FC Cincinnati 2 begins its fifth consecutive season in MLS NEXT Pro on Sunday, March 1, 2026, hosting CT United FC at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium. The Orange and Blue will kick off the season at home for the fourth year in a row with kickoff set for 6 p.m. ET. This matchup marks an important start as FC Cincinnati 2 strives to build on previous seasons and make a strong impression in the league with several new players and coaching changes.
Where to Watch and Get Tickets for the Season Opener
Fans can secure tickets for the home opener via the FC Cincinnati app or by using a SeatGeek account. For those unable to attend, the match will be streamed live on OneFootball platforms as well as MLSNEXTPro.com, providing extensive coverage of the kickoff event. Supporters are also encouraged to follow FC Cincinnati 2 on social media through X, Instagram, and Facebook to stay updated on team news throughout the season.
Roster Enhancements and New Talent for the 2026 Season
The offseason was marked by significant additions to the FC Cincinnati 2 squad, including twelve new players, seven of whom are 19 years old or younger. This youthful infusion includes academy midfielder Jack Mize, Deiver Mosquera — younger brother of English Premier League defender Yerson Mosquera — along with Nathan Gray and Giovanni Marioni. These young players bring fresh energy and potential to the team’s dynamic moving forward.
FC Cincinnati 2 has also added players with MLS NEXT Pro experience, such as goalkeeper Bryan Dowd, who has played with Chicago Fire FC II and Huntsville City FC, and midfielders Leo Orejarena from North Texas SC and Michael Sullivan from Toronto FC II. Together, these three have accumulated 59 appearances in league play over the past two seasons, offering valuable professional insight.
Additional reinforcements come from college soccer backgrounds, with Charlie Holmes and Sami Lachekar, alumni of the University of Connecticut and UNC Greensboro respectively, joining the squad. Holmes’ former collegiate teammate, Ayoub Lajhar—selected by FC Cincinnati in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft—also signed professional terms with the club.
Loan players Félix Samson and Mathias Vazquez strengthen the roster further. Samson arrives from MLS side CF Montréal, while Vazquez is on loan from Honduran club FC Motagua and previously faced FC Cincinnati in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.
New Coaching Staff to Lead the Team
FC Cincinnati 2 will debut two new coaches against CT United. Head Coach Sammy Castellanos takes the reins after leading the Chicago Fire FC Academy’s U18 team from 2023 to 2025, becoming only the second head coach in FCC 2’s history. Assisting Castellanos is Anthony Wallace, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and previously worked with the St. Louis CITY SC Academy and the U.S. Youth National Team (U15).
Introducing CT United FC: New Opponents in MLS NEXT Pro
CT United FC makes its MLS NEXT Pro debut this season as an independent club based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Founded in 2024, they join Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC as one of three non-MLS affiliated teams playing the league this year. FC Cincinnati 2 will face CT United three times during the season, including two home fixtures and one away trip, beginning with the Sunday opener.
CT United’s Roster and Coaching Staff for Their Inaugural Season
CT United enters their first MLS NEXT Pro match carrying a 21-player roster, featuring loan players Ibrahim Kasule and Steven Sserwadda from Red Bull New York II. Kasule distinguished himself as a potent offensive weapon during his three seasons with RBNYII, scoring 28 goals and assisting on 11. Forward Alex Monis, another former New England Revolution II player, also joins CT United, having contributed 15 goals and seven assists across 58 appearances for Revs II between 2023 and 2025.
Shavar Thomas, a veteran of four MLS NEXT Pro seasons as an assistant coach with FC Cincinnati 2, leads CT United as their inaugural head coach. Thomas was part of the coaching staff responsible for FC Cincinnati 2’s first-place finish in the Eastern Conference in 2024. He is supported by assistant coach Daniel Gutierrez, formerly with MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions Red Bull New York II, and goalkeeper coach Javier Decima, previously at Sacred Heart University.
Season Outlook and Anticipated Challenges
The 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season sets the stage for emerging talent, new coaching leadership, and fresh competition. For FC Cincinnati 2, the infusion of young players combined with experienced staff presents both opportunities and uncertainties in their pursuit of a successful campaign. Facing a newly established and motivated CT United FC in the season opener adds to the tension and anticipation surrounding the team’s early results. How the Orange and Blue adapt to these changes will be crucial in determining their trajectory through the season and their position in the league.
