LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Wildcats men's soccer team and head coach Johan Cedergren announced the full 2026 fall schedule on June 17, featuring 18 matches including two preseason exhibitions and eight regular-season home games at the Bell Soccer Complex, according to UK Athletics.

The Wildcats will open their preseason slate with Northern Kentucky on Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m., followed by an exhibition match against UAB on Aug. 14 at the same time. The regular season begins Aug. 20 against Western Michigan, the same opponent that faced Kentucky to open the 2025 campaign.

The season's marquee matchup comes in the second game when the Wildcats host arch-rival Louisville for The Battle of the Bluegrass on Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The rivalry, played annually between the state's two major universities, saw last season's contest end in a 2-2 draw, marking the first draw between the programs since 2017.

After a road trip to Virginia Tech on Aug. 28, Kentucky will face non-conference opponents Evansville and Ohio State before entering Sun Belt Conference play on Sept. 18 against Marshall at home. The Wildcats posted a 22-14-6 all-time record against Marshall and seek to avenge last season's road loss in Huntington.

The conference schedule includes road games against Lipscomb, UCF, Indiana, South Carolina and West Virginia, with home matches against Old Dominion, Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern. The regular season concludes with a Nov. 3 road trip to Georgia State, a team Kentucky defeated 1-0 last season to clinch the Sun Belt Regular Season title.

The Sun Belt Conference Tournament begins Nov. 8, with quarterfinals on Nov. 11 and the final on Nov. 15. Under Cedergren, now in his 15th season at the helm, the Wildcats concluded the 2025 season with a 10-3-5 record and captured their first 10-win season since 2022 before falling to Saint Louis in the NCAA Tournament.