2026 Hartford Athletic season
| 2026 season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Brendan Burke |
| Stadium | Trinity Health Stadium |
| USL Championship | Conference: TBD |
| U.S. Open Cup | Second round |
| USL Cup | Group stage |
| Biggest win | 3–0 (at Sporting Jax, March 7) |
The 2026 Hartford Athletic season is the the club's eighth season of existence and their eighth in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer.[1]
Hartford Athletic will also play in the U.S. Open Cup for the sixth time in club history and the USL Cup for the second time, after they defeated Sacramento Republic FC in the previous year's final.[2]
Transfers
In
| Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Matthew Real | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Free transfer | December 10, 2025 | [3] |
| MF | Barry Coffey | Cobh Ramblers | Free transfer | January 23, 2026 | [4][5] |
| GK | Enzo Carvalho | Bryant Bulldogs | Free agent | January 23, 2026 | [6] |
| FW | Augustine Williams | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Free transfer | January 27, 2026 | [7] |
| MF | Andrés Hernández | Alianza | Free transfer | February 5, 2026 | [8] |
| MF | Christos Hadjipaschalis | Akritas Chlorakas | Free transfer | February 5, 2026 | [9] |
| FW | Sadat Anaku | KCCA FC | Free transfer | February 13, 2026 | [10] |
| DF | Britton Fischer | Minnesota United | Loan | March 3, 2026 | [11] |
| DF | Jack Loura | New York City FC II | Free agent | March 17, 2026 | [12] |
| DF | Galen Flynn | South Carolina Gamecocks | Free agent | March 17, 2026 | [13] |
| FW | Spencer Gordon | Academy | Academy contract | March 17, 2026 | [14] |
| MF | Sean Canada | Farmington High School | Academy contract | March 18, 2026 | [15] |
Out
| Pos | Player | Transferred To | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Joe Farrell | Retired | N/A | December 2, 2025 | [16] |
| MF | Jonathan Jiménez | Free Agent | End of Contract | December 4, 2025 | [17] |
| MF | Jack Panayotou | New England Revolution | Loan Ended | December 4, 2025 | [18] |
| DF | Owen Presthus | Columbus Crew | Loan Ended | December 4, 2025 | [19] |
| FW | Kyle Edwards | Sacramento Republic | Free Transfer | January 15, 2026 | [20] |
Competitions
Friendlies
| January 31 | New York Red Bulls | 2-0 | Hartford Athletic | New Jersey |
| 12:00PM | Gjengaar , Sofo | Report | Stadium: New York Red Bulls Training Facility |
| February 14 | New England Revolution | 6-1 | Hartford Athletic | Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| 1:00 pm ET | Campana 21', 28' Gil 48' Klein 106' Yusuf 109' Oyirwoth 111' |
Report | 68' | Stadium: Revolution Training Center |
| Note: Match was played in three 45-minute periods. | ||||
USL Championship
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville City FC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 9 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Hartford Athletic | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 6 | |
| 4 | Charleston Battery | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 | |
| 5 | Detroit City FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
Updated to match(es) played on March 21, 2026. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins against conference opponents; 2) goal differential against conference opponents; 3) goals scored against conference opponents; 4) head-to-head points against conference opponents; 5) points per game against conference opponents; 6) points per game against non-conference opponents; 7) fewest disciplinary points; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) total wins against conference opponents; 2) goal differential against conference opponents; 3) goals scored against conference opponents; 4) head-to-head points against conference opponents; 5) points per game against conference opponents; 6) points per game against non-conference opponents; 7) fewest disciplinary points; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Matches
| March 7 | Sporting Club Jacksonville | 0–3 | Hartford Athletic | Jacksonville, Florida |
| 7:00 pm ET | Report | Stadium: Hodges Stadium Attendance: 10,357 Referee: Mathew Corrigan |
| March 11 | Birmingham Legion FC | 0–0 | Hartford Athletic | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 12:00 pm ET | Report | Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 3,974 Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva |
| March 21 | Brooklyn FC | 1–2 | Hartford Athletic | Brooklyn, New York |
| 7:00 pm ET | Report | Stadium: Maimonides Park Attendance: 2,257 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
| March 28 | Hartford Athletic | v | Indy Eleven | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 5:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| April 4 | Miami FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Miami, Florida |
| 4:00 pm ET | Stadium: Pitbull Stadium |
| April 11 | Hartford Athletic | v | El Paso Locomotive FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| April 18 | Hartford Athletic | v | Loudoun United FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| May 9 | Hartford Athletic | v | Detroit City FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| May 22 | FC Tulsa | v | Hartford Athletic | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 8:30 pm ET | Stadium: Oneok Field |
| May 30 | Hartford Athletic | v | New Mexico United | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| June 13 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | v | Hartford Athletic | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| 7:30 pm ET | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium |
| June 20 | Hartford Athletic | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| July 4 | Louisville City FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 8:00 pm ET | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium |
| July 8 | Hartford Athletic | v | Orange County SC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| July 18 | Rhode Island FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
| 7:30 pm ET | Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium |
| July 25 | Phoenix Rising FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 10:30 pm ET | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium |
| August 1 | Loudoun United FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Leesburg, Virginia |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Segra Field |
| August 9 | Indy Eleven | v | Hartford Athletic | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 5:00 pm ET | Stadium: IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium |
| August 15 | Hartford Athletic | v | Miami FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| August 29 | Hartford Athletic | v | Birmingham Legion FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| September 2 | Charleston Battery | v | Hartford Athletic | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
| September 5 | Detroit City FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Keyworth Stadium |
| September 12 | Hartford Athletic | v | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| September 16 | Hartford Athletic | v | Sporting Club Jacksonville | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| September 19 | Las Vegas Lights FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 10:30 pm ET | Stadium: Cashman Field |
| September 25 | Hartford Athletic | v | Louisville City FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| October 3 | Hartford Athletic | v | Charleston Battery | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| October 10 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Hartford Athletic | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| October 17 | Hartford Athletic | v | Brooklyn FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| October 24 | Hartford Athletic | v | Rhode Island FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
U.S. Open Cup
| March 21 First round | FC Motown | 0–2 | Hartford Athletic | Newark, New Jersey |
| 7:00 pm ET | Report | Stadium: Lubetkin Field Attendance: 206 Referee: Devin Dragon |
| April 1 Second round | Rhode Island FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
| Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium |
USL Cup
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooklyn FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Hartford Athletic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | New York Cosmos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Portland Hearts of Pine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Rhode Island FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Westchester SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First match(es) will be played: April 25, 2026. Source: [1]
Matches
| April 25 | Hartford Athletic | v | Rhode Island FC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| May 16 | Brooklyn FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Brooklyn, New York |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Maimonides Park |
| June 6 | New York Cosmos | v | Hartford Athletic | Paterson, New Jersey |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Hinchliffe Stadium |
| July 11 | Hartford Athletic | v | Westchester SC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 pm ET | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
References
- ^ "Our Story". www.hartfordathletic.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ "RECAP: Hartford Athletic Makes History Winning Their First-Ever USL Jägermeister Cup". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Bolsters Defense with Signing of Matt Real for the 2026 Season". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Adds Proven Goal-Scoring Midfielder Barry Coffey to Ignite the Attack in 2026". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ "Nenagh soccer player Barry Coffey signs for US club". Tipp FM. 2026-01-24. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Adds Towering, Big-Game Goalkeeper Enzo Carvalho to Fortify the Back Line in 2026". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Lands Proven Goal Scorer Augustine Williams to Power the Attack". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Adds Dynamic Salvadoran Midfielder Andrés Hernández Ahead of 2026". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Adds Versatile Cypriot Midfielder Christos Hadjipaschalis for 2026". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ^ "@hfdathletic: 'The Lethal Lefty is here! Ugandan forward Sadat Anaku joins...'".
- ^ MNUFC. "Minnesota United Loans Defender Britton Fischer to Hartford Athletic | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "@hfdathletic: 'CT's own Jack Loura has joined HA on a 25 day contract!...'".
- ^ "@hfdathletic: 'Veteran defender Galeyn Flynn has joined the team on a 25 day contract!...'".
- ^ "@hfdathletic: 'The work continues! 📈🟢🔵 Spencer Gordon is back!...'".
- ^ "@hfdathletic: 'Sean Canada joins Hartford Athletic on an Academy contract...'". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Dream Crazy: Joe Farrell's Legacy of Leadership, Heart, and Inspiration Lives On at Hartford Athletic". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Welcomes Back Key Players Ahead Of Upcoming Season". Hartford Athletic.
- ^ "Revolution loan Jack Panayotou to Loudoun United FC". New England Revolution. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ^ "Columbus Crew sign defenders Quinton Elliot and Owen Presthus, and forward Chase Adams as Homegrown players". Columbus Crew. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Thanks Kyle Edwards for Three Historic Seasons". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved 2026-01-26.