2026 Tampa Bay Rowdies season

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Tampa Bay Rowdies
2026 season
Chairman Patrick Zalupski
Head coachDominic Casciato
Stadium Al Lang Stadium
←  2025
2027 →

The 2026 Tampa Bay Rowdies season was the Tampa Bay Rowdies' seventeenth season of existence, their tenth in the United Soccer League, and eight in the USL Championship. Including the previous Tampa Bay Rowdies, this was their 33nd season of a franchise in the Tampa Bay metro area with the Rowdies moniker. Including the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny, this was the 38th season of professional soccer in the Tampa Bay region. [1]

Contents

Starting in the 2025 season the club was able to return to long-time home stadium Al Lang Stadium, having to have completed the 2024 season at IMG Academy due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene. [2] [3]

Following the 2025 season, with both changes to the coaching staff and ownership, Tampa Bay started a reset by announcing their end of season roster decisions, only keeping eight players moving towards the 2026 season. [4]

Club

Roster

As of January 8, 2026 [5]
Squad No.NameNationalityPosition(s)SinceDate of Birth (Age)Signed fromGames PlayedGoals Scored
Goalkeepers
1 Jahmali Waite Flag of Jamaica.svg GK 2026December 24, 1998 (age 27) Flag of the United States.svg El Paso Locomotive FC
24 Austin Pack Flag of the United States.svg GK 2026February 15, 1994 (age 31) Flag of the United States.svg Tormenta FC
Defenders
5Yanis Leerman Flag of France.svg DF 2026June 15, 1998 (age 27) Flag of the United States.svg Loudoun United FC
20 Charlie Ostrem Flag of the United States.svg DF 2026October 12, 1999 (age 26) Flag of the United States.svg Union Omaha
22 Gennaro Nigro Flag of the United States.svg DF 2026May 29, 2000 (age 25) Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas Lights FC
26 Dion Acoff Flag of the United States.svg DF 2026September 23, 1991 (age 34) Flag of the United States.svg Union Omaha
27 Laurence Wyke Flag of England.svg DF 2025September 20, 1996 (age 29) Flag of the United States.svg Phoenix Rising FC
55 Leland Archer Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg DF 2026January 8, 1996 (age 30) Flag of the United States.svg Charleston Battery
62 Nathan Dossantos Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg DF 2026April 11, 1999 (age 26) Flag of the United States.svg Charleston Battery
Midfielders
4 Lewis Hilton Flag of England.svg MF 2020October 22, 1993 (age 32) Flag of the United States.svg Saint Louis FC
8 Pedro Dolabella Flag of Brazil.svg MF 2026July 29, 1999 (age 26) Flag of the United States.svg North Carolina FC
13 Louis Perez Flag of France.svg MF 2026July 11, 1997 (age 28) Flag of the United States.svg North Carolina FC
16 Marco Micaletto Flag of Italy.svg MF 2026January 19, 1996 (age 29) Flag of the United States.svg Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
19 Alex Mendez Flag of the United States.svg MF 2025September 6, 2000 (age 25) Flag of Mexico.svg FC Juárez
23 Max Schneider Flag of Germany.svg MF 2026July 28, 2000 (age 25) Flag of the United States.svg Union Omaha
30 Sebastian Cruz Flag of the United States.svg MF 2026July 31, 2000 (age 25) Flag of the United States.svg AV Alta FC
47 Luis Álvarez Flag of Argentina.svg MF 2025January 25, 2003 (age 22) Flag of the United States.svg Charlotte Independence
Forwards
7 Evan Conway Flag of the United States.svg FW 2026November 7, 1997 (age 28) Flag of the United States.svg North Carolina FC
9 MD Myers Flag of the United States.svg FW 2026April 5, 2001 (age 24) Flag of the United States.svg Charleston Battery
10 Russell Cicerone Flag of the United States.svg FW 2026November 17, 1994 (age 31) Flag of the United States.svg Sacramento Republic FC
14 Karsen Henderlong Flag of the United States.svg FW 2026September 24, 2000 (age 25) Flag of the United States.svg FC Naples
21Endri Mustali Flag of the United States.svg CF 2024June 7, 2007 (age 18) Flag of the United States.svg Tampa Bay United Rowdies SC

Team management and staff

Front Office
Owner Flag of the United States.svg Patrick Zalupski
Co-chairman Flag of the United States.svg Ken Babby
Co-chairman Flag of the United States.svg Brian Auld
President Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Helfrick
Head of Soccer Operations Flag of Argentina.svg Nico Castillo
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Flag of England.svg Dominic Casciato
Assistant Coach Flag of the United States.svg Steve Coleman
Assistant Coach Flag of France.svg Yann Ekra
Assistant Coach Flag of the United States.svg John Pascarella
Goalkeeping Coach Flag of England.svg Stuart Dobson


Competative fixtures

USL Championship

Standings

PosTeam
PldWLTGFGAGDPts
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

Matches

On December 16, 2025, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 25 teams. [6]

WinDrawLoss
MatchdayDateOpponentVenueLocationResult [a] ScorersAttendanceRefereePosition
1March 7 Birmingham Legion FC Protective Stadium Birmingham, Alabama
2March 21 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
3March 28 Loudoun United FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
4April 4 Sporting Club Jacksonville Hodges Stadium Jacksonville, Florida
5April 11 Oakland Roots SC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
6April 18 Charleston Battery Patriots Point Soccer Complex Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
7May 2 Indy Eleven Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
8May 9 Rhode Island FC Centreville Bank Stadium Pawtucket, Rhode Island
9May 20 New Mexico United Isotopes Park Albuquerque, New Mexico
10May 23 Phoenix Rising FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
11May 30 Louisville City FC Lynn Family Stadium Louisville, Kentucky
12June 10 Charleston Battery Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
13June 13 Hartford Athletic Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
14June 20 Brooklyn FC Maimonides Park Brooklyn, New York
15July 4 Lexington SC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
16July 25 Miami FC Pitbull Stadium Miami-Dade County, Florida
17August 1 Louisville City FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
18August 8 Orange County SC Championship Soccer Stadium Irvine, California
19August 15 Rhode Island FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
20August 22 Detroit City FC Keyworth Stadium Hamtramck, Michigan
21August 29 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Highmark Stadium Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
22September 5 Brooklyn FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
23September 12 Hartford Athletic Trinity Health Stadium Hartford, Connecticut
24September 16 Loudoun United FC Segra Field Leesburg, Virginia
25September 19 Birmingham Legion FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
26September 26 San Antonio FC Toyota Field San Antonio, Texas
27October 3 Miami FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
28October 10 Indy Eleven Carroll Soccer Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
29October 17 Detroit City FC Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
30October 24 Sporting Club Jacksonville Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
  1. ↑ Tampa Bay Rowdies's score written first

USL Cup

On December 16, 2025, USL Championship announced the format for the third iteration of the USL Cup, that will feature all 43 teams from its league and USL League One. Of note is the match on April 25, 2025, which will be the first time Tampa Bay will face Sarasota Paradise of League One. [7]

Standings

Group stage

WinDrawLoss
MatchdayDateOpponentVenueLocationResult [a] ScorersAttendanceRefereePosition
1April 25 Sarasota Paradise (USL1) Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
2May 16 Miami FC (USLC) Pitbull Stadium Miami-Dade County, Florida
3June 6 Sporting Club Jacksonville (USLC) Hodges Stadium Jacksonville, Florida
4July 11 FC Naples (USL1) Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg, Florida
  1. ↑ Tampa Bay Rowdies's score written first

U.S. Open Cup

On December 4, 2025, U.S. Soccer announced the format for the 2026 U.S. Open Cup. To prevent any scheduling conflict with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Open Cup was being reduced to 80 teams with seven rounds of play, rather than the eight rounds as it had in 2025. Because of this USL Championship was only given 17 slots based on 2025 standings. Tampa Bay did not qualify for one of those slots and will not partake in the competition this year. [8]


References

  1. ↑ Wiser, Nanette (February 24, 2025). "Rowdies set to celebrate 50 years in St. Petersburg". TBNweekly. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  2. ↑ Parker, Mark (January 24, 2025). "Rowdies anticipate return to flood-damaged Al Lang". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  3. ↑ Lewis, Kevin (April 11, 2025). "Finally! The Rowdies return to Al Lang Stadium". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Rowdies Announce Roster Decisions for 2026 Season". Tampa Bay Rowdies. November 24, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Roster". USL Championship. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Rowdies Announce 2026 Schedule". Tampa Bay Rowdies. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Prinx Tires named entitlement partner of USL Cup". USL Championship. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Format, Schedule and Participating Teams Finalized for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". United States Soccer Federation. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
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