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Five things to know as Chattanooga FC’s MLS Next Pro era begins

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chattanooga FC fans cheer during an exhibition against Major League Soccer's Atlanta United FC at Finley Stadium on Jan. 28, 2023.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chattanooga FC fans cheer during an exhibition against Major League Soccer's Atlanta United FC at Finley Stadium on Jan. 28, 2023. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chattanooga FC fans cheer during an exhibition against Major League Soccer's Atlanta United FC at Finley Stadium on Jan. 28, 2023.

By Patrick MacCoon 5 min read

The Chattanooga Football Club will kick off its 2024 season by hosting Huntsville City FC at 3 p.m. Saturday at Finley Stadium.

Here are five things to look for as Chattanooga FC enters its 16th season overall, fifth as a professional club and first in MLS Next Pro, a 29-team league in the third division of the U.S. soccer system.

Penalties apply

CFC’s next chapter will include a vast change from years past, and fans will certainly get their money’s worth as MLS Next Pro forbids matches from ending in a draw. Nearly 30% of CFC’s matches ended tied during a 15-2-7 season in 2023 while competing in the National Independent Soccer Association.

Any MLS Next Pro match tied at the end of regulation will go straight into a penalty kick shootout. Both teams will receive one point in the standings for the regulation tie, and the team winning the shootout will receive an additional point.