Peoria

Peoria City had gone unbeaten for sixteen straight goals in the 2024 USL League Two season when the playoffs began. They beat Thunder Bay Chill, then needed penalties to get past Des Moines Menace after a 5-5 draw, then shut out Flint City Bucks to reach the National Championship. There, extra time was needed before Seacoast United Phantoms took it 3-2.

The club was set up in 2020 by Barry MacLean, formerly of K-W United, and John Dorn, who took the role of Managing Partner and majority owner; Josh Bellamy also holds a stake as Managing Partner. The pandemic pushed the actual kickoff back two years, so Peoria City did not play a competitive match until 2022, when they finished second in the Deep North Division before Chicago FC United knocked them out of the quarter-finals. A quieter third-place finish in the Heartland Division followed in 2023, without a playoff spot. Mike Paye was in charge for the run to the 2024 final.

The Carp, as the club calls itself, play home games at Shea Stadium on the Bradley University campus. Twelve players who came through the club have gone on to sign professional contracts, among them Kevin Vang, now at Rhode Island FC, and Rimi Olatunji, who moved on to Forge FC. On the local calendar, the fixture against River Light FC is played for the Copa Peoria, while matches with Springfield Athletic SC carry the Lincoln Cup.

Two seasons after their first competitive kickoff was delayed by a pandemic, Peoria City were ninety minutes and extra time away from a national championship.