Ventura County FC are back in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs for a third consecutive time and look to go farther than ever before.
VCFC finished the regular season with their best-ever MLS NEXT Pro campaign, landing third in the Western Conference with a record of 14W-7D-7L.
They'll host an MNUFC2 team running on good form on Friday, October 16 (10 PM ET | MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball), but the support of their home crowd should tip the scales in their favor.
Season series
Ventura County FC and MNUFC2 did not meet during the 2026 regular season, making their October 16 playoff matchup their first meeting of the year.
MNUFC2 hold the edge in the all-time series, winning three of the four previous meetings between the two sides.
VCFC’s lone victory came in 2025, when Luis Müller scored a brace to lead them to a 2-0 road win
Player spotlight
Matt Taylor’s side received a late-season boost up front with the signing of striker Daniel Ittycheria, who has already recorded two goal contributions in four appearances.
His addition alongside Eric Preston and Julian Placias gives VCFC one of the most dangerous attacking trios in the Western Conference playoffs.
At the defensive end, goalkeeper Sebastian Conlon anchors a backline featuring Pepe Magaña, Riley Dalgado, Mason Vanney, and captain Sebastián Hernández, giving Ventura County a defensive unit capable of matching up against any opponent.
