Commonwealth Cup Debuts as Louisville and Lexington Ignite a New Soccer Rivalry

It’s Derby Week in Louisville, and while most eyes are glued to the track at Churchill Downs, there’s a new tradition kicking off just down the road at Lynn Family Stadium.

Louisville City FC hosts Lexington Sporting Club on Thursday night in the first leg of the Commonwealth Cup — the latest chapter in Kentucky’s I-64 rivalry.

And in this case? Louisville really is “Miles Ahead.”

Since launching in 2015, LouCity has been the gold standard in the United Soccer League.

• 2 USL Championship titles (2017, 2018)
• 4 appearances in the final
• 9 Eastern Conference Final trips in 10 seasons

The only year they didn’t make it to the conference final? Last season — when they also finished with the most points in the entire league. Go figure.

This season, the Boys in Purple are once again sitting at the top of the table as one of only three teams across all American Professional soccer without a loss. They have only allowed 6 goals across all competitions. 

It’s not just results, either. LouCity’s got the infrastructure to back it up. Lynn Family Stadium isn’t just the best venue in the USL — it’s the crown jewel of lower-league soccer in America.

Big club. Big wins. Big brother energy.

But, Lexington Sporting Club is no joke.

First off, they have one of the best logos in American Soccer and an ambitious front office trying to do things the right way. They launched with a full youth academy, strong community support, and they’ve just opened their own stadium, which can seat 7,500 fans.

Yeah, they’re the new kid to the USL Championship, but they didn’t show up empty-handed. Sporting signed some good players, including former LouCity stars Cameron Lancaster and Speedy Williams. It was this duo that gave Louisville City FC its first-ever title back in 2017.

On the field, it’s still a work in progress — that can happen in year one in a new league. Lexington hasn’t won since March 8, but they’ve clawed out four draws along the way, placing them 9th in the USL Championship’s Western Conference. (Someone look at a map and explain to me why Louisville is in the Eastern Conference and Lexington is in the Western.)

Lexington’s the scrappy underdog in this scenario. Little brother. But on Thursday, they can be the team that hands Louisville City FC their first loss of the 2025 calendar. That’s the kind of thing that makes a rivalry a rivalry. 

What’s the Commonwealth Cup?

It’s simple:

LouCity and Lexington will play each other twice this season. Whoever wins the series gets the Commonwealth Cup. If they split the games, it comes down to goal differential. If that’s tied, it comes down to away goals. If that’s tied, I think we fight at the I-64 rest stop between the cities.

This week is the first leg. The rematch is July 26 in Lexington.

This game is part of Derby Week, so yes, we’re partying:

• $10 general admission tickets with a Pegasus Pin
• $2 beers and sodas during happy hour
• Kickoff at 8:00 p.m.
• Stadium gates open at 6:30

Lexington’s even busing in fans for the big night. (If you’re making the trip from Lexington, you can hop on the Republic Bank Road Rally here.)

As for myself, I am a Louisville City supporter  — but I want this to be a great in-state rivalry. I really do.

Lexington has a great logo, and some real potential. But logos don’t win trophies. 

Something Louisville City has understood for over a decade.

So Thursday night? It’s time for big brother to lace ‘em up, set the tone, and let little brother know the pecking order.