2026 Ballard FC Campaign Begins Friday

Ballard FC kick off their fifth season this Friday against FC Olympia at Interbay Stadium. The 2025 side won the club’s second USL2 Western Conference title before dropping a heart-breaker against Vermont Green FC in the National Championship game. Many of the players from last year’s roster return, looking to get back to the title match and add another star to their crest, having won the title in 2023.

“We’re thrilled to bring back 18 returning players from last season’s national finalist squad,” said new Head Coach Mutanda Kwesele. “We’ve also added talent from across the country who are ready to compete and show our fans what they can do.”

The 2026 roster looks poised to once again be the top club in the Northwest Division, and they begin the season holding the second spot on the national USL2 Power Rankings. This year’s team includes four national champions, six WAC champions, a Big Ten champion, an Ivy League champion, and a NESCAC champion. More than 10 players earned all-conference or all-region recognition during the fall season, and four have already appeared professionally.

While the impressive core of the 2025 roster returns, there are a lot of new faces as well. Nine players from last year have moved on to pro sides: Richie Aman, Joe Dale, Charlie Kosakoff, Charlie Holmes, Charlie Lanphier, Austin Brummett, Omar Yehya, Nii Engmann and Jackson Buck. That leaves a lot of spots to fill, but the newcomers are an impressive group.

The one big question mark on the roster as the season begins is at the forward position, where Elliot Spatz and Ray Mendez are the only returning players. Alex Bazia and Alex Notska, both of whom play at Seattle University, will join the Bridges after previously playing for Midlakes United. Emmett Layman and Jordy Dierks, who are University of Washington players, will also be new faces in the attack, along with Anton Hjalmarsson, Joschi Schelb, and Dunes Nielsen.

Among the other notable new players set to take the field this season are University of Washington goalkeeper Noah Newman and Gonzaga freshman Jackson Farrell, who is the son of the first Ballard FC head coach, Jason Farrell

A huge part of Ballard’s success has been the team’s ability to retain players year-on-year, a challenging task in a league that generally sees high roster churn each season. Bringing back 18 players, including one five-season standout in Christian Engmann, gives Kwesele a solid spine to build from while bringing new faces into the mix. 

Sounder at Heart spoke with Kwesele during the preseason about the challenges of the large roster of players, the compact season, and the desire to develop players while pursuing championships. “There are three things we are tying to do as coaches. One is to prepare future professionals, two is to inspire and expand the fanbase, and the third is to compete and win titles.” 

As for getting important minutes for all of the men on the roster, Kwesele was matter-of-fact. “We communicate clearly with the players. We have our anchors. Players know where they stand. But we also play a tight schedule, and there’s no way we’re going to ask the same eleven players to go on a Friday and then on Sunday or to play three games in a week. The players know that they are going to be counted on.”

Ballard has proven their pedigree on the pitch, and the club continues to attract and recruit players with pro aspirations. Fans who follow the team are watching the next generation of professional soccer players develop and compete in a high-intensity environment that is meant to prepare them for the rigors of the pro game. And they are seeing it in a fun, intimate environment where the fan experience is paramount.

“We are incredibly excited to begin our fifth season and welcome our supporters back to Interbay Stadium,” said Ballard FC Co-Founder and President Sam Zisette. “The energy around the club continues to grow each year, and with our expanded seating and full-stadium alcohol service, fans can expect the best matchday experience we’ve ever offered.”

The club added 267 new seats to Interbay Stadium (with another 267 in the plans for next season) and opened alcohol service to the entire stadium.

For the season opener, gates at Interbay open at 5:30 for a watch party for the women’s side, Salmon Bay FC, who open their 2026 campaign on the road. Fans can also expect expanded food options and pregame entertainment.

Ballard has sold over 900 season ticket memberships for this season, but some still remain. The value of the ticket is hard to deny at $99 per seat for the entire home season. Single match tickets can be had for as little as $14 in the standing room areas and $18 seated. Children under 5 get in for free. 

As the team grows in stature and experiences continued on-field success, they expect many of their home matches to be sellouts again this summer. It promises to be a great USL2 season. 

When asked what fans can expect on the field this season, Kwesele quickly answered,  “we play with joy, we play with intensity, and we play with unity. That’s what fans will see out there.”

More information, including ticketing and schedule details can be found at goballardfc.com 

2026 Ballard FC Roster