NM United understands the value of playing at home entering playoffs

Count Jake LaCava among the New Mexico United players who figures to have less of a strenuous weekend. And it has little to do with what could happen on the pitch in the club’s Western Conference quarterfinal playoff match against rival Phoenix Rising FC at 4 p.m. Sunday. It’s more so about what New Mexico will — or won’t, rather — be doing beforehand to get there. No traveling to the airport. No getting on a plane. Just a short drive to Isotopes Park. “I’m personally afraid of flying,” the defender said Thursday. “... I sit there and grip on for dear life, and pray for a landing. … So it takes a lot of stress off me.” Such is the benefit of being the No. 1 seed in the West and the home-field advantage that comes with it, something United secured with last Saturday’s 1-0 win at El Paso Locomotive FC in the regular-season finale on midfielder Valentin Noël’s fourth-minute stoppage-time goal. As long as New Mexico remains in the playoff picture, it will play at home through the Western Conference final. Hosting a potential USL Championship title match — should the club get that far — will depend on how the Eastern side of the bracket plays out. The bracket is set for the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/nbWNdsrlCc — USL Championship (@USLChampionship) October 25, 2026 “That was the objective (before the season),” Noël said. “That’s the best advantage that we can have. To be able to have the maximum amount of home playoff games is what we are looking for. That was the objective in the first place, so to have at least three depending on how the Eastern Conference does, we’re happy to bring the playoffs to Isotopes Park.” The most playoff matches United has hosted are two — in 2024 when it was also the No. 1 seed, but lost in the conference semifinals and last season when it reached the conference final, which it played on the road and resulted in a 3-0 loss at FC Tulsa. Overall, New Mexico is 3-1 in postseason play in Albuquerque, including a 2-1 victory over Phoenix two years ago. But the minor league ballpark has been among the club’s happy places this season. Not so much for opponents. Of the 45 possible points from 15 regular-season home matches, United earned 30, going 9-3-3, a record that improves to 12-4-4 if you include the U.S. Open Cup, USL Cup and its international friendly against Atlante FC. It made it just one of five Championship clubs to hit that points mark and one of two to do so in the Western Conference. Sacramento Republic FC, the second seed in the West, led the conference with 31. New Mexico finished the season with 51 points total. The other three teams are in the East — Charleston Battery (35 points at home, second seed in the conference), Detroit City FC (34, third) and Tampa Bay Rowdies (32, first). “Looking back at last season, it’s always in the back of our minds, if we would have played Tulsa at home vs. away (in the Western Conference final), that would probably have been a very different game, just with how both teams approached it,” said manager Dennis Sanchez, whose team will play Phoenix for the fourth time this season. “We felt the advantage in the first couple of games playing San Antonio (a 2-0 win) and Orange County (a 2-1 victory) last year. “And having our supporters and playing at home is a clear advantage for us that we have to try to utilize.” An upside in more ways than one. “Not having to travel is great,” forward Greg Hurst said. “Not having to go to the airport and fly somewhere always helps. But having your home routine, which everyone likes or has their own thing, being able to settle into that in the morning, get up when you want and go through your own routine and feel comfortable at home knowing you’re going to play in front of 12,000 to 13,000 New Mexican fans that love the club, we definitely feel that. “… I guess you could say the pressure’s on us because we’re at home, but it’s a pressure we want. Can’t ask for much more.” David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach. More New Mexico United reading * Noël appreciating the moment after 'grind' of a season NM United midfielder missed two months with injuries over course of the year * 'What more could you want?' 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