MOLINE, ILLINOIS (November 13, 2025) — The Indoor Football League released the full 2026 league schedule on Thursday, and the Quad City Steamwheelers will open the new campaign on the road as they travel to Indiana for a Week 1 meeting with the Fishers Freight on Saturday, March 14. The match-up marks the first of two contests between the clubs this season, with the Freight making their long-awaited trip to the Quad Cities in July.
The home opener arrives one week later as the sQUAD hosts the Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday, March 21. The Battle of I-80 delivered one of the league's most exciting rivalries last season, and the Wheelers look to carry that momentum into another physical, high-energy showdown inside Vibrant Arena. Quad City rolls into an early bye on March 28 before two major challenges await in April.
Coming out of the break, the Steamwheelers head east for a Sunday, April 5, match-up against the Pirates, whose home location is yet to be announced by the league. A quick turnaround leads into one of the season's marquee home games as the Wheelers welcome the Green Bay Blizzard on Saturday, April 11, for a rematch of last years' Eastern Conference Championship and the first of three meetings in 2026.
Quad City hits the road again in Week 6, traveling west to face the San Diego Strike Force on Friday, April 17, followed by another home showdown as the Jacksonville Sharks return to the Quad Cities on Sunday, April 26. The sQUAD then shifts back to the road for consecutive rivalry road trips, first to Des Moines on May 2 to face Iowa, then to Green Bay on May 9 for a rematch with the Blizzard.
The Wheelers return to the Quad Cities on Friday, May 15, for a rare meeting against the Tucson Sugar Skulls before entering a Week 11 bye. This will the first time the Steamwheelers welcome the Sugar Skulls to Vibrant Arena since 2019. After the break, the Steamwheelers head to Las Vegas to square off with the Knight Hawks on Saturday, May 30, which will be be the sQUAD's first trip back since 2022.
June opens with a renewal of a classic rivalry as the Blizzard come to town on Saturday, June 6, followed by another road Battle of I-80 on Saturday, June 13, in Des Moines. A Week 15 bye leads the Wheelers into a battle down the stretch, as the Pirates make their trip to Vibrant Arena on June 28. The sQUAD will rest during the Fourth of July weekend before beginning a three-game stretch to close out the regular season.
The Steamwheelers open July by hosting the Fishers Freight on Saturday, July 11, then travel to Oklahoma to meet the Tulsa Oilers on July 18. Quad City closes the 2026 regular season at home on Saturday, July 25, in a rematch with Tulsa, both games potentially having play-off implications.
Season tickets for the 2026 Quad City Steamwheelers season are on sale now. For more information, visit SteamwheelersFootball.com/SeasonTickets.
