2026 Monterey Bay FC season

Monterey Bay FC
2026 season
OwnersRay Beshoff
ManagerJordan Stewart
StadiumCardinale Stadium
USL ChampionshipPre-season
USLC playoffsPre-season
U.S. Open CupDid Not Qualify
USL CupGroup stage

The 2026 Monterey Bay FC season is the club's fifth season since their establishment on February 1, 2021.[1]

Background

The 2025 off-season featured a large amount of roster turnover, starting with initial roster decisions announced on November 25th. Only nine players were retained from the previous season's final roster of twenty-five.[2] There would be further departures from this group in early 2026 as Nico Campuzano and Ethan Bryant would both mutually agree to part ways with Monterey Bay, while Mayele Malango, and Xavi Gnaulati would depart through transfers.[3][4][5][6]

Season squad

Squad No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age)
Goalkeepers
1 Fernando Delgado GK (2006-07-25) July 25, 2006
Defenders
3 Stuart Ritchie DF (2001-09-10) September 10, 2001
5 Nico Gordon DF (2002-04-28) April 28, 2002
6 Luka Malešević DF (1998-08-01) August 1, 1998
22 Joel Garcia Jr. DF (2002-04-26) April 26, 2002
25 Kelsey Egwu DF (2004-02-01) February 1, 2004
Zack Farnsworth DF (2002-07-13) July 13, 2002
Midfielders
4 Nicholas Ross MF (1991-11-11) November 11, 1991
7 Adrian Rebollar MF (1999-11-12) November 12, 1999
8 Giorgi Lomtadze MF (2001-10-30) October 30, 2001
10 Facundo Canete MF (2000-02-22) February 22, 2000
18 Belmar Joseph Jr. MF (2005-10-13) October 13, 2005
23 Eduardo Blancas MF (2001-11-14) November 14, 2001
41 Johnny Klein MF (1999-11-07) November 7, 1999
Forwards
11 Wesley Leggett FW (2001-03-16) March 16, 2001
20 Ilijah Paul FW (2002-07-26) July 26, 2002
Omari Glasgow FW (2003-11-22) November 22, 2003
Youssou Ndiaye FW (2007-05-30) May 30, 2007

Last updated: February 18, 2026.
Source: Monterey Bay F.C., USL Championship

Transfers

In

Pos. Player Signed from Details Date Ref.
DF Kelsey Egwu JK Narva Trans Free transfer December 8, 2025 [7]
DF Stuart Ritchie One Knoxville SC Free transfer December 12, 2025 [8]
MF Eduardo Blancas AV Alta FC Free transfer December 17, 2025 [9]
FW Wesley Leggett Charleston Battery Undisclosed fee December 23, 2025 [10]
MF Facundo Canete Carolina Core FC Undisclosed fee January 9, 2026 [11]
GK Fernando Delgado Birmingham Legion FC Free transfer January 9, 2026 [12]
MF Giorgi Lomtadze FC Dinamo Tbilisi Free transfer January 21, 2026 [13]
DF Luka Malešević FK Mornar Free transfer January 22, 2026 [14]
MF Nick Ross Sacramento Republic FC Free transfer January 23, 2026 [15]
DF Zack Farnsworth Real Salt Lake Free transfer February 13, 2026 [16]

Out

Date Pos. Player To Details Ref.
November 25, 2025 FW Alex Dixon Free agency Out of contract [17]
November 25, 2025 MF Mobi Fehr Free agency Out of contract [17]
November 25, 2025 MF Pierce Gallaway Free agency Out of contract [17]
November 25, 2025 GK Sam Gomez Free agency Contract option declined [17]
November 25, 2025 FW Diego Gutíerrez Free agency Contract option declined [17]
November 25, 2025 MF Wesley Fonguck Ebbsfleet United F.C. Loan concluded [17]
November 25, 2025 DF Sami Guediri Union Omaha Out of contract [17][18]
November 25, 2025 DF Carlos Guzmán Inter Toronto FC Out of contract [17]
November 25, 2025 FW Luke Ivanovic Turun Palloseura Contract option declined [17][19]
November 25, 2025 DF Alex Lara Free agency Out of contract [17]
November 25, 2025 DF Miles Lyons Charlotte Independence Contract option declined [17][20]
November 25, 2025 DF Jacob Muir Avondale FC Contract option declined [17][21]
November 25, 2025 GK Dallas Odle Free agency Out of contract [17]
November 25, 2025 DF Grant Robinson Free agency Out of contract [17]
November 25, 2025 FW Tarik Scott FC Dallas Loan concluded [17]
November 25, 2025 FW Anton Søjberg East Bengal FC Contract option declined [17][22]
January 2, 2026 GK Nico Campuzano Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Mutually parted ways [23][3]
January 8, 2026 FW Mayele Malango Sacramento Republic FC Club record fee [24][4]
January 9, 2026 MF Xavi Gnaulati Tacoma Defiance Fee with future incentives [5]
February 13, 2026 MF Ethan Bryant Sarasota Paradise Mutually parted ways [6][25]

Loaned In

Pos. Player Signed from Details Date Ref.
FW Youssou Ndiaye Be Sport Academy Undisclosed January 8, 2026 [26]
MF Belmar Joseph FC Sion Undisclosed January 16, 2026 [27]
FW Omari Glasgow Chicago Fire FC Undisclosed February 18, 2026 [28]

Competitions

Preseason

February 21 Preseason Oakland Roots SC v Monterey Bay FC Oakland, California
Note: Closed door scrimmage
February 28 Preseason Monterey Bay FC v C.F. Pachuca Select Seaside, California
7:00 PM Stadium: Cardinale Stadium

[29][30][31]

USL Championship

Western Conference

Matches

On December 10, 2025, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 25 teams.[32]

All times are in Pacific Standard Time.

March 7 1 Monterey Bay FC 0–1 Oakland Roots SC Seaside, California
7:00 PM Report Fisher 85' Stadium: Cardinale Stadium
Attendance: 4,240
Referee: Nabil Bensalah

USL Cup

Monterey Bay will participate in the third edition of the USL Cup, the second edition to feature teams from both the USL Championship and League One.[33]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 AC Boise 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 Las Vegas Lights FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Monterey Bay FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Oakland Roots SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Sacramento Republic FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: April 25, 2026 (2026-04-25). Source: [1]

Group stage

References

  1. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (February 1, 2021). "USL Championship Welcomes Monterey Bay Football Club". USL Championship. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Monterey Bay Football Club Announces 2026 Roster Decisions". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Monterey Bay FC X.com (January 2, 2026). "Monterey Bay FC X.com post". x.com. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Congolese-born Malawian striker Mayele Malango swaps American sides". www.panafricafootball.com. January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Wimberly, Taylor (January 9, 2026). "Tacoma Defiance bolsters midfield". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Monterey Bay FC Instagram". www.instagram.com. February 13, 2026. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  7. ^ "Monterey Bay Signs 21-Year-Old Canadian Defender Kelsey Egwu to Multi-Year Deal". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  8. ^ "Monterey Bay Adds Defender Stuart Ritchie Ahead of 2026 Campaign". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  9. ^ "Monterey Bay Signs Midfielder Eduardo "Lalo" Blancas". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  10. ^ "Monterey Bay Acquires Forward Wesley Leggett via Transfer from Charleston Battery". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  11. ^ "Monterey Bay Acquires Argentinian Midfielder Facundo Canete via Transfer from MLS NEXT Pro side Carolina Core FC". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  12. ^ "Monterey Bay Signs 19-Year-Old Mexican Youth International Goalkeeper Fernando Delgado Ahead of 2026 Campaign". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  13. ^ "Monterey Bay Signs Georgian Midfielder Giorgi Lomtadze to Multi-Year Deal". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  14. ^ "Monterey Bay Inks Montenegrin Defender Luka Malešević to Multi-Year Deal". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  15. ^ "Monterey Bay Signs USL Veteran Midfielder Nick Ross Heading Into the 2026 Campaign". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  16. ^ "Monterey Bay Signs Defensive Star to the 2026 Roster". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Monterey Bay Football Club Announces 2026 Roster Decisions". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  18. ^ "UNION OMAHA SIGNS DEFENDER SAMI GUEDIRI". Union Omaha. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  19. ^ Ristimäki, Aleksi (February 5, 2026). "Maalintekovoimaa Australiasta – Luke Ivanovic vahvistaa TPS:ää". FC TPS (in Finnish). Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  20. ^ "Miles Lyons Joins Jacks From USL Championship". Charlotte Independence. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  21. ^ Avondale FC (January 23, 2026). "Avondale FC Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  22. ^ "East Bengal FC Instagram". instagram.com. East Bengal FC. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  23. ^ WPXI com News Staff (January 2, 2026). "Pittsburgh Riverhounds sign new goalkeeper who previously played for Pitt". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  24. ^ "2024 USL Championship Roster Updates". Detroit City FC. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  25. ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs USL League One 2022 Young Player of the Year Ethan Bryant". Sarasota Paradise. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  26. ^ "Monterey Bay Acquires 18-year-old Winger Youssou Ndiaye On Loan From Be Sport Academy in Senegal". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  27. ^ "Monterey Bay Acquires Haitian Midfielder Belmar Joseph on Loan from Swiss Super League Club FC Sion". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  28. ^ "Monterey Bay Acquires Forward Omari Glasgow On Loan From Chicago Fire FC". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  29. ^ sjearthquakes. "NEWS: Earthquakes Announce 2026 Preseason Schedule | San Jose Earthquakes". sjearthquakes. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  30. ^ "Oakland Roots Sports Club Announces 2026 Preseason Schedule". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  31. ^ "Tickets available for international friendly between Monterey Bay FC and C.F. Pachuca". Monterey Bay FC. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  32. ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (December 10, 2025). "USL Championship Announces Competition Format for 2026 Season". USL Championship. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  33. ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (December 16, 2025). "Prinx Tires named entitlement partner of USL Cup". USL Championship. Retrieved December 21, 2025.