Birmingham Legion will open their 2026 season at home vs Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 7th. The Three Sparks drew one and lost the other in their two games against the Rowdies this past season.

The competition format for the 2026 #USL-C season has been announced, with 25 teams set to compete in the 34-week regular season. 13 clubs in the East, including new arrivals @brooklynfc.bsky.social and @sportingjax.bsky.social, 12 in the West. www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

We're told we should finally have #USL men's 2026 home openers and Jager Cup dates on Thursday, and full schedules out on December 16th 👀

Former Birmingham Legion player Ethan Kos has found a new home

With Trevor Spangenberg’s retirement, a chapter has closed in Birmingham: he was the last man standing from the Legion’s inaugural game. I wrote about the goalkeeper’s unlikely journey to the Magic City and his enduring presence for the Three Sparks ⬇️ bhamsports.net/2025/12/01/t...

Life of a Birmingham Legion reporter, I guess….

Confirmation that Birmingham Legion will not participate in the 2026 edition of the US Open Cup.

Big change coming to the US Open Cup next season, with multiple reports now that only 16 USL-C teams will participate. Eligibility would be based on previous season standings, meaning Birmingham Legion would miss out in 2026. Official announcement from USSF expected tomorrow.

Enzo Martínez and Jake Rufe, two players with a combined 282 appearances for Birmingham Legion, have departed the club at the conclusion of the 2025 season. bhamsports.net/2025/12/03/l...

Enzo Martínez and Jake Rufe are the next confirmed departures for Birmingham Legion. Probably the right time to move on from Enzo, but Jake feels like a mistake to me. www.bhmlegion.com/news/2025/12...

With Trevor Spangenberg’s retirement, a chapter has closed in Birmingham: he was the last man standing from the Legion’s inaugural game. I wrote about the goalkeeper’s unlikely journey to the Magic City and his enduring presence for the Three Sparks ⬇️ bhamsports.net/2025/12/01/t...

Here’s my breakdown of Birmingham Legion’s roster following the first batch of postseason departures. bhamsports.net/2025/11/26/l...

Very interesting that Travis and Suárez are explicitly mentioned as “end of loan,” but the Three Sparks have three other loan players. Would suggest there is at least some discussions about bringing Sam Shashoua, Amir Daley and Ronaldo Damus back to the club.

Why does it feel like I’ve seen Sonny score more FKs in a couple of months for LAFC than I’ve seen him take in 10 years at Spurs?

And now for the awkward question. Does Bob Lilley get a medal? #USLChampionship #PittsburghRiverhounds

This happened before the #USLChampionship final kicked off 45 minutes ago. Since then, the player associations for the NFL, WNBA, MLS and USWNT have all put out statements supporting the USL Players Association. Current CBA expires Dec. 31, and the USLPA is not backing down.

What a message from both sets of players to start the USL Championship Final, wearing t-shirts that say: "USL HQ: PRO REL? TRY PRO STANDARDS FIRST" Major statement made from the USL Players Association.

North Carolina is going on hiatus with the loose promise of a D1 return, a decision with huge ramifications for the rest of the USL. I break down the difficult financial future for the USL's clubs and why the league's upcoming reforms might be make-or-break. www.backheeled.com/north-caroli...

With the season officially over for Birmingham Legion, it’s time to take a look at the roster and decide who deserves to return in 2026. Welcome to @BirminghamSport’s Roster Review of the Three Sparks ⬇️ bhamsports.net/2025/10/30/b...

You didn’t think I’d forget, did you? Time for one final Tuesday Talking Points, looking at Edwin Laszo at CB, Samuel Shashoua and Amir Daley’s performances and future, Mark Briggs’ sideline presence and Ramiz Hamouda’s World Cup dream. open.substack.com/pub/timothyb...

Individual errors, a lack of ruthlessness and poor officiating: a fitting home finale to Birmingham Legion’s 2025 season. My recap for @BirminghamSport ⬇️ bhamsports.net/2025/10/19/l...

FINAL: Legion 2-3 Miami Despite spending 70 minutes with a man-advantage, the Three Sparks fall to Miami and are now level on points with the bottom team in the league. #BHMvMIA

66’ GOAL LEGION Ronaldo Damus with his 14th of the season, getting on the end of a driven cross by Amir Daley. 2-3 #BHMvMIA

60’ Dawson McCartney curls one just wide for his final action of the game. He is replaced by Enzo Martínez, while Tyler Pasher is also on for Peter-Lee Vassell. 1-3 #BHMvMIA

Second half underway with one substitution for Birmingham. Edwin Laszo is off, with Jackson Travis in his place. Dawson McCartney has moved to a central role. 1-3 #BHMvMIA

I’ve written about how it’s time to move on from him, but I’d like to see Enzo Martínez early in the second half. Laszo + three centerbacks is overkill with the extra man, and Martínez is great at drifting into space, which there should be plenty of with the numerical advantage.

Halftime: Legion 1-3 Miami Despite being a man up, Birmingham find themselves two goals down. That’s not to say they haven’t shown some exciting stuff, with Peter-Lee Vassell and Samuel Shashoua in particular putting on a show for the final home game of the season. #BHMvMIA

I wish literally ANYBODY believed in me like Briggs believes in Edwin Laszo.

Edwin Laszo is back in midfield now after two giveaways led to two goals. Ramiz Hamouda now as the central centerback.

38’ Goal Miami The 10-men show they’re not going down without a fight, sitting MVO down after getting first to a crossbar rebound. Edwin Laszo once again at fault to turn the ball over right outside the box. 1-3 #BHMvMIA

23’ RED CARD MIAMI GOALKEEPER This game is mad! Peter-Lee Vassell gets to the ball ahead of the onrushing keeper, who can only kick the Legion man to the floor. Birmingham will be against 10 men for 70 minutes and have a free-kick in nearly the same spot as the last. #BHMvMIA

22’ Goal Miami Visitors back ahead with a headed goal of their own, flicked into the net at the front post after a wide set-piece. Might get a high scoring game here with nothing on the line. 1-2 #BHMvMIA

15’ GOAL LEGION Beautifully worked free-kick as Peter-Lee Vassell rolls it back to AJ Paterson, and the defender drives it in low for his second goal in as many games. 1-1 #BHMvMIA

While the 3-5-2 with Vassell at support striker was the correct prediction, there is a positional experiment going on. Ramiz Hamouda is currently lined up in midfield, while Edwin Laszo is the center most centerback.

For the final time of 2025, we are underway at Protective Stadium. Birmingham Legion vs Miami FC in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon. #BHMvMIA

Birmingham Legion lineup (3-5-2): Van Oekel; Turnbull, Paterson, Hamouda, Daley, Shashoua, McIllhatton, Laszo, McCartney; Vassell, Damus. Samuel Shashoua returns from injury, while Ramiz Hamouda gets a final appearance before departing for the U17 World Cup.

For the final time this year, it’s matchday in the Magic City. Birmingham Legion host Miami FC at 4 p.m. at Protective Stadium to close out their 2025 home schedule. bhamsports.net/2025/10/19/l...

Orange County SC's Pedro Guimaraes and @bhmlegion.bsky.social's Ramiz Hamouda have been named in the #USMNT U-17s squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in November. #USL-C www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

Lucca Dourado scored another Forward Madison goal yesterday. The Birmingham Legion loanee made it six goals and two assists in his 19 USL League 1 appearances.

Birmingham Legion are out of the playoff race as of Sunday, and yet their last three performances had some real positives to them. I dive into the Three Sparks’s three games in eight days for my latest talking points, available on my Substack. open.substack.com/pub/timothyb...

Following Rhode Island’s win vs Las Vegas Lights, Birmingham Legion and Miami FC are officially the first teams eliminated from playoff contention. The two sides face off October 19 at Protective Stadium in the battle to not finish last.

The wait is over for Birmingham after notching their first win since July. The Three Sparks put on another solid defensive showing, their third in a row, to end a club-record 10 games without victory. Recap for @BirminghamSport bhamsports.net/2025/10/04/l...

FINAL: Loudoun 0-1 Legion Three Sparks with their first league win since July 11, first overall since July 26, ending a club-record run of 10 games without a W. That’s also back-to-back clean sheets in away matches after getting none all season.

Second half underway with a halftime Legion change. Tyler Pasher is off, replaced by Dawson McCartney. 0-1

Halftime: Loudoun 0-1 Legion AJ Paterson’s penalty goal has the Three Sparks 45 minutes away from ending their 10-game winless streak, the longest in club history. However, we’ve seen them go in with a 1-0 lead twice recently only for it to be quickly undone in the second half.

29’ GOAL LEGION AJ Paterson steps up and slams home the penalty after Tyler Pasher was brought down in the box. 0-1

Birmingham Legion are underway in Loudoun. Anything other than a win and the Three Sparks will be mathematically eliminated from the playoff race.

Birmingham Legion lineup at Loudoun (3-5-2): Delgado; Turnbull, Kavita, Paterson; Daley, Martínez, McIllhatton, Vassell, Travis; Damus, Pasher. Just one change from midweek as Jackson Travis returns to the starting XI in place of Dawson McCartney.

In a game that was all-but-meaningless to the outcome of their season, Birmingham Legion nevertheless put on a solid display and showed strong spirit to get a late equalizer against North Carolina FC. Recap for @BirminghamSport bhamsports.net/2025/10/01/l...

FINAL: Legion 1-1 North Carolina Stephen Turnbull’s late goal salvages a point for the Three Sparks. Positives to take from the team’s spirit to keep going, but all-in-all it means very little to the season as a whole. #BHMvNC