Preview: Chattanooga FC Hosts Carolina Core FC in MLS NEXT Pro Action

The Boys in Blue host Carolina Core in the final installment of the Battle of the Independents, pitting two of the three independent clubs in all of MLS NEXT Pro, against each other.

Despite the result, the team is coming off a strong performance in a 3-1 defeat in Charlotte against Eastern Conference leaders Crown Legacy FC. The Boys in Blue outshot (23-11), out-possessed (56%-44%) and produced greater expected goals, or xG (1.39-0.90) than its opponents and will look to carry that form into Saturday’s encounter.

Everything you need to know ahead of the final Battle of the Independents of the 2026 regular season.

Chattanooga FC sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with four matches remaining in the regular season. A win on Saturday would go a long way in securing a 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs spot.

CFC last faced Carolina Core on a rainy Sunday afternoon in High Point, North Carolina on July 12 in a 1-1 draw and 4-2 shootout win. CFC beat the Foxes 1-0 in the team’s first encounter of the season back on May 24.

The Boys in Blue hold the advantage in the historical head-to-head between the two sides with a 4W-2L-2D (1SOW+1SOL) record.

Chattanooga FC forward Daniel Mangarov, who scored in the 3-1 defeat at Crown Legacy last Sunday (below), joined SportTalk on WGOW 102.3 FM this week to preview the match.

“They’re a good side,” said Mangarov. “It’s a tough game playing against them. They have a really good defensive structure, which makes it hard to break through. It’s the type of game where it will be really important to score first. We’re going into it trying to score that first goal.”

Listen to the full interview HERE.

Carolina Core named Jake Davis full-time head coach and removed his ‘interim’ tag since the teams’ last met.

The Foxes lost 3-1 at home to FC Cincinnati 2 last time out, which ultimately led to the club’s elimination from playoff contention.

Arnaud Tattevin leads the team with 12 goals scored in 20 matches played. Thomas Raimbault and Ricardo Montenegro lead the Foxes in assists with four apiece.

The referees include Braeden Frey, Head Referee, Edwin Moturi, Assistant Referee 1, Tyler Samburgh, Assistant Referee 2, and Alexandru Focea, the 4th Official.