2026 Orange County SC season
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Orange County SC 2026 soccer season
| 2026 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | James Keston |
| Manager | Danny Stone |
| Stadium | Championship Soccer Stadium Irvine, California |
| U.S. Open Cup | Second Round |
2027 → | |
The 2026 Orange County SC season is the club's sixteenth season of existence, and their sixteenth consecutive season in the United Soccer League Championship, the second tier of American soccer.
Over the offseason, Orange County SC announced that they'd expand their long-time home Championship Soccer Stadium, where they've played matches since 2017, to accommodate the rapid increase of fan attendance.[1]
Academy
- As of January 19, 2026[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on Loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Technical staff
| Role[3] | Name |
|---|---|
| President of Soccer Operations & General Manager | Peter Nugent |
| Head Coach | Danny Stone |
| Assistant Coach | Didier Crettenand |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Victor Nogueira |
| Performance Data Analyst | Amanda Preciado |
| Performance Consultant | Dan Guzman |
| Head Academy Scout | Shawn Beyer |
| Team Operations Coordinator | Mario Lemus |
Competitions
Exhibitions
In preparation for the 2026 USL Championship season, Orange County played in pre-season friendlies, mainly against MLS and USL teams.[4]
Los Angeles FC v Orange County SC
| January 24 | Los Angeles FC | 1–0 | Orange County SC | Los Angeles, CA |
| Report |
LA Galaxy v Orange County SC
| February 4 | LA Galaxy | 2–0 | Orange County SC | Carson, CA |
| 11:00 AM | Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park |
Orange County SC v Real Salt Lake
| February 7 Coachella Valley Invitational | Orange County SC | 1–1 | Real Salt Lake | Irvine, California |
| Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Orange County SC v El Paso Locomotive FC
| February 11 | Orange County SC | 1–1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Orange County SC v Ventura County FC
| February 21 | Orange County SC | 0–3 | Ventura County FC | Irvine, CA |
| 12:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Orange County SC v AV Alta FC
| February 21 | Orange County SC | 0–1 | AV Alta FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Orange County SC v UCLA Bruins
| February 28 | Orange County SC | 2–3 | UCLA Bruins | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
USL Championship
Main article: 2026 USL Championship season
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange County SC | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 15 | Playoffs |
| 2 | San Antonio FC | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 15 | |
| 3 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 13 | |
| 4 | Sacramento Republic FC | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 10 | |
| 5 | Oakland Roots SC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 9 |
Updated to match(es) played on April 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
Match results
On December 16, 2025, the USL Championship released the schedule for all 25 teams for both the regular season and the USL Cup.[5][6]
All times are in Pacific Time.
March
Orange County SC v Las Vegas Lights FC
| March 7 1 | Orange County SC | 1–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | MacKinnon  22' |
Report | Pickering 84' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,475 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
Phoenix Rising FC v Orange County SC
| March 14 2 | Phoenix Rising FC | 1–1 | Orange County SC | Phoenix, AZ |
| 7:00 PM | Report |
|
Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 6,026 Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández |
Orange County SC v Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
| March 21 3 | Orange County SC | 1–0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Espy 88' |
Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,510 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
Oakland Roots SC v Orange County SC
| March 28 4 | Oakland Roots SC | 0–1 | Orange County SC | Oakland, California |
| 7:00 PM | Spiegel  90'+4' |
Report | Bunbury 47' |
Stadium: Oakland Coliseum Attendance: 6,724 Referee: Corbyn May |
April
Orange County SC v New Mexico United
| April 4 5 | Orange County SC | 0–1 | New Mexico United | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Report | Reid-Stephen 32' (pen.) |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,726 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
Orange County SC v San Antonio FC
| April 8 6 | Orange County SC | 2–0 | San Antonio FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 2,979 Referee: Natalie Simon |
FC Tulsa v Orange County SC
| April 11 7 | FC Tulsa | 0–1 | Orange County SC | Tulsa, OK |
| 5:00 PM | Report | MacKinnon 55' |
Stadium: ONEOK Field Attendance: 4,004 Referee: Alyssa Pennington |
Orange County SC v Lexington SC
| April 18 8 | Orange County SC | 0–0 | Lexington SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,077 Referee: Muhammad Hassan |
May
Sacramento Republic FC v Orange County SC
| May 2 9 | Sacramento Republic FC | v | Orange County SC | Sacramento, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Heart Health Park |
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC v Orange County SC
| May 8 10 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | v | Orange County SC | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 6:00 PM | Stadium: Weidner Field |
Orange County SC v Oakland Roots SC
| May 23 11 | Orange County SC | v | Oakland Roots SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
June
New Mexico United v Orange County SC
| June 6 12 | New Mexico United | v | Orange County SC | Albuquerque, NM |
| 6:30 PM | Stadium: Isotopes Park |
Las Vegas Lights FC v Orange County SC
| June 13 13 | Las Vegas Lights FC | v | Orange County SC | Las Vegas, NV |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: Cashman Field |
Miami FC v Orange County SC
| June 20 14 | Miami FC | v | Orange County SC | Miami, FL |
| 6:00 PM | Stadium: Pitbull Stadium |
July
Rhode Island FC v Orange County SC
| July 4 15 | Rhode Island FC | v | Orange County SC | Pawtucket, RI |
| 4:30 PM | Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium |
Hartford Athletic v Orange County SC
| July 8 16 | Hartford Athletic | v | Orange County SC | Hartford, CT |
| 4:00 PM | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
Monterey Bay FC v Orange County SC
| July 25 17 | Monterey Bay FC | v | Orange County SC | Seaside, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Cardinale Stadium |
August
Orange County SC v El Paso Locomotive FC
| August 1 18 | Orange County SC | v | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Orange County SC v Tampa Bay Rowdies
| August 8 19 | Orange County SC | v | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Louisville City FC v Oakland Roots SC
| August 15 20 | Louisville City FC | v | Oakland Roots SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Orange County SC v FC Tulsa
| August 22 21 | Orange County SC | v | FC Tulsa | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Oakland Roots SC v Orange County SC
| August 29 22 | Oakland Roots SC | v | Orange County SC | Oakland, CA |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: Oakland Coliseum |
September
Orange County SC v Sacramento Republic FC
| September 5 23 | Orange County SC | v | Sacramento Republic FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Orange County SC v Las Vegas Lights FC
| September 12 24 | Orange County SC | v | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Lexington SC v Orange County SC
| September 19 25 | Lexington SC | v | Orange County SC | Lexington, KY |
| 4:00 PM | Stadium: Lexington SC Stadium |
Orange County SC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| September 26 26 | Orange County SC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
October
Orange County SC v Monterey Bay FC
| October 3 27 | Orange County SC | v | Monterey Bay FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
El Paso Locomotive FC v Orange County SC
| October 10 28 | El Paso Locomotive FC | v | Orange County SC | El Paso, TX |
| 6:00 PM | Stadium: Southwest University Park |
Orange County SC v Phoenix Rising FC
| October 17 29 | Orange County SC | v | Phoenix Rising FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
San Antonio FC v Orange County SC
| October 24 30 | San Antonio FC | v | Orange County SC | San Antonio, TX |
| 5:30 PM | Stadium: Toyota Field |
USL Cup
Main article: USL Cup
Orange County will participate in the third edition of the USL Cup, and the second edition to feature teams from both the USL Championship and League One.[7]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | New Mexico United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Orange County SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Phoenix Rising FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group stage
Orange County SC v El Paso Locomotive FC
| April 25 | Orange County SC | v | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Phoenix Rising FC v Orange County SC
| May 16 | Phoenix Rising FC | v | Orange County SC | Phoenix, AZ |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium |
AV Alta FC v Orange County SC
| June 6 | AV Alta FC | v | Orange County SC | Lancaster, CA |
| 8:00 PM | Stadium: Lancaster Municipal Stadium |
Orange County SC v Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
| July 11 | Orange County SC | v | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
US Open Cup
Main article: 2026 U.S. Open Cup
Orange County entered the 2026 US Open Cup at home against fellow Orange County-based club Laguna United FC, an amateur club that plays in the United Premier Soccer League.[8] Following an easy route of Laguna United,[9] Orange County was matched up at home against Phoenix Rising FC, who also plays in the USL Championship.[10] Despite a late goal to send the match to extra time, Orange County ultimately lost in added extra time in the second round, continuing a trend of early exits from the U.S. Open Cup.[11]
Orange County SC (USLC) v Laguna United FC (UPSL)
| March 18 First Round | Orange County SC (USLC) | 3–0 | Laguna United FC (UPSL) | Irvine, California |
| 10:30 PM ET | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,521 Referee: Juma Abdu-Razzaq |
Orange County SC (USLC) 
v 
Phoenix Rising FC (USLC)
v 
Phoenix Rising FC (USLC)
| April 1 Second Round | Orange County SC (USLC) | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) | Irvine, California |
| 10:00 p.m. ET |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Referee: Mark Verso |
References
- ↑ Le, Victoria (February 5, 2026). "Orange County Soccer Club to amp up capacity at Great Park home stadium". Orange County Register. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Roster". Orange County Soccer Club. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Technical Staff". Orange County SC. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ↑ Wander, Nathan (March 4, 2026). "2026 Orange County SC Preseason Recap". Orange & Black SoccerCast. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ↑ USLSoccer.com Staff (December 16, 2025). "USL Championship Announces 2026 Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ↑ "2026 Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ↑ Lewis, Michael (December 16, 2025). "THIRD EDITION: Prinx Tires USL Cup kicks off on April 25". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ↑ USLChampionship Staff (January 27, 2026). "U.S. Soccer announces draw for First Round of 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". USL League Two. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ↑ Padilla, Kathryne (March 19, 2026). "2026 US Open Cup Round 1: Orange County SC takes care of business, 3-0 vs. Laguna United". Retrieved March 27, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Soccer Reveals 16-Match Schedule for Second Round of 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". ussoccer.com. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
- ↑ Juniper, Glen (April 3, 2026). "2026 US Open Cup Round 2: Vukovic's OT header sends Phoenix Rising FC past Orange County SC". Retrieved April 12, 2026.
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