GCL2 Season Opens

Dan Floyd
7 hours ago
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Gulf Coast League 2 kicks off this weekend, and the league has grown from 8 teams to 12, including the return of all 8 teams from last season. As a refresher, the GCL2 is the second division for the Gulf Coast Premier League.

The GCPL joined forces with The League for Clubs in 2025, and the first division competes under that banner in that framework. Most of the teams are part of larger clubs that include youth divisions, women's teams, and also some men's teams in other leagues. Last year's GCL2 was split into two conferences, with each team playing home-and-home against the teams in their conference, followed by a four team playoff and championship game. Central Louisiana won the championship in 2025, and will be looking to repeat this season.

For 2026, the teams are organized into three conferences, which are outlined below:

Magnolia Conference (Mississippi teams)

Gulf Coast United; Gulfport, MS. GCU competed in TLfC, but is dropping down this year. Founded in 2003.

Hattiesburg FC; Hattiesburg, MS. This is the reserve squad for the team that competes in USL League Two. Founded in 2003.

Invictus FC; McComb, MS. Invictus was new to men's competition at this level in 2025, returning for their second season.

Mississippi Blues FC; Clinton, MS. Clinton is in the Jackson metro area, and they have been part of the GCPL since 2018.

Red River Conference*

Central Louisiana FC; Alexandria, LA. Last year's champions, founded in 2013, and an original member of the GCPL.

Red River FC; Bossier City, LA. This is the reserve team for the USL2 team, formerly Blue Goose FC, founded in 2021. Bossier City is part of the Shreveport metro area.

Shreveport United; Shreveport, LA. The club was founded in 2016, and has been part of the GCPL since 2018.

Twin Cities FC; West Monroe, LA. One of the new teams in 2025.

* The Red River runs through the cities of three of the four teams in the conference.

Bayou Conference

BRSC Capitals; Baton Rouge, LA. Part of the GCPL since 2017, and they were runners-up for 2025.

LA Krewe Rush; Lafayette, LA. This is the reserve team for the USL2 squad that went to the playoffs in that league in 2025. Club was founded in 2013.

Louisiana Fire FC; Kenner, LA. This team is new to the league for this season, and this club is located in the New Orleans metro area. The club owners also own Reading FC, one of the oldest clubs in English football.

SWLA Hurricanes; Lake Charles, LA. This team is new to the league for this season. Lake Charles is in the far southwest corner of the state, near the Texas border.

Opening Matches (all time Central)

Gulf Coast United vs Invictus; Saturday, May 16 at 1:15.

BRSC vs Louisiana Fire; Saturday, May 16 at 7:15.

Central Louisiana vs Red River; Saturday, May 16 at 7:15.

Twin Cities vs Shreveport United; Saturday, May 16 at 7:15.

SWLA Hurricanes va LA Krewe; Sunday, May 17 at 4:00.