New Mexico United knows several things about its end of the regular-season schedule.
United will be in the playoffs. It secured its spot after its 2-1 win over Phoenix Rising FC on Oct. 4.
The club will host at least one postseason match. It accomplished that Saturday following its 3-1 victory against Monterey Bay FC.
New Mexico also knows the time and date of its first-round game — 4 p.m. Nov. 1. That was announced Tuesday. The match will be televised on CBS Sports. The USL Championship’s other playoff games are set to take place either Oct. 30 or Oct. 31.
The thing United doesn’t know yet? The club it will play.
New Mexico (14-7-7) is currently second in the 12-club Western Conference table with 49 points ahead of Saturday’s matchup at San Antonio FC (9-7-12). El Paso Locomotive FC is first with 50. The two meet in the regular-season finale on Oct. 24.
Orange County SC — a team United beat 1-0 on April 4 and drew 1-1 on June 13 — could serve as a potential playoff opponent for New Mexico. Orange County sits seventh in the standings with 39 points. But the club has yet to secure its own postseason berth.
And there are three still up for grabs in the West after El Paso, United, Sacramento Republic FC, Lexington SC and FC Tulsa locked up the other five. The order, however, still needs to be determined over the final three matches of the regular season.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is currently sixth with 41 points, followed by Orange County and San Antonio (39). But Phoenix and Las Vegas Lights FC, ninth and 10th, respectively, are only three points back of the playoff line. Oakland Roots SC is four. Monterey Bay has already been eliminated from postseason contention.
The 13-club Eastern Conference, meanwhile, is less chaotic.
Tampa Bay Rowdies (55 points), Detroit City FC (50), Charleston Battery (46), Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (41) and Louisville City FC (40) have each clinched a playoff spot. Pittsburgh won the Championship title last season.
Harford Athletic (39), Rhode Island FC (38), Miami FC (36) and Indy Eleven (34) are fighting for the other three.
Loudoun United FC, Birmingham Legion FC, Brooklyn FC and Sporting Jax have all been eliminated.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.
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