By Delorean Fleetwood
Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh Bridge City of Major League Indoor Soccer announced on Instagram Monday morning, that they will play an exhibition against the Lehigh Valley Spirits of the Major Arena Soccer League in November.
The match will take place at the Sewickley Sports Arena on Friday November 20th. Kick off is at 7:30 PM EST.
WHY THIS IS HUGE
Since the league was founded in 2022, neither league has played a game against one another on any form or capacity. That changes when the two teams square off in the Steel City just before Thanksgiving.
The sport has seen it’s share of rise and fall as it comes to leagues coming and going, ever since the original Major Indoor Soccer League changed it’s name to the Major Soccer League in it’s final year before folding.
The Continental Indoor Soccer League is often considered by many, to be the last greatest moment in the game’s history. The NPSL was a great foil to the CISL before both leagues went belly up.
The MASL has finally been able to overcome the setback it faced during COVID and the game constantly facing setbacks and delays that kept it from growing to what it ultimately can be.
As for the MLIS? They may finally be able to shake the distinction of being on par with maybe the best M2 or M3 teams (one could argue that the WISL is on par). MLIS has finally found the right markets to make their product a rising foil to the MASL with recent additions.
The Spirits will be an expansion team in 2026-27, but don’t count out the ghostly goal scorers just yet. This team made a number of free agents signings off the back of their expansion draft in May. This team is built for success in the long run. Willie B. and Company are ballers.
Pittsburgh Bridge City played in an arguably tough conference last season, finishing behind the Cleveland Crunch and the defending champions, the Canadian Crusaders. Pittsburgh will be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference this season.
The exhibition match is a perfect chance and opportunity for both leagues to showcase their prowess and give a little bragging rights. On the same token, it’s good for the sport AND for both leagues.
Best of all? It’s the latest chapter of one of the greatest city rivalries in all of sports. Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh. No matter the sport, these two Keystone State municipalities really don’t like each other. The Steel City vs the City of Brotherly Love.
One thing is for sure, this is a huge moment for the sport and both leagues. The biggest winner? The game of arena soccer. It’s alive and well heading into 2026-27.
For more information regarding Pittsburgh Bridge City head over to bridgecityfc.soccershift.com
For more information about the Lehigh Valley Spirits head over to www.lvspirits.com
Head over to www.mlispro.com for all the latest news in the MLIS.
Head over to www.maslsoccer.com for all the latest news in the MASL
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