Charlotte FC set for historic first home playoff match: ‘Can’t exist without that fan support’

Charlotte has always been a soccer city, and the Queen City’s major-league franchise continues amplifying that.

Set for its first home MLS Cup playoffs match in team history on Friday night, Charlotte FC is the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference after being largely expected to finish in the bottom half before the season. It will host fourth-seeded Orlando City SC inside Bank of America Stadium — at which tickets are still available for as low as $20 — in a must-win Game 2 of Round One.

“The game is on a wild trajectory in North America,” Charlotte FC team president Joe LaBue said. “It’ll hit warp speed in 2026 when the men’s World Cup comes back here. Everything that we’ve done has been a combination of what the club and fans are doing. We need the support. We can’t exist without that fan support.”

It’s been following the vision from Charlotte FC owners David and Nicole Tepper, who sought to find sustained success on the pitch while building a unique brand in a global game.

National revenue is minimal in the league, especially as its matches are streaming through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The MLS continues growing, and local support is particularly important. Especially for this franchise that boasts the second-best attendance in the league in just its third season.

Charlotte FC has thousands of spectators who regularly flock to matches en masse from areas all over North Carolina and South Carolina. It’s already ascended to become one of the MLS’ most recognizable brands early on, and that starts with the city’s soccer fans, who have their first opportunity to pack Bank of America Stadium in the playoffs.

“Our match days are the best representation of the best parts of Charlotte and the Carolinas,” LaBue said. “It is the most eclectic, diverse fan base you’re going to find at any event. I love that, and we feed off that. Whether you were born and raised here, or just moved in here — if Charlotte’s the place you want to put roots down and stay, we’re something that people can immediately gravitate toward.”

Ticket information for Charlotte FC’s home playoff match

Tickets to Friday night’s match are available on Ticketmaster.

Seats in the upper bowl of Bank of America Stadium range between $20 and $30. Most tickets closer to the field are around $100, with some starting as low as $40.

How to watch and stream Charlotte FC in the MLS Cup playoffs

Matchup: No. 4 seed Orlando City SC (15-12-7) at No. 5 seed Charlotte FC (14-11-9)

Date: Friday, Nov. 1

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Streaming: Apple TV — MLS Season Pass

Place: Bank of America Stadium, Uptown Charlotte