Hampton And Howard Return to Audi Field for the Second Annual HBCU Women’s Soccer Invitational
Historic HBCU rivalry takes center stage Audi Field on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 3 p.m.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 7, 2026) – Hampton University and Howard University will renew their rivalry this August in the second annual HBCU Women’s Soccer Invitational at Audi Field, home to D.C. United (MLS), DC Power FC (Gainbridge Super League), and the Washington Spirit (NWSL). The match will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, with kickoff set for 3 p.m.
General tickets, group tickets, and suites for the HBCU Women’s Soccer Invitational will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. ET on Friday August 7th 2026. Tickets are available for purchase HERE.
The invitational underscores the rising visibility of HBCU women’s soccer and gives student-athletes a chance to compete at one of the nation’s premier soccer venues. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the invitational returns to further celebrate the talent, tradition, and excellence of HBCU women’s soccer.
“Audi Field was built to be more than our home. It was built to be a stage for this city,” said Danita Johnson, President of Business Operations for D.C. United. “This building has welcomed All-Star Games, international sides, and championship soccer. Hampton and Howard belong in that company. I am proud that this invitational is becoming part of what Audi Field is known for.”
As the architect behind many of the club’s most dynamic matchday experiences, Janine Brunson-Johnson, Senior Director of Events & Entertainment at D.C. United, emphasized what the return means. “Last August showed us exactly what this event can be. Welcoming Hampton and Howard back to Audi Field lets us build on that foundation and keep giving these student-athletes a professional environment that matches the level they compete at.”
The matchup returns during a period of sustained growth for women’s soccer in Washington, D.C., much of it centered on Audi Field. The stadium is home to two professional women’s clubs: DC Power FC, which has now completed two seasons in the USL Super League at the venue, and the Washington Spirit, who reached the NWSL Championship in each of the last two seasons and sold out four consecutive home playoff matches at Audi Field, including crowds of 19,215 and 19,365 during the 2025 postseason.
That momentum carries into the fall. On Saturday, October 10, the reigning Olympic champion U.S. Women’s National Team will host Spain, the world’s top-ranked side and reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, at Audi Field in a match presented by Purina. It will be the fourth USWNT appearance at the stadium. Six weeks later, on Saturday, November 21, Audi Field will host the 2026 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, returning the league’s title match to Washington for the first time since 2022.
Together, those events place the HBCU Women’s Soccer Invitational inside one of the most significant years for women’s soccer the region has seen, and they reinforce why access to a professional stage matters.
“The history between these two iconic institutions dates back more than a century,” said Howard Vice President and Director of Athletics Kery Davis. “It began on the gridiron, then evolved over time in other sports like men’s and women’s basketball, softball and women’s soccer. For both women’s soccer teams getting opportunities to compete in a professional stadium, it brings visibility to HBCU women’s athletics. We would like to thank Danita Johnson, D.C. United and Audi Field for hosting this incredible event for the second straight year.”
“The inaugural match meant a lot to our players and program,” said Howard Women’s Soccer Head Coach Brent Leiba. “Playing in an incredible venue like Audi Field brought an atmosphere of excitement and professionalism that left lifelong memories to our players, staff and supporters. We are very much looking forward to returning to Audi Field to continue our incredible rivalry versus Hampton and bring back the “Battle of the Real HU” to such an amazing venue! This experience is important to the continued growth of our game and to have two of the best HBCU women’s soccer programs participate is an honor and hopefully inspires families and youth soccer players to envision attending and playing at our prestigious institutions or any HBCUs to fulfill their academic and athletic aspirations.”
Howard won the inaugural meeting 4-1 last August at Audi Field, with Gabriella Garcia-Terrell named Match MVP after scoring twice in the second half. The result moved the Bison to 4-1-0 in the all-time series. Howard went on to finish the 2025 season 9-7-3 overall and 7-2-2 in the Northeast Conference, earning the No. 3 seed and reaching the NEC Tournament semifinals.
Hampton returns under first-year head coach Sam Cain, named to lead the Pirates in March after guiding Wilmington University to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference championship. The Pirates set a program record with 15 assists in 2025 and scored 26 goals, the second-highest single-season total in program history.
“Competing at Audi Field for the second consecutive year is a tremendous moment for Hampton Women’s Soccer and a powerful reflection of the momentum our program continues to build,” stated Anthony D. Henderson, Sr., Hampton University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics “It also adds another exciting chapter to the storied Hampton-Howard rivalry, which has long represented pride, tradition and excellence in HBCU athletics. We are especially grateful to our partners at Audi Field for continuing to create and support elite stages like this for HBCU sports, and particularly for HBCU Women’s Soccer, as we remain committed to delivering transformational experiences for our student-athletes.”
Sam Cain Hampton’s Head Women’s Soccer Coach said, “Competing at Audi Field in my first season at Hampton is a special opportunity for our program. It gives our players a professional stage to embrace this rivalry and show the connected, courageous and competitive culture we are building.”
Tickets for the second annual HBCU Women’s Soccer Invitational go on sale today and are available to purchase HERE. For more information, please visit www.audifield.com.
ABOUT AUDI FIELD
The iconic 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium is nestled in a prime location along the Capitol Riverfront, the fastest-growing area in downtown D.C., and is the permanent home of D.C. United.
Opened in July 2018, Audi Field is a premier entertainment and event destination and was the host of the 2023 MLS All-Star Game vs. Arsenal FC. Complete with 500 premium field-level seats, 31 luxury suites, and one of the steepest stadium grades in sports, Audi Field offers fans a truly unique gameday experience. The stadium houses various events year-round, from corporate outings, music festivals, and world-class international sporting events, from Premier League Lacrosse to College Football and more.
For more information, please visit www.audifield.com and follow us on social media at @AudiField.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Samantha Ward
Head of Communications
D.C. United | Audi Field
Mike Ballweg
Assistant Athletics Director, Strategic & Broadcast Communications
Hampton University
Derek Bryant
Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations & Sports Information
Howard University