Army-Navy Cup XIV will return to Subaru Park on Friday, October 10, featuring its first-ever doubleheader with both men’s and women’s teams competing. The women’s match is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., followed by the men’s match at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are now available for the single-admission event.
Philadelphia Union has hosted the Army-Navy Cup since it began in 2012 at Subaru Park. Over the years, the event has grown and last year attracted more than 10,000 fans, making it the most attended regular-season NCAA Division I men’s soccer game in 2024. The Army Black Knights lead the overall series against Navy.
The Army men’s team comes into this year’s match after a 4-11-2 season under Head Coach Brian Plotkin. The program has had consecutive unbeaten seasons against other service academies. The Army women’s team finished their previous season with a record of 12-6-1, led by Head Coach Tracy Chao, who holds an overall coaching record of 29-20-13.
“I’m really excited to see the momentum of Army-Navy Cup,” said Army Head Coach, Brian Plotkin. “Last year in front of nearly 11,000 fans, our guys had a truly professional experience hosted by the Union. Now that we are doing a doubleheader with the women’s teams, the energy of the sponsors, and the Union’s kindness as hosts, I think we can set an attendance record this October.”
“To be able to experience any Army versus Navy rivalry match is truly unlike anything else,” said Army Women’s Head Coach Tracy Chao. “For us to be able to have this special night with our men’s program is going to be electric, especially in such an amazing venue as Subaru Park. No matter what the results, we promise it’ll be such a memorable evening for all!”
The Navy men’s soccer team finished last season at 4-8-4 under Head Coach Tim O’Donohue and aims to reclaim victory in this year’s cup. The Navy women concluded their season with a 9-10-2 record under Carin Gabarra, who enters her thirty-third season and is recognized as Patriot League’s all-time wins leader as well as being a US Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner.
“We are looking forward to this fall’s rivalry contest,” said Navy Head Coach Tim O’Donohue. “It is a phenomenal event, and the players look forward to it each year. It will be a close game as always and an intense back-and-forth Patriot League match. The atmosphere over the last few years has been one of the best in college soccer and we expect this year will be even better.”
“As a program, we are very excited to join our men’s team and have the opportunity to play at the iconic Subaru Park in Philadelphia, a historically significant city in our nation’s history,” said Navy Women’s Head Coach Carin Gabarra. “Joining the men’s program, and being a part of the Army-Navy Cup XIV on the weekend of the 250th Anniversary of the United States Navy, will be a significant and meaningful milestone for the players and our program.”
The event is presented by Leidos with support from multiple local organizations and sponsors.
