Overview
- The eight-team league opened Friday, March 27 with Birmingham at Louisville on Fox, with Week 1 continuing through Sunday on ESPN and Fox.
- Three franchises moved to new markets in Columbus, Louisville and Orlando, Houston and Dallas rebranded, and leadership pushed games into smaller soccer venues to drive sellouts and local ties.
- High-profile coaching debuts include AJ McCarron in Birmingham, Ted Ginn Jr. in Columbus, Chris Redman in Louisville and Anthony Becht in Orlando, while Shannon Harris returns to lead champion DC.
- The 2026 rulebook adds a 4-point field goal for kicks of 60 yards or more and a revised kickoff alignment designed to change field position and increase returns.
- Games air across ABC, ESPN networks, Fox, FS1 and some on NFL Network, stream on Fubo, and ABC carries the June 7 semifinals and June 13 championship, while outlets still differ on whether standings are unified or split into conferences.