Presented by Physicians Regional Health Care System, kicks off at 7:00 p.m.
Fresh off a dominant road win at Richmond and a commanding U.S. Open Cup victory, FC Naples returns to Paradise Coast Sports Complex for a marquee USL League One home showdown against Forward Madison FC Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST, presented by Physicians Regional Health Care System.
Southwest Florida’s professional soccer team enters the match on the strength of one of the most encouraging starts in club history, arriving atop the USL League One table with a 2-0-1 record through four matches across all competitions. The evening will also feature walkout kids from The Immokalee Foundation and a Color Guard presentation by Golden Gate High School.
FC Naples: A Second-Year Club With Unfinished Business
After a history-making inaugural 2025 campaign — a 13-9-8 record, a fourth-place regular season finish, a first in USL League One history by hosting and winning a playoff match as an expansion club — FC Naples has wasted no time signaling that 2026 will be different only in ambition.
In its 2026 league debut on March 7, FC Naples dispatched Fort Wayne FC 2-0 at home, setting an early tone of efficiency and defensive resolve. A 2-2 draw with Corpus Christi FC (March 14) tested the squad’s resilience before they responded emphatically with a 3-0 demolition of Red Force FC in the U.S. Open Cup First Round on March 18, earning a second consecutive trip to the cup’s Second Round. Most recently, FC Naples earned three more crucial league points on March 21, defeating the Richmond Kickers 1-0 on the road at City Stadium, pushing their all-time record against Richmond to an unblemished 3-0-0.
With two shutouts across their first three competitive matches and a goals-against average that is the envy of the league, Coach Matt “Gaffa” Poland’s men have established an identity built around defensive solidity and incisive transition play.
Players to Watch: FC Naples
#14 Kevin O’Connor, Midfielder — The veteran Irish-American midfielder was the engine of FC Naples’ 2026 Open Cup performance, recording two assists and five chances created in the 3-0 win over Red Force FC. O’Connor also scored the lone goal in the Richmond victory, his first tally of the 2026 season. His combination of defensive tenacity and creative output makes him the heartbeat of Poland’s midfield.
#21 Marc Torrellas, Midfielder — The Spanish-born #21 opened his 2026 account early, finishing off O’Connor’s pass to score the first goal of the U.S. Open Cup campaign. A technically gifted central midfielder who earned a USL League One Team of the Week nod in 2025, Torrellas brings the kind of possession intelligence FC Naples needs to control Saturday’s proceedings.
#18 Dominick Bachstein, Forward — The 23-year-old forward has contributed goals in the early going and is one of several attacking pieces capable of punishing any defensive lapse. His energy and relentless pressing style fits perfectly with Poland’s high-tempo system.
#1 Edward “Lalo” Delgado, Goalkeeper — The starting goalkeeper who backstopped the team’s historic 2025 playoff run continues between the posts in 2026. Lalo’s composure under pressure and shot-stopping ability anchor an FC Naples backline that has given up very little in the early weeks.
The Matchup: Home Fortress Meets Road Warriors
FC Naples’ Paradise Coast Sports Complex has proven to be one of the most difficult venues in USL League One. In 2025, the club lost only two home league matches all year — a remarkable record that helped them earn the right to host a playoff game for the first time in league expansion history.
Forward Madison, meanwhile, is in the middle of a seven-match road stretch before their home opener at Breese Stevens Field on May 16. Saturday’s trip to Naples is their third away match of the 2026 season, and every point earned on the road carries heightened significance. Their win in Knoxville showed they can shock elite company, but doing so again at Paradise Coast — in front of a full crowd fueled by Southwest Florida passion — will be a far sterner test.
FC Naples also holds the additional edge of familiarity: defenders Luca Mastrantonio and midfielder Christopher Garcia are both former Flamingos, giving Coach Poland a detailed intelligence report on Madison’s personnel and tendencies.
With the U.S. Open Cup Second Round approaching (March 31–April 1) and the league season beginning to take shape, Saturday’s contest represents an opportunity for FC Naples to separate themselves from the pack early and put down a marker for the rest of the league.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. EST
Venue: Paradise Coast Sports Complex — Naples, Florida
Presented by: Physicians Regional Health Care System
Walkout Kids: The Immokalee Foundation
Color Guard: Golden Gate High School
Tickets start at $14 and are available at www.FCNaples.com/tickets.