DEKALB, Ill. – Sixteen matches, including seven home contests, highlight the 2026 Northern Illinois University men's soccer schedule as the Huskies begin their first season in the Horizon League.

The season opens with a pair of exhibition contests as NIU hosts William Penn University on Sunday, Aug. 9, before traveling to Saint Louis on Saturday, Aug. 15. 

NIU begins the regular season on the road at Butler on Thursday, Aug. 20 before traveling to Loyola Chicago on Sunday, Aug. 23. The following weekend, the Huskies close the month of August with a pair of home matches as they welcome Marquette to DeKalb on Thursday, Aug. 27, and UIC visits on Sunday, Aug. 30. 

A trip to Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 5 will be NIU's last non-conference game before opening Horizon League play at home against IU Indy on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The matchup against the Jaguars begins NIU's quest for a third regular season conference title in six seasons, as the Huskies claimed the Mid-American Conference crown in 2021 and a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title a season ago. 

NIU travels to Oakland on Saturday, Sept. 12 before hosting Milwaukee on Saturday, Sept. 19, in its annual match for the Lewang Cup, which now also becomes a conference contest. 

The month of September ends with a visit to Wright State on Saturday, Sept. 26, and October opens with a pair of home matches as the Huskies host Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, Oct. 7. 

Following a trip to Green Bay on Saturday, Oct. 10, NIU will play its final non-conference game on Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Huskies travel to Tulsa. 

The final home game of the regular season sees defending Horizon League regular season and tournament champion Cleveland State visit DeKalb on Saturday, Oct. 24, before the Huskies end the season with trips to Purdue Fort Wayne (Oct. 30) and Robert Morris (Nov. 3). 

Admission to all Huskie home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex are free of charge.