The 2026 Austin FC II season is the club's fourth season in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of soccer in the United States. They play in the league's Western Conference. Austin FC II finished in 9th place in the Western Conference and 15th overall in the 2025 MLS Next Pro season, failing to qualify for the playoffs.
Background
Austin FC started playing in the MLS Western Conference in 2021. In August 2022 it was announced that they would launch a MLS Next Pro team for the 2023 season. Austin FC II first season was the 2023 season, where they finished the season 2nd in the Western Conference and went on to win the 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup.
Season Preseason On November 21, 2025, Austin FC II announced they had named Jason Shackell the new head coach. Shackell has been a member of the academy coaching staff since 2021. On January 15, 2026, Austin FC II announced their first new signing for the season, bringing on Senegalese forward Ibrahima Sall through the 2027 season with a one-year option. Sall joined Austin from Serie D club SSD San Nicolò Notaresco. On the same day, Austin also announced the signing of goalkeeper Erik Lauta as a free agent through the 2027 season. Lauta spent his first professional season with Huntsville City FC. On January 27, Austin announced they had loaned Antonio Gomez to USL Championship side Sporting Club Jacksonville for the duration of the 2026 season. On February 3, Austin announced two more roster moves as they prepare for 2026 season. Austin traded Bonachera to Sant Andreu and signed Evan Watt through the 2027 season. On February 6, Austin FC II announced they had signed both 2026 MLS SuperDraft pick, forward Stefan Dobrijevic and midfielder Patrick Cayelli. Both players are on two year contracts taking them through the 2027 season, with options for 2028. On February 12, Austin FC II announced the signing of defender Neo Che. Che is signed to a three-year contract, through the 2028 season. Austin FC II signed Kosovar defender Dren Dobruna on February 20, bringing the left back on with a guarantee through the 2027 season and club option for 2028. Prior to the first game, Austin announced updates for the 2026 roster. First team defender Riley Thomas, goalkeeper Damian Las, forward CJ Fodrey, midfielder Micah Burton, and midfielder Ervin Torres signed loans for the 2026 season. In addition academy players Defender Chuy Moreno, goalkeeper Cooper Roney, goalkeeper Liam Flynn, defender Vona Dievbiere, midfielder Landry Moncrief, defender Ryan Klinger, winger Aiden Hale, and defender Sebastian Seiterle signed amateur agreements.
Early season Austin played their first match of the season on March 1, falling 2–4 to Minnesota United FC 2. Both of Austin goals were scored by Spanish midfielder Jorge Alastuey. Austin earned their first point of the season in a 2–2 draw versus Ventura County FC, but failed to secure the second point falling 2–3 in the shootout. Goals for Austin were scored by Riley in the 19th minute and Sall in the 43rd minute. Austin earned their first win of the season against cross state rivals North Texas SC 1–0 on a goal by Barro. Austin earned their first road win of the season against Tacoma Defiance, with Kenan Hot scoring the only goal of the match and his first of the season. In the next home match, Austin saved it until th 90+6 minute to grab a point from Houston Dynamo 2, but dropped a point in the shootout 3–4. Austin next travelled to Ventura County FC, earning a 1–1 draw on a goal by Diego Abarca and earned another point on a 3–1 shootout after two Erik Lauta saves.
Mid-season After a bye week, Austin travelled to North Texas, securing a 2–0 victory on goals from Alastuey and Burton. Austin FC II extended their undeafeated streak to eight games with a 2–0 road win against Colorado Rapids 2. Both Lisboa Felciano and Badawiya scored their first professional goals after coming on as subs in the second half. Austin extended their unbeaten streak to nine with four wins in a row after they defeated St. Louis City 2 4–1 on goals from Lisboa Feliciano, Alastuey, Hot, and Dobrijevic. Austin earned their fifth consecutive win and extended their undefeated streak to 10 with a 3–0 win over Sporting Kansas City II, moving into 2nd place in the Western Conference.
Management team Position Name Chairman Anthony PrecourtChief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad Head coach Jason Shackell Head coach Omar Jarun Goalkeeping coach Peter Davis
Roster
. No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Signed in Previous club Apps Goals Goalkeepers 1 Charlie Farrar Goalkeeper 2025 UNC Asheville 4 0 12 Damian Las Goalkeeper 2026 Austin FC 0 0 13 Erik Lauta Goalkeeper 2026 Huntsville City FC 14 0 40 Liam Flynn Goalkeeper 2026 Austin FC Academy 0 0 41 Cooper Roney Goalkeeper 2026 Austin FC Academy 0 0 Defenders 2 Riley Thomas DF 2025 North Carolina 9 1 3 Dren Dobruna DF 2026 Dayton 9 0 4 Evan Watt DF 2026 Weymouth F.C. 18 1 5 Jules Berv DF 2025 Monaco U–21 17 0 14 Daniel Cieśla DF 2025 Nieciecza 13 1 15 Artem Dashkovets DF 2026 Veres Rivne U–19 4 0 23 Neo Che DF 2026 Ingolstadt Academy 2 0 37 Erick Lisboa Feliciano DF 2026 Austin FC Academy 12 3 42 Chuy Moreno DF 2026 Austin FC Academy 0 0 45 Ryan Klinger DF 2026 Austin FC Academy 0 0 46 Vona Dievbiere DF 2026 Austin FC Academy 0 0 47 Sebastian Seiterie DF 2026 Austin FC Academy 0 0 Midfielders 6 Djakaria Barro MF 2025 RCD Mallorca B 16 1 7 Diego Abarca MF 2024 El Paso Locomotive FC 14 5 8 Adrián González MF 2025 Columbus Crew 2 11 0 10 Jorge Alastuey MF 2025 ŁKS Łódź 14 9 16 Marcel Ruszel MF 2025 Stal Stalowa Wola 12 1 18 Patrick Cayelli MF 2026 Pennsylvania 16 1 20 Mo Badawiya MF 2025 Austin FC Academy 15 1 24 Kenan Hot MF 2026 Duke 13 2 32 Micah Burton MF 2023 Austin FC 12 3 38 Ervin Torres MF 2023 Austin FC Academy 6 2 43 Landry Moncrief MF 2026 Austin FC Academy 1 0 48 Christian Ayala MF 2026 Austin FC Academy 2 1 Forward 9 Vlad Dǎnciuțiu FW 2025 Udinese U-20 14 3 11 Patrick Gryczewski FW 2025 Rhode Islands 2 0 21 Stefan Dobrijevic FW 2026 Akron 13 3 22 Ibrahima Sall FW 2026 Notaresco 15 3 44 Aiden Hale FW 2026 Austin FC Academy 2 0 CJ Fodrey FW 2023 Austin FC 0 0
Transfers In Date Position No. Name From Fee Ref. January 15, 2026 FW 22 Ibrahima Sall Notaresco Free January 15, 2026 GK 13 Erik Lauta Huntsville City FC Free February 3, 2026 DF 4 Evan Watt Weymouth F.C. Free February 6, 2026 FW 21 Stefan Dobrijevic Akron Drafted February 6, 2026 MF 18 Patrick Cayelli Pennsylvania Drafted February 12, 2026 DF 23 Neo Che Ingolstadt Academy Free February 20, 2026 DF 3 Dren Dobruna Dayton Free March 6, 2026 MF 24 Kenan Hot Duke Free March 31, 2026 DF 15 Artem Dashkovets Veres Rivne U–19 Free
Loan In No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromStartEndSource 2 MF Riley Thomas Austin FC February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 12 MF Damian Las Austin FC February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 19 MF CJ Fodrey Austin FC February 27, 2026 August 26, 2026 32 MF Micah Burton Austin FC February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 38 MF Ervin Torres Austin FC February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 10 MF Jorge Alastuey Austin FC July 30, 2026 December 31, 2026
Amateur agreements No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromStartEndSource 40 GK Liam Flynn Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 41 GK Cooper Roney Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 42 DF Chuy Moreno Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 43 MF Landry Moncrief Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 44 FW Aiden Hale Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 45 DF Ryan Klinger Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 46 DF Vona Dievbiere Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 47 DF Sebastian Seiterie Austin FC Academy February 27, 2026 December 31, 2026 48 MF Christian Ayala Austin FC Academy December 31, 2026
Out Date Position No. Name To Type Fee Ref.January 21, 2026FW9 Peter Grogan Athlone TownMutual AgreementFebruary 3, 2026DF3 Rubén Bonachera UE Sant AndreuTradeMarch 17, 2026DF17 Batuhan ArıcıMutual agreementJuly 31, 2026MF10 Jorge Alastuey Austin FCSigned with 1st TeamFree
Loan out
No.Pos.PlayerLoaned toStartEndSource 4 DF Antonio Gomez Sporting Club Jacksonville January 27, 2026 December 31, 2026
Non-competitive fixtures Preseason WinSOWSOLLoss +DateOpponentVenueLocationResultScorersJanuary 31Houston ChristianParmer FieldAustin, TexasFebruary 7Houston Dynamo 2SaberCats StadiumHouston, TexasFebruary 11Incarnate WordParmer FieldAustin, TexasFebruary 15St. Louis City 2Parmer FieldAustin, TexasFebruary 22Corpus Christi FCParmer FieldAustin, Texas
Competitive fixtures Major League Soccer Regular Season
Standings Western Conference
Overall
Matches WinSOWSOLLoss +MatchdayDateOpponentVenueLocationResultScorersPosition1March 1Minnesota United FC 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas2-4Alastuey 73', 87'11th Western Conf.2March 8Ventura County FCParmer FieldAustin, Texas2–22-3 Riley 19', Sall 43'10th Western Conf.3March 15North Texas SCParmer FieldAustin, Texas1–0Barro 38'8th Western Conf.4March 22Tacoma DefianceStarfire SportsTukwila, Washington1–0Hot 88'5th Western Conf.5April 12Houston Dynamo 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas1–13–4 Alastuey 90+6'6th Western Conf.6April 18Ventura County FCWilliam Rolland StadiumThousand Oaks, California1–13–1 Abarca 60'7th Western Conf.7May 2North Texas SCChoctaw StadiumArlington, Texas2–0Alastuey 9', Burton 45+16th Western Conf8May 10Tacoma DefianceParmer FieldAustin, Texas3–0Dănciuțiu 54', Alastuey 58' , Cieśla 73'5th Western Conf9May 13Colorado Rapids 2Dick's Sporting Goods ParkCommerce City, Colorado2–0Feliciano 54', Badawiya 66'3rd Western Conf10May 17St. Louis City 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas4–1Feliciano 5', Alastuey 19', Hot 73', Dobrijevic 79'3rd Western Conf11May 22Sporting Kansas City IISwope Soccer VillageKansas City, Missouri3–0Abarca 14', Sall 22', Ruszel 66'2nd Western Conf12June 7Los Angeles FC 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas2–0 Torres 63', Sall 65'3rd Western Conf13June 14Minnesota United FC 2National Sports CenterBlaine, Minnesota3–1 Torres 3', Burton 6', Feliciano 35' 2nd Western Conf14June 21Sporting Kansas City IIParmer FieldAustin, Texas 2–1 Abarca 22', 45+1' 1st Western Conf15June 28St. Louis City 2Energizer ParkSt. Louis, Missouri 2–0Alastuey 34', Dănciuțiu 69' 1st Western Conf16July 5Colorado Rapids 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas3–2 Dănciuțiu 4', Dobrijevic 67', 70' 1st Western Conf17July 12Minnesota United FC 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas 2–3 Alastuey 34', 45+1' 1st Western Conf18July 22Whitecaps FC 2Swangard StadiumBurnaby, Canada 4–0 Burton 8', Abarca 31', Watt 45+2', Ayala 90+1' 1st Western Conf19July 26Houston Dynamo 2SaberCats StadiumHouston, Texas 1–1 4-5 Ayala 86' 1st Western Conf20August 2San Jose Earthquakes IICEFCU Stadium San Jose, California1–1 4-3 Dobrijevic 32' 1st Western Conf21August 9Sporting Kansas City IIParmer FieldAustin, Texas 1–0 Sall 89' 1st Western Conf22August 16Whitecaps FC 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas4–1 Dobrijevic 23', 54', Abarca 45+1', Barro 64' 1st Western Conf23August 19North Texas SCChoctaw StadiumArlington, Texas 0–0 4-5 1st Western Conf24August 23San Jose Earthquakes IIParmer FieldAustin, Texas 1–0 Abarca 73' 1st Western Conf25August 30Portland Timbers 2Providence ParkPortland, Oregon 1–2 Dobrijevic 14' 1st Western Conf26September 4Houston Dynamo 2SaberCats StadiumHouston, Texas 2–0 Feliciano 2', Gryczewski 75 1st Western Conf27September 13Colorado Rapids 2Parmer FieldAustin, Texas 1–0 Gryczewski 90+2' 1st Western Conf28September 20St. Louis City 2Energizer ParkSt. Louis, Missouri 2–0 Sall 17', Abarca 63' 1st Western Conf
Playoffs
+RoundDateOpponentVenueLocationResultScorersAttendanceConference QuarterfinalsOctober 18 San Jose Earthquakes II or Tacoma DefianceParmer FieldAustin, Texas
Statistics Appearances and goals Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.
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