KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — One Knox SC has locked up a USL League One playoff berth and is now fighting to keep a home game in the first round, with a 3 p.m. Oct. 11 matchup against Spokane Velocity FC at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville.
The defending League One champions sit in fourth place, the last spot that guarantees a home opener in the postseason. Coach Ian Fuller said after a 3-0 win over Chattanooga on Oct. 7 that clinching the playoffs is one thing, and that the next question is what the club wants to do with that position.
One Knox hold on fourth is not secure. Forward Madison, Spokane, AC Boise and Chattanooga are all within striking distance. Spokane enters Sunday with five regular-season games left, while One Knox has only two matches remaining, giving the Velocity more chances to collect points.
A win Sunday would move Knoxville to 54 points while leaving Spokane at 47 if the visitors do not gain ground, creating a seven-point gap. Midfielder Nico Rosamilia said the team needs three points at home to push its playoff seeding. Knoxville is 7-3-5 at Covenant Health Park this season after going undefeated at home during last year championship run.
One Knox beat Spokane 4-0 on the road earlier this season, a match Fuller called one of their most complete performances, and also defeated Spokane in the 2025 League One title match. The club scored three goals and kept a clean sheet against Chattanooga after managing just three wins in 12 matches since August.
Mayor of Knoxville Indya Kincannon administration has highlighted Covenant Health Park downtown events as part of the city sports tourism mix. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs office and local business groups often track weekend soccer crowds that fill restaurants near the ballpark district.
Hosting matters in League One: a road team has never won the title match since the league inaugural season in 2019. Fans were urged to turn out Sunday as One Knox tries to protect fourth place and keep postseason soccer in Knoxville.
