at Joe Davis Stadium.
Columbus Crew II, Friday July 18th
The other 2024 MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference finalist comes to town in mid-July. This will be a revenge game of sorts for Jordan Knight, who will face the club he won 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup with after being signed by Huntsville on June 22nd of last year.
Columbus has been well regarded as a club that develops talent in recent years, and that trend is likely to continue in 2025. These clubs have met four times previously, with Columbus most recently leaving Huntsville with a 4-3 win in 2024. Huntsville has also never defeated Columbus, losing three times in the 90 minutes and a fourth by way of penalty shootout.