As the largest season in USL League One history looms, the Richmond Kickers are gearing up for a milestone-filled 2025 campaign. The league’s recently released schedule confirms the seventh season kicks off Saturday, March 8, with the Kickers traveling to face South Georgia Tormenta. The regular season will culminate Saturday, Oct. 25, with the final leg of the Henny Derby against Forward Madison at City Stadium. 

The 2025 season will feature the largest field in USL League One history, with 14 clubs competing in 210 regular season matches. Each team will play 30 games, including home-and-home series against all 13 opponents and four additional matches as part of a single-table format. 

The Kickers’ home opener is scheduled for March 22 against League One newcomer Antelope Valley. Richmond will also welcome four other expansion teams to City Stadium this season. Westchester SC visits on April 19, Texoma FC on June 7, FC Naples on Aug. 2, and Portland Hearts of Pine on Sept. 17. 

Adding a new dimension to the schedule, the expanded USL Jägermeister Cup will feature all 38 professional men’s clubs in a World Cup-style tournament. Group play begins April 25 and concludes July 26, with designated Jägermeister Cup weekends each month. The Kickers open their group play April 26 at Louisville City, host matches against NCFC on May 31 and Lexington SC on June 28, and finish the group stage on the road at Charlotte Independence on July 26. The Jägermeister Cup Final is slated for Saturday, Oct. 11. 

One of the season’s early highlights comes March 15, when Richmond renews its decade-long rivalry with the Charlotte Independence. The two oldest clubs in the league will clash for the 23rd time at American Legion Memorial Stadium, with longtime coaches Darren Sawatzky (Richmond) and Mike Jeffries (Charlotte) on the sidelines. 

The highly anticipated Henny Derby begins March 29, as the Kickers host Forward Madison in front of what is expected to be a boisterous City Stadium crowd. The rivalry continues with a road match in Madison on Sept. 13 before culminating in the regular season finale Oct. 25 in Richmond. 

The top eight teams in the regular season standings will advance to the 2025 USL League One Playoffs, set to begin the weekend of Nov. 1. The single-elimination tournament will conclude with the League One Final, scheduled between Nov. 14 and Nov. 16.