2026 Rhode Island FC season

Last updated

Rhode Island FC
2026 season
Head coach Khano Smith
Stadium Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
USL Championship Eastern Conference: TBD
U.S. Open Cup Round 1
USL Cup TBD, Group 5
←  2025
2027 →
All statistics correct as of 0:00, January 20, 2025 (UTC).

The 2026 Rhode Island FC season will be the third season for Rhode Island FC, and their third in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States.

Contents

RIFC will play an unbalanced 30-game regular season schedule, plus four USL Cup games. They will play their Eastern Conference opponents twice, each home and away, and six of the teams in the Western Conference, three home and three away. The top eight teams in each conference will make the playoffs. [1]

The group stage of the 2026 USL Cup will have six teams competing in Group 5, each playing four games, two home and two away. [2] RIFC will also enter in the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup.

Player Movement

In

No.Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource
8 FW Flag of Brazil.svg Leo Afonso Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta United Free transferJanuary 8, 2026 [3]
22 DF Flag of the United States.svg Nick Scardina Flag of the United States.svg Charlotte FC Free transferJanuary 9, 2026 [4]
29 GK Flag of the United States.svg Jacob Castro Flag of the United States.svg Tacoma Defiance Free transferJanuary 13, 2026 [5]
10 MF Flag of Argentina.svg Agustín Rodríguez Flag of Argentina.svg Club Atlético Lanús LoanJanuary 14, 2026 [6]

Out

DatePos.PlayerTransactionDetailsNew ClubRef.
December 19, 2025 MF Flag of the United States.svg Maxi Rodriguez TransferUndisclosed fee Detroit City FC [7]
January 9, 2026 FW Flag of Cameroon.svg Albert Dikwa TransferUndisclosed fee Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC [8]
January 16, 2026 DF Flag of Zambia.svg Aimé Mabika ReleaseMutual Consent [9]

Roster

As of January 18, 2026 [10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Koke Vegas
2 DF Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Dani Rovira
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Aldair Sanchez
4 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Hugo Bacharach
5 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Grant Stoneman
7 MF Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Dwayne Atkinson
8 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Leo Afonso
9 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA JJ Williams
10 MF Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Agustín Rodríguez (on loan from Club Atlético Lanús)
11 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Noah Fuson
12 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Clay Holstad
No.Pos.NationPlayer
13 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Will Meyer
15 DF Flag of Cuba.svg  CUB Frank Nodarse
17 MF Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Jojea Kwizera
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kevin Vang
20 MF Flag of Haiti.svg  HAI Zachary Herivaux
22 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Nick Scardina
24 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Karifa Yao
27 FW Flag of Cameroon.svg  CMR Mathieu Ndongo
29 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jacob Castro
32 DF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Hamady Diop
77 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Amos Shapiro-Thompson

Competitions

Preseason Friendlies

As they did last year, the team worked out at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for a portion of the preseason.

January 28 New England Revolution II v Rhode Island FC
February 1 Sporting Club Jacksonville v Rhode Island FC Bradenton, FL
Stadium: IMG Academy
February 7 Sarasota Paradise v Rhode Island FC Bradenton, FL
Stadium: IMG Academy
February 12 Philadelphia Union II v Rhode Island FC Bradenton, FL
Stadium: IMG Academy
February 20 Hartford Athletic v Rhode Island FC Hartford, CT
February 28 Rhode Island FC v Brooklyn FC Pawtucket, RI
Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium

USL Championship

Eastern Conference

PosTeam
PldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Birmingham Legion FC 00000000 Playoffs
2 Brooklyn FC 00000000
3 Charleston Battery 00000000
4 Detroit City FC 00000000
5 Hartford Athletic 00000000
6 Indy Eleven 00000000
7 Loudoun United FC 00000000
8 Louisville City FC 00000000
9 Miami FC 00000000
10 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 00000000
11 Rhode Island FC 00000000
12 Sporting Club Jacksonville 00000000
13 Tampa Bay Rowdies 00000000
First match(es) will be played: March 7, 2026. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
000000 0000000 000000 0

Last updated: January 1, 2026.
Source: Match reports

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
StadiumHHAAHAHHHHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
Result
Eastern Conference
Updated to match(es) played on January 1, 2026. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss


Regular season

March 71 Rhode Island FC v Loudoun United FC Pawtucket, RI
2:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
March 142 Rhode Island FC v Sporting Club Jacksonville Pawtucket, RI
4:00PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
March 213 Louisville City FC v Rhode Island FC Louisville, KY
4:00PMStadium: Lynn Family Stadium
March 284 Miami FC v Rhode Island FC Miami, FL
7:00PMStadium: Pitbull Stadium
April 45 Rhode Island FC v Detroit City FC Pawtucket, RI
4:00PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
April 116 Lexington SC v Rhode Island FC Lexington, KY
7:00PMStadium: Lexington SC Stadium
April 227 Rhode Island FC v Charleston Battery Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
May 28 Rhode Island FC v Birmingham Legion FC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
May 99 Rhode Island FC v Tampa Bay Rowdies Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
May 2310 Rhode Island FC v Brooklyn FC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
May 3011 Indy Eleven v Rhode Island FC Indianapolis, IN
7:00PMStadium: Caroll Stadium
June 1312 Loudoun United FC v Rhode Island FC Leesburg, VA
6:00PMStadium: Segra Field
July 413 Rhode Island FC v Orange County SC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
July 814 Sacramento Republic FC v Rhode Island FC Sacramento, CA
10:30PMStadium: Heart Health Park
July 1815 Rhode Island FC v Hartford Athletic Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
July 2516 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Rhode Island FC Pittsburgh, PA
7:00PMStadium: Highmark Stadium
August 117 Birmingham Legion FC v Rhode Island FC Birmingham, AL
8:00PMStadium: Protective Stadium
August 818 Rhode Island FC v Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
August 1519 Tampa Bay Rowdies v Rhode Island FC St. Petersburg, FL
7:30PMStadium: Al Lang Stadium
August 2220 Rhode Island FC v Monterey Bay FC Pawtucket, RI
Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
August 2921 FC Tulsa v Rhode Island FC Oneok Field
8:30PMReferee: Tulsa, OK
September 522 Rhode Island FC v Louisville City FC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
September 1223 Sporting Club Jacksonville v Rhode Island FC Jacksonville, FL
7:00PMStadium: Hodges Stadium
September 1924 Rhode Island FC v Miami FC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
September 2625 Charleston Battery v Rhode Island FC Mount Pleasant, SC
7:00PMStadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex
September 3026 Rhode Island FC v Indy Eleven Pawtucket, RI
Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
October 327 Brooklyn FC v Rhode Island FC Brooklyn, NY
7:00PMStadium: Maimonides Park
October 1028 Detroit City FC v Rhode Island FC Hamtramck, MI
7:00PMStadium: Keyworth Stadium
October 1729 Rhode Island FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
October 2430 Hartford Athletic v Rhode Island FC Hartford, CT
7:00PMStadium: Trinity Health Stadium


U.S. Open Cup

RIFC enters in the First Round of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, joining the competition at the same time as 16 other USL Championship teams. [11] Their initial game will be against an amateur team, and will occur between March 17 and March 19. [12]



USL Cup

Matches

Group Rounds

April 25Round 1 Hartford Athletic v Rhode Island FC Hartford, CT
7:00PMStadium: Trinity Health Stadium
May 16Round 2 Portland Hearts of Pine v Rhode Island FC Portland, ME
4:00PMStadium: Fitzpatrick Stadium
June 6Round 3 Rhode Island FC v Westchester SC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
July 11Round 4 Rhode Island FC v Brooklyn FC Pawtucket, RI
7:30PMStadium: Centreville Bank Stadium


References

  1. ↑ Staff, USLChampionship com (December 10, 2025). "USL Championship Announces Competition Format for 2026 Season". USL Championship. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ Staff, USLChampionship com (December 16, 2025). "Prinx Tires named entitlement partner of USL Cup". USL Championship. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Rhode Island FC Signs Forward Leo Afonso For 2026 Season". Rhode Island FC. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Rhode Island FC Signs Defender Nick Scardina For 2026 Season". Rhode Island FC. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Rhode Island FC Signs Goalkeeper Jacob Castro For 2026 Season". Rhode Island FC. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Rhode Island FC Adds Midfielder Agustín "Pity" Rodríguez on Loan For 2026 Season". Rhode Island FC. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Rodriguez Returns to Detroit City FC on Multi-Year Deal". Detroit City FC. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Rhode Island FC Transfers Albert Dikwa "Chico" to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC". Rhode Island FC. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Rhode Island FC, Aimé Mabika Agree to Mutual Contract Termination". Rhode Island FC. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Roster Archive". Rhode Island FC. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  11. ↑ Sillick, Jake (December 4, 2025). "2026 US Open Cup format: FIFA World Cup shrinks 111th tournament" . Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Format, Schedule and Participating Teams Finalized for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". ussoccer.com. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.