The 2026 USL Championship season is just over five weeks away with two new clubs joining the league for its biggest campaign yet. This week, we’re going to look at both of the new arrivals and get you prepped for what’s in store as they attempt to make their mark in the new season.

We begin with Brooklyn FC, which arrives with two high-profile figures leading the way and some intriguing additions as it kicks off at Maimonides Park.

Brooklyn FC
Venue: Maimonides Park (7,000 capacity)
Colors: Limestone, Black, White

What’s the Story?

Having previously launched its women’s team in the Gainbridge Super League’s inaugural season, Brooklyn FC enters the USL Championship this spring with some notable names in the front office and on the sideline. BKFC made a major splash hiring National Soccer Hall of Fame member and former United States Men’s National Team GM Brian McBride as General Manager and then made a shrewd hiring of Marlon LeBlanc as Head Coach with the latter having achieved success at both the Philadelphia Union II and in the U.S. youth national team program.

LeBlanc will have a more experienced player pool to draw from in Brooklyn compared to his former stops, and the club will have one of the more unique backdrops in the USL Championship. Located on the waterfront in the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island, BKFC will be hoping to have fewer ups and downs than Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park as it looks for success in its inaugural season.

Head Coach – Marlon LeBlanc

A New York native, LeBlanc has built a stellar reputation in both the college and professional ranks, including leading the Philadelphia Union II in its final season in the USL Championship in 2020. Following that campaign, he led the side to success in MLS NEXT Pro, including winning the Eastern Conference title and reaching MLSNP Cup in 2024 while posting a record of 38-30-12 in the regular season. This past year he also led the United States U-18 Men’s National Team to victory in the UEFA Friendship Cup in Switzerland and now takes the reins for his first campaign in First Team soccer in the professional ranks in Brooklyn.

Signings to Know

Brooklyn has pulled from multiple areas in building its inaugural roster. There’s a return to the USL Championship of 2025 USL League One Golden Boot winner and Player of the Year honoree Juan Carlos Obregon Jr., who bagged a league-high 32 goals at a strike rate of a goal every 136.6 minutes over the past two regular seasons, to lead the attack. The squad features two midfield veterans in Tommy McNamara and Thomas Vancaeyezeele, while of the most intriguing additions is Peter Mangione, who bagged four goals and 10 assists in MLS NEXT Pro for FC Cincinnati 2 over the past two years after a stellar career at Penn State. Elsewhere, goalkeeper Jackson Lee joins from Rhode Island FC after serving as a solid back-up to Koke Vegas in the past two campaigns.

What Else?

In what’s expected to be a highly competitive Eastern Conference, it will be imperative for BKFC to get out to a good start in a home-heavy opening to the season. Brooklyn hosts five of its first seven games at Maimonides Park, including visits from heavy-hitters Louisville City FC (March 28), Charleston Battery (April 11) and Sacramento Republic FC (April 21). The club’s trip to face fellow first-year club – and former resident at Maimonides Park – the New York Cosmos in the opening game of the Prinx Tires USL Cup should be one to watch as well.