The 2026 United Bowl, commonly referred to as United Bowl III[by whom?], was an American football game played on June 13, 2026, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.. The contest determined the champion of the 2026 UFL season and was played between the Louisville Kings and the DC Defenders. The game began at 3:00 p.m. EDT and aired on ABC. The Kings won 27–20, earning their first United Bowl title.

Background

Host selection

Audi Field had previously been the first choice to host the 2025 championship but was unable to do so because of schedule conflicts with the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

UFL playoffs

Bracket

Semifinals June 7, 2026United Bowl June 13, 2026
1Orlando Storm22
4DC Defenders28
4DC Defenders20
3Louisville Kings27
2St. Louis Battlehawks20
3Louisville Kings29
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Teams

DC Defenders

The DC Defenders finished the 2026 season with a 5–5 record. They made their second appearance in the UFL championship game after winning the title in 2025 by defeating the Michigan Panthers, 58–34. DC also played in the 2023 XFL Championship Game, a loss to the Arlington Renegades.

Louisville Kings

After two rough seasons as the Memphis Showboats, the Louisville Kings finished their first season in existence with a 6–4 record, having rebounded from an 0–3 start to win six of their last seven games. The turnaround was in part caused by the trading of their original starting quarterback Jason Bean to DC; Bean then rose to the Defenders' starting quarterback position after an injury to longtime Defenders starter Jordan Ta'amu.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Quarter1234Total
DC Defenders3130420
Louisville Kings0761427

at Audi Field • Washington, D.C.

  • Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 89 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 19,023
  • Referee: Kole Knueppel
  • TV announcers (ABC): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Sam Acho (sideline reporter), Tom Luginbill (sideline reporter) and Tyler Fulghum (betting)
Game information
First quarter DC – Matt McCrane 48-yard field goal, 6:43. Defenders 3–0. Drive: 6 plays • 52 yards • 2:51 Second quarter LOU – Eric Garror 12-yard fumble return (Tanner Brown kick), 11:43. Kings 7–3. DC – Xazavian Valladay 51-yard run (Matt McCrane kick), 9:45. Defenders 10–7. Drive: 4 plays • 74 yards • 1:50 DC – Matt McCrane 43-yard field goal, 2:00. Defenders 13–7. Drive: 10 plays • 53 yards • 5:19 DC – Matt McCrane 28-yard field goal, 0:02. Defenders 16–7. Drive: 4 plays • 3 yards • 1:18 Third quarter LOU – Tanner Brown 57-yard field goal, 11:42. Defenders 16–10. Drive: 6 plays • 23 yards • 3:18 LOU – Tanner Brown 38-yard field goal, 6:08. Defenders 16–13. Drive: 8 plays • 59 yards • 3:44 Fourth quarter LOU – Ian Wheeler 44-yard run (Tanner Brown kick), 14:53. Kings 20–16. Drive: 7 plays • 84 yards • 4:03 LOU – James Robinson 16-yard run (Tanner Brown kick), 12:07. Kings 27–16. Drive: 2 plays • 25 yards • 0:40 DC – Matt McCrane 61-yard four-point field goal, 9:11. Kings 27–20. Drive: 5 plays • 10 yards • 3:00

Statistics

Team statistical comparison
StatisticDCLouisville
Team statistical comparison Statistic DC Louisville Total plays–net yards 57–319 51–261 Rushing attempts–net yards 35–262 34–180 Yards per rush 7.5 5.3 Yards passing 69 81 Pass completions–attempts 8–20 9–17 Interceptions thrown 1 2 Punt returns–total yards 3–38 2–31 Kickoff returns–total yards 5–135 3–62 Punts–average yardage 3–150 4–200 Fumbles–lost 3–2 0–0 Time of possession 31:18 28:42DC statistics Defenders passing C–A Yds TD–INT E.J. Perry 5–12 50 0–1 Jason Bean 3–8 19 0–0 Defenders rushing Car Yds TD Xazavian Valladay 4 111 1 Deon Jackson 11 56 0 E.J. Perry 7 43 0 Jason Bean 7 35 0 Abram Smith 5 22 0 Erik Ezukanma 1 -5 0 Defenders receiving Rec Yds TD Cornell Powell 3 40 0 Ty Scott 3 19 0 Keke Coutee 1 9 0 Xazavian Valladay 1 1 0Louisville statistics Kings passing C–A Yds TD–INT Chandler Rogers 9–17 81 0–2 Kings rushing Car Yds TD Ian Wheeler 10 81 1 James Robinson 16 69 1 Chandler Rogers 7 32 0 Isaiah Winstead 1 -2 0 Kings receiving Rec Yds TD Tarik Black 1 40 0 Isaiah Winstead 4 22 0 Lucky Jackson 2 10 0 Tre' McKitty 1 8 0 Kaden Prather 1 1 0
Total plays–net yards57–31951–261
Rushing attempts–net yards35–26234–180
Yards per rush7.55.3
Yards passing6981
Pass completions–attempts8–209–17
Interceptions thrown12
Punt returns–total yards3–382–31
Kickoff returns–total yards5–1353–62
Punts–average yardage3–1504–200
Fumbles–lost3–20–0
Time of possession31:1828:42
Defenders passing
C–AYdsTD–INT
E.J. Perry5–12500–1
Jason Bean3–8190–0
Defenders rushing
CarYdsTD
Xazavian Valladay41111
Deon Jackson11560
E.J. Perry7430
Jason Bean7350
Abram Smith5220
Erik Ezukanma1-50
Defenders receiving
RecYdsTD
Cornell Powell3400
Ty Scott3190
Keke Coutee190
Xazavian Valladay110
Kings passing
C–AYdsTD–INT
Chandler Rogers9–17810–2
Kings rushing
CarYdsTD
Ian Wheeler10811
James Robinson16691
Chandler Rogers7320
Isaiah Winstead1-20
Kings receiving
RecYdsTD
Tarik Black1400
Isaiah Winstead4220
Lucky Jackson2100
Tre' McKitty180
Kaden Prather110

See also