The UFL Announces a New Football Team for Louisville

The United Football League (UFL) has announced three new franchises set to debut in the spring of 2026, which include a new football team in Louisville, Kentucky.

This UFL was formed in late 2023 through the merger of the second incarnations of the XFL and USFL. This league serves as a spring football league, providing a developmental platform for players and coaches to gain NFL experience, and offers fans competitive games during the NFL's offseason. The United Football League, also known as the UFL, is owned by Fox Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Seven Bucks Companies.

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The UFL had eight teams during the 2025 season and was separated into two divisions, the USFL and XFL divisions. The 2026 season will still have eight teams, but it will look a little different.

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UFL 2026 Season Includes a Louisville Football Team

The UFL announced a few big changes for the 2026 season yesterday. The biggest change for the season includes three new teams in the eight-team league. In 2026, the UFL will consist of the following teams:

Birmingham Stallions
Columbus Aviators
Dallas Renegades
DC Defenders
Houston Gamblers
Louisville Kings
Orlando Storm
St. Louis Battlehawks

The new teams – the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings, and Orlando Storm –will replace the Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers, and San Antonio Brahmas, which competed in the league during its first two seasons.

Another big change in the league, beginning with the 2026 season, is that the teams will no longer be divided into two conferences. This upcoming season will see the teams compete as a united eight-team league with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs at the conclusion of the regular season.

The big takeaway here in Kentucky is this: Louisville is getting its own UFL team!

Welcome to the UFL, Louisville Kings!

So, why is the team named the Louisville Kings? Well, according to the UFL:

The name builds off the literal royal connections to its namesake France’s King Louis XVI, and the prestigious Kentucky Derby, the start of the Triple Crown and a sport known as the “Sport of Kings”. The noble name also plays homage to the city's legacy as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” hometown to the great Muhammad Ali among other historical figures and cultural influences that define our nation today.

Where Will The Louisville Kings Play?

The Louisville Kings will call Lynn Family Stadium home field this spring. The field is also home to Louisville City (men’s) and Racing Louisville (women’s) soccer. You can learn more about the Louisville Kings and how you can get tickets to a game for the 2026 debut season by clicking here.