The California men's soccer team unveiled its 2026 fall schedule that features a 14-match slate including seven games against teams that played in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, six home games and seven ACC contests, head coach Leonard Griffin announced Tuesday.
 
Cal's opponents that played in last fall's postseason include quarterfinalist Portland (Aug. 21), UCLA (Sept. 1), North Carolina (Sept. 6), Notre Dame (Oct. 3), Virginia (Oct. 9), College Cup runner-up NC State (Oct. 18) and Stanford (Oct. 30).
 
The Bears will open the regular season on the road against the Pilots and at Santa Clara on Aug. 27 before hosting the Bruins in the home opener at Edwards Stadium.
 
After a three-game homestand, Cal begins conference play at Louisville on Sept. 13, with the Bears hosting Pitt on Sept. 20 in the ACC home opener. Cal defeated the Panthers 1-0 in each of the last two seasons, including in 2024 when the Bears stunned then-No. 1 Pitt 1-0 on the road for the program's first ACC victory.
 
The regular-season home finale features a clash with the Wolfpack on Oct. 18, before the Bears close out the regular season on The Farm at Stanford on Oct. 30. Last year, Cal upset then-No. 1 Stanford 1-0 in Berkeley to end the regular season.
 
Griffin, in his fifth year in charge of the Bears, leads a talented group that includes defender D'Andre Pickett, forward Cesar Cordova and forward Malcolm Zalayet, Cal's second-leading scorer last season.
 
2026 Cal Men's Soccer Schedule
 
Exhibition Season
 
Aug. 10 – at Saint Mary's, 5 pm
Aug. 13 – at UC Davis, 7 pm
 
Regular Season
 
Aug. 21 – at Portland, 7 p.m.
Aug. 27 – at Santa Clara, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1 – UCLA, 5 p.m.
Sept. 6 – North Carolina*, 4 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Cal State Fullerton, 4 p.m.
Sept. 13 – at Louisville*, noon
Sept. 16 – at San Francisco, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 – Pitt*, 3 p.m.
Sept. 25 – at Pacific, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 – at Notre Dame*, 4 p.m.
Oct. 9 – at Virginia*, TBA
Oct. 13 – Saint Mary's, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 – NC State*, 2 p.m.
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Oct. 30 – at Stanford*, 6 pm
 
Nov. 6-19 – ACC Championship
 
All Times Pacific | *ACC games
 
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