Chattanooga FC Becomes First Independent Club to Win MLS NEXT Pro Cup
After nearly two decades of grassroots growth, Chattanooga FC captured its first professional title in front of a record-breaking crowd at Finley Stadium
When you think of grassroots, independent soccer in the United States, Chattanooga FC is one of the first clubs that comes to mind. Since its founding in 2009, CFC dominated the amateur National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) for over a decade before making the jump to the professional ranks of the third-division National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) in 2019 and later MLS NEXT Pro in 2024.
Across nearly two decades, Chattanooga FC has matured into one of the most respected lower-division clubs in the country. From its burgeoning trophy cabinet—which includes eight NPSL conference crowns, four NISA Independent Cup regional trophies, three NPSL regional titles, the 2023 NISA regular-season championship and the 2015 USASA Hank Steinbrecher Cup—to its recently completed 65,000-square-foot headquarters featuring retail space, offices, apartments and a rooftop bar, CFC has enjoyed sustained success on and off the pitch.
WE DID IT!!! 😭 CHAMPIONS! 🏆 https://t.co/8s43BEE9Am
— Chattanooga FC ⭐ (@ChattanoogaFC) November 9, 2026
On Sunday evening, another milestone was reached. In just its third season in MLS NEXT Pro and seventh as a professional club, Chattanooga FC earned its first professional league title with a 1-0 victory over LAFC 2, becoming the first independent club in MLS NEXT Pro's five-year history to conquer the third-division league. Just as impressive, the Chattahooligans and CFC faithful packed Finley Stadium, setting an MLS NEXT Pro Cup attendance record of 10,228 and marking the fifth consecutive year the match’s attendance has increased.
Thanks to a blend of experienced veterans—goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović, defender Tate Robertson and midfielder Alex McGrath—and rising talents—forward Alex Krehl, midfielder Daniel Mangarov and midfielder Damien Barker John—Chattanooga FC powered its way to its first professional title, closing the year with eight consecutive victories across the regular season and postseason and a +14 goal differential over that span. The streak was the longest in Chattanooga's professional history across all competitions and the longest by any eventual MLS NEXT Pro Cup champion to close out the year.
It’s also fitting that the man leading Chattanooga’s charge is head coach Richard Dixon. The 36-year-old Jamaican followed a similar path to that of CFC, starting his playing career in the amateur ranks with a trio of USL League Two clubs before suiting up for a collection of professional USL sides. After a short stint with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, he concluded his playing career with Chattanooga FC. His final match came at Finley Stadium—a 2-0 penalty kick shootout loss to eventual NISA champions Flower City Union in the postseason on Nov. 5, 2023.
Three years and three days after that defeat, Dixon led his side to new heights. The former defender joined the CFC coaching staff following his retirement, later being elevated to interim head coach and eventually being entrusted as the club’s sixth full-time head coach in August. It’s certainly been a full-circle moment for Dixon, from being the club’s first-ever professional signing to leading the Boys in Blue to their first professional trophy.
More than 10,000 fans packed into Finley Stadium for 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Cup | Image courtesy of MLS NEXT Pro/Chattanooga FC
“I don't know if I have words for tonight, to be honest,” Dixon said after the match. “On top of the world, this is everything that we could ever dream of. To have what I think has been a fantastic season. It was a fantastic regular season, and then to bring four playoff games here to Finley [Stadium] to ultimately win [MLS NEXT Pro Cup] here on our field in front of our fans in our city, I mean, words can't explain it, to be honest, maybe I'll find them later.
“As footballers, this is what we dream of. To win championships, to be able to represent ourselves, our families, our city, and to showcase our gifts and talents. To be the last team standing, to ultimately walk away as the best team in MLS NEXT Pro, for us, that’s a big deal. Obviously for me, knowing the origins of CFC, where it started and the transformation of the club through the years to now be here in this very moment to call ourselves MLS NEXT Pro champions is kind of surreal to even be saying it. It's a big deal for us, and it comes down to the hard work and effort from the guys. The original founders who started this thing, we have them to thank. They were a bunch of guys who wanted to bring soccer to Chattanooga. It started as a grassroots thing, and now it's grown into this fantastic thing that gives me an opportunity to be able to showcase my gifts and talents. I'm grateful for it all.”
Despite the momentum CFC carried into MLS NEXT Pro Cup, the match itself did not appear to favor the hosts, and the packed stands in downtown Chattanooga grew increasingly anxious as another championship opportunity seemed close to slipping away. LAFC 2 controlled nearly every aspect of the match, holding significant advantages in possession (72%-28%), shots (24-13), touches in the opposition box (40-15), accurate passes (539-169) and corner kicks (13-3).
In the end, the difference proved to be the veteran presence of Jakupović in goal and the opportunistic play of Barker John.
The anchor of Chattanooga's defense is 42-year-old goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović. The oldest player in MLS NEXT Pro history, Jakupović—a former Switzerland international who spent time in the English Premier League with Hull City, Leicester City and Everton—recorded five saves, the second-most in MLS NEXT Pro Cup history, to secure the first clean sheet in the decisive match’s history.
The contest’s lone goal came in the 31st minute. Philadelphia Union Homegrown defender Anton Sorenson was fouled 30 yards from goal, but with advantage played, Barker John collected the loose ball and dribbled toward the edge of the box before unleashing a low, long-range shot through a crowd of defenders and beyond the outstretched hands of a diving Ethan Scally, sending Fort Finley into a frenzy.
WHAT A HIT FROM DAMIEN BARKER JOHN 💫 @ChattanoogaFC open the scoring in MLS NEXT Pro Cup! Tune in: https://t.co/Tss8LtSL8i https://t.co/Zz2qT4FdsT
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) November 8, 2026
Eventually named the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Cup MVP, Barker John’s decisive score came on the heels of his one-goal, one-assist performance in the Eastern Conference Final to erase a two-goal deficit against Columbus Crew 2.
“It feels great,” he said. “We fought through it today. It wasn't too easy in the second half, but the grit and determination got us through… It was surreal. Just getting that goal tonight, it really got me pumped. The team had the momentum going into halftime, and the season itself. You know, never give up.
“The season didn’t start off right, but it was a bunch of new guys coming together, so we knew that we had time to mesh. [We] started meeting off the field, just having conversations, getting group gatherings, building these relationships that helped us tonight. Everybody had each other's backs.”
The completed 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs bracket | Image courtesy of MLS NEXT Pro
The victory for Chattanooga is yet another milestone in the club’s impressive history. For the league, having an independent club lift the MLS NEXT Pro Cup for the first time represents another step toward its ambition of growing its presence across the country. Alongside its 27 MLS development teams, MLS NEXT Pro currently features three independent clubs—Chattanooga FC, CT United FC and Carolina Core FC—with four more set to join in the near future: Forest City Cleveland, AC Grand Rapids, The Island FC and Jacksonville Armada FC.
Up next, Chattanooga FC will have the chance to defend its title in just a few months. Aligning with Major League Soccer (MLS)’s calendar shift, MLS NEXT Pro will conduct a 2027 Sprint Season from February to May before kicking off its first Summer-to-Spring season from July 2027 to June 2028. Additionally, the three existing MLS NEXT Pro independent clubs will enter the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the First Round next April.
Fans can stay up to date on all things MLS NEXT Pro on the league’s website, Instagram, X/Twitter and TikTok accounts.