With two matches left in the season, Ballard FC have clinched their fourth playoff berth and third Northwest Division title in a row. The Bridges sit on 30 points from 12 matches and are undefeated on the season at 9-0-3. Their astonishing +31 goal differential is second in all of USL2 only to powerhouse Vermont Green of the Northeast Division.
The club has announced that they will host the USL2 Western Conference quarter- and semifinal matches at Interbay Stadium on July 18 and 20. Interbay has become a fortress for Ballard and is a great viewing experience. Every match this season has been a sellout of more than 1,500 fans.
The first quarterfinal between two yet-to-be-announced sides will kick off at 2 PM on the 18th. Ballard will play their quarterfinal match at 7:30. The league will announce the visiting teams on July 14. The club is offering single game or full weekend ticket options on the team website. Field-level reserved seats are $80 for all three matches. Single-match tickets can be had for as little as $17. Sounder at Heart has covered the pathway to pro soccer that Ballard FC has created, and fans who come out to see them play are watching several future professionals at the start of their careers.
Ballard has been a force since they entered the league in 2022, but this year’s roster is especially deep and experienced. The roster of mostly local players is poised for another playoff run, and have their eyes on a second National Championship, having secured their first title in 2023.
“This looks and feels like a championship team on and off the field and we’re excited to put that to test with this year’s playoff run,” club president Sam Zisette said.
“Our goal was to recruit 30 players that we legitimately felt could all start games on a USL2 championship team and we feel we did that. We also play a lot of games in a short period of time, 14 games in 10 weeks. It’s important we return our players back to their college programs feeling fresh so that necessitates rotation throughout the season and our goal is to never let the level drop as we rotate personnel.”
The 2025 campaign started with a second consecutive U.S. Open Cup thriller against Spokane Velocity, and the regular season has been full of very competitive and physical matchups against emerging sides like Snohomish United and Lane United from Eugene, Oregon. Newcomers Bigfoot FC from Maple Valley have surprised with a mid-table finish, while West Seattle Junction and Tacoma Stars have slid to the bottom of the pack.
Tickets and other information can be found at https://www.goballardfc.com/playoffs/
