MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 2026 men's soccer season gets underway Thursday in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, with all 12 Southern States Athletic Conference teams opening up their campaigns over the next 72 hours.

Life and William Carey were each ranked in the NAIA Preseason Poll, coming in at No. 11 and 20, respectively. Faulkner and Xavier were each receiving votes as well.
 
Eight teams will qualify for the 2026 SSAC Men's Soccer Championship. The tournament will begin October 30-31 with quarterfinal matchups at higher-seeded teams' home sites before the semifinals and finals will commence on November 5 and 7 at the Emory Folmar YMCA Complex in Montgomery.
 
Throughout the regular season and during the postseason, fans can stream matches for FREE at Urban Edge Network. 
 
2026 Season Openers
Thursday, August 20
Brewton-Parker at Webber International
Dalton State at #19 Indiana Wesleyan
#11 Life at Spartanburg Methodist
#20 William Carey vs. Texas Wesleyan
(RV) Xavier vs. St. Thomas (Fla.)

Saturday, August 22
Andrew at Pensacola Christian
Blue Mountain Christian at LSU Alexandria
(RV) Faulkner vs. New College of Florida
Mobile vs. #12 LSU Shreveport
Point at Truett McConnell
Thomas at #15 Keiser
Tennessee Southern vs. Tennessee Wesleyan