| 2026 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | James Keston |
| Manager | Danny Stone |
| Stadium | Championship Soccer Stadium Irvine, California |
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]
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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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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| 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 |
In preparation for the 2026 USL Championship season, Orange County played in pre-season friendlies, mainly against MLS and USL teams. [4]
| January 24 | Los Angeles FC | 1–0 | Orange County SC | Los Angeles, CA |
| Report |
| February 4 | LA Galaxy | 2–0 | Orange County SC | Carson, CA |
| 11:00 AM | Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park |
| February 7 Coachella Valley Invitational | Orange County SC | 1–1 | Real Salt Lake | Irvine, California |
| Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 11 | Orange County SC | 1–1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 21 | Orange County SC | 0–3 | Ventura County FC | Irvine, CA |
| 12:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 21 | Orange County SC | 0–1 | AV Alta FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| February 28 | Orange County SC | 2–3 | UCLA Bruins | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | San Antonio FC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 7 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Sacramento Republic FC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 5 | |
| 4 | Orange County SC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | |
| 5 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 4 | |
| 6 | Lexington SC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 |
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 71 | Orange County SC | 1–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | MacKinnon | Report | Pickering | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,475 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
| March 142 | 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 |
| March 213 | Orange County SC | 1–0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Espy | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,510 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| March 284 | Oakland Roots SC | v | Orange County SC | Oakland, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Oakland Coliseum |
| April 45 | Orange County SC | v | New Mexico United | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| April 86 | Orange County SC | v | San Antonio FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| April 117 | FC Tulsa | v | Orange County SC | Tulsa, OK |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: ONEOK Field |
| April 188 | Orange County SC | v | Lexington SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| May 29 | Sacramento Republic FC | v | Orange County SC | Sacramento, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Heart Health Park |
| May 810 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | v | Orange County SC | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 6:00 PM | Stadium: Weidner Field |
| May 2311 | Orange County SC | v | Oakland Roots SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| June 612 | New Mexico United | v | Orange County SC | Albuquerque, NM |
| 6:30 PM | Stadium: Isotopes Park |
| June 1313 | Las Vegas Lights FC | v | Orange County SC | Las Vegas, NV |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: Cashman Field |
| June 2014 | Miami FC | v | Orange County SC | Miami, FL |
| 6:00 PM | Stadium: Pitbull Stadium |
| July 415 | Rhode Island FC | v | Orange County SC | Pawtucket, RI |
| 4:30 PM | Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium |
| July 816 | Hartford Athletic | v | Orange County SC | Hartford, CT |
| 4:00 PM | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| July 2517 | Monterey Bay FC | v | Orange County SC | Seaside, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Cardinale Stadium |
| August 118 | Orange County SC | v | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| August 819 | Orange County SC | v | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| August 1520 | Louisville City FC | v | Oakland Roots SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| August 2221 | Orange County SC | v | FC Tulsa | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| August 2922 | Oakland Roots SC | v | Orange County SC | Oakland, CA |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: Oakland Coliseum |
| September 523 | Orange County SC | v | Sacramento Republic FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| September 1224 | Orange County SC | v | Las Vegas Lights FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| September 1925 | Lexington SC | v | Orange County SC | Lexington, KY |
| 4:00 PM | Stadium: Lexington SC Stadium |
| September 2626 | Orange County SC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| October 327 | Orange County SC | v | Monterey Bay FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| October 1028 | El Paso Locomotive FC | v | Orange County SC | El Paso, TX |
| 6:00 PM | Stadium: Southwest University Park |
| October 1729 | Orange County SC | v | Phoenix Rising FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| October 2430 | San Antonio FC | v | Orange County SC | San Antonio, TX |
| 5:30 PM | Stadium: Toyota Field |
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]
| 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 |
| April 25 | Orange County SC | v | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| May 16 | Phoenix Rising FC | v | Orange County SC | Phoenix, AZ |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium |
| June 6 | AV Alta FC | v | Orange County SC | Lancaster, CA |
| 8:00 PM | Stadium: Lancaster Municipal Stadium |
| July 11 | Orange County SC | v | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Irvine, CA |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
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]
| March 18 | | 3–0 | | Irvine, California |
| 10:30 PM ET | Report | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,521 Referee: Juma Abdu-Razzaq |
| April 1 | | v | | Irvine, California |
| 10:00 PM ET | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |