HERRIMAN, Utah – A rematch of the 2019 USL Championship Final highlights the second edition of the Wasatch Winter Cup with Real Monarchs SLC set to play host to fellow Championship clubs Louisville City FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and USL League One expansion side Union Omaha at Zions Bank Stadium this February.

The Monarchs earned a 3-1 victory against LouCity last November to claim its first league title, and the two sides will square off in the final round of the round-robin tournament on Saturday, February 22 in preparation for the Championship’s 10th anniversary season this March.

“We are excited to be hosting the Wasatch Winter Cup again here in Herriman with three very well prepared and well coached teams,” said Real Monarchs Assistant General Manager Tim Weaver. “Louisville, Colorado Springs and Omaha will all provide excellent competition for the Monarchs and one another, as we prepare to defend the USL league championship.

“We are ­­privileged to have such world-class facilities and are honored that these clubs have agreed to come here to prepare for their respective seasons. We look forward to welcoming each team and hosting them in what is sure to be an entertaining and world-class preseason tournament.”

Louisville City FC Head Coach John Hackworth said he welcomed the opportunity to compete against fellow USL Championship clubs during the preseason, an opportunity that came about thanks in part to assistant coach and former Monarchs player and assistant coach Danny Cruz.

“Danny brought this opportunity to our attention during the 2018 season,” Hackworth said. “At that time, we were unable to incorporate it into our 2019 preseason. However, after reflecting on our 2019 preseason preparation, Danny and I both felt that playing USL opponents during preseason would help us in the future.”

The Switchbacks claimed the inaugural edition of the tournament a season ago, and Head Coach Alan Koch is looking forward to returning to the event as he prepares for his first full season in charge in Colorado Springs.

“We are incredibly excited to play in this pre-season tournament,” said Koch. “To get to play both of the finalists from last year's USL Championship Final and also a new franchise in Omaha is going to make the week in Utah exciting and productive. It will give our new group the exposure to high level competition that we will need to prepare for a challenging 2020 season. I look forward to seeing how our players and the team respond to each match.”

All matchdays will be doubleheaders and are scheduled to be played at Zions Bank Stadium, pending inclement weather, with admission free to fans on all three days. If inclement weather occurs, matches will be played inside the Zions Bank Training Center which boasts over 200,000 sq. feet of playing surface across two fields. Matches will be played on February 16, 19 and 22.

Preseason camp will officially commence for the Monarchs on January 25 with training sessions being held in Herriman.

2020 Wasatch Winter Cup Schedule

Sunday, February 16

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Union Omaha, 5 p.m. MT

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Louisville City FC, 7 p.m. MT

Wednesday, February 19

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 10 a.m. MT

Union Omaha vs. Louisville City FC, 1 p.m. MT

Saturday, February 22

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Louisville City FC, 9 a.m. MT

Union Omaha vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 11:30 a.m. MT