Drake University’s men’s soccer team has announced its schedule for the 2026 season. The Bulldogs will kick off the year with three exhibition matches before diving into a 16-game regular season. This season includes seven games in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
A new change this season is that tickets will be required for home games. Season tickets are available for $50, covering all regular-season home matches. There’s also a ticket package for both men’s and women’s soccer for $80. Good news: exhibition matches will be free to attend.
The first exhibition match is on August 8 against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison. After that, the Bulldogs will host two more exhibition games: one against Northeast Community College on August 11 and the other against Iowa Western Community College on August 15.
The regular season kicks off on August 20, with Central Arkansas visiting Des Moines. This match will be part of a doubleheader, as there will also be a women’s game earlier that evening. The first away game for the Bulldogs is on August 23 against Creighton in Omaha.
The season’s first month will feature several exciting home games, starting with Green Bay on August 26 and Wartburg College on August 29. September continues this home stretch with matches against Milwaukee on September 2 and Kansas City on September 7.
The Bulldogs had a strong performance last year, sharing the MVC regular season title and finishing as the No. 2 seed in the league tournament. This year, their conference journey kicks off with a road match at Oral Roberts on September 12, followed by a trip to Miami on September 19 to play against FIU, last year’s American Conference runner-up.
The Bulldogs’ MVC schedule will include three more matches in October. They’ll welcome Belmont on October 3, head to Bowling Green on October 10, and take on Western Michigan at home on October 17—marking a rematch of the 2025 MVC Tournament semifinals.
The regular season will conclude with a non-conference match against Omaha on October 20, a road game at Bradley on October 24, and finally, a showdown with UIC in Des Moines on October 30.
Soccer has become increasingly popular, with a recent survey indicating a 25% rise in attendance at college soccer games over the past five years. This growth reflects the rising interest in the sport across the nation.
For fans interested in supporting the Bulldogs this season, you can find more information and purchase tickets here or contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647.
