Gotham FC Returns Home to Face San Diego Wave FC Friday Night 8/7/2026

Professional women's soccer takes center stage at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Friday, August 7, when NJ/NY Gotham FC welcomes the San Diego Wave FC for an 8 p.m. National Women's Soccer League match.

The contest comes just one day after New York City FC opens its Leagues Cup schedule, creating a busy three-day stretch of professional soccer in Harrison.

Two NWSL Contenders Meet

Gotham FC has established itself as one of the National Women's Soccer League's premier organizations and enters the second half of the season looking to strengthen its playoff position.

San Diego Wave FC has quickly become one of the league's most competitive expansion franchises and has developed into a perennial championship contender with an exciting, attack-minded style of play.

The clubs are familiar opponents, having met numerous times since San Diego entered the NWSL. Earlier this season, the Wave defeated Gotham 2-0 in California, giving Gotham an opportunity to seek revenge on its home field Friday night.

Busy Weekend For Harrison

Friday's match continues what has become one of the busiest soccer weekends of the summer at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

The schedule includes:

• Thursday, Aug. 6: New York City FC vs. Club Santos Laguna (Leagues Cup) – 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 7: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. San Diego Wave FC (NWSL) – 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 9: New York City FC vs. Cruz Azul (Leagues Cup) – 7:30 p.m.

As with Thursday's and Sunday's matches, Harrison residents should expect heavier-than-normal traffic around Sports Illustrated Stadium. The Harrison Police Department is expected to issue a traffic advisory similar to those released for other major sporting events at the stadium, advising motorists of possible road congestion before kickoff and after the match concludes.

Gotham FC Moving Out of Harrison

NJ/NY Gotham FC plans to leave the Sports Illustrated Stadium for a venue in New York. Gotham FC has announced that it will leave Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison after the 2027 NWSL season and move to Etihad Park in Willets Point, Queens, New York, beginning with the 2028 season. The announcement was made jointly by Gotham FC and New York City FC on July 7, 2026.  

An interesting fact many do not realize is that former New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy Murphy were founding members of Gotham FC along with lead owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, alongside high-profile minority investors like Carli Lloyd, Eli Manning, and Sue Bird.  As with most private sports franchise equity splits, exact percentage breakdowns are kept private by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club.

Gotham FC’s historic move to Etihad Park in Queens, NY beginning in 2028 will fundamentally transform the franchise's commercial, athletic, and cultural trajectory. Leaving their longtime home at Sports Illustrated Stadium (formerly Red Bull Arena) in Harrison, New Jersey, the two-time NWSL champions will share New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium with MLS side New York City FC (NYCFC).

Are the Gotham FC owners making a wise move to head to Queens, NY?  Does the fact that the EPA plans to put a Toxic Sludge Plant just three blocks from the Sport Illustrated Stadium in what is now a residential community play a factor in Gotham FC's move out of the Town of Harrison?

Learn more about EPA's planned Toxic Sludge Plant at the PSE&G property in the Riverside community in Harrison and next to the Harrison PATH station through this link.

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