The FC Tucson men were shipped to California for the USL League Two playoffs, but they’re going to a familiar site.
FC Tucson (7-2-3) earned a wildcard berth into the postseason and is headed to the Ventura, Calif., Pod, hosted by division rival Ventura County Fusion.
“You always want to host the playoffs, but unfortunately we didn’t get to,” said FC Tucson head coach Sebastian Pineda. “It’s nice in terms of the time that it takes us to get there, the weather and all this stuff and we know that field, they’re a big opponent so we know who they are, the guys will be ready to come.”
FC Tucson opens the tournament with Almaden FC (9-4-1) on Friday at 2 p.m. In the nightcap, the hosts, Ventura County Fusion (9-2-1) face San Juan SC (9-4-1).
Almaden and San Juan hail from the Nor Cal Division, which Almaden won. Almaden is in San Jose, Calif., and San Juan is in Rancho Cordova, Calif.
The Western Conference sends eight teams to the playoffs. The other divisions are Mountain (Utah and Colorado) and the Northwest (Washington and Oregon), so if they didn’t get to host, FC Tucson avoided trips to the northwest or the northern two Four Corners states.
The winners of the Ventura Pod and the Seattle Pod face off for the Western Conference title and for a berth in the final four.
FC Tucson’s roster features seven players who currently or previously attended a college in Southern California.
With a host of teammates who play in Southern California, FC Tucson midfielder Daniel Idiakhoa said matches there can be more meaningful.
“We have a lot of family and friends there, so you know, we have more support,” Idiakhoa said. “And we might know a few other players that were playing against over there, so yeah, I think every game’s a big game, but yeah it could mean a bit more to us.”
City SC's Issac Homer (3) crashes down after absorbing a hit from FC Tucson's midfielder Daniel Idiakhoa (8) in the second half of their USL League Two game in Tucson on June 28, 2025.
FC Tucson hosted the playoffs in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021 (in League One) and last season. The postseason appearances where they didn’t have home matches in the first round are 2012 and 2018.
The USL League Two playoffs feature 35 teams across four geographic conferences. After three play-in matches in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, the action continues with the Round of 32 on Friday.
The tournament features two rounds this weekend, then two the next before having the final on Aug. 2. Last season, FC Tucson reached the final four, winning the Western Conference.
The Men in Black earned the playoff spot with a point in their regular season finale, a 0-0 draw with Stars FC. FCT beat Stars 5-2 on May 20 on the road and on Sunday pushed forward to try and get the match winner, potentially leaving themselves open for a counterattack, even though a tie would be good enough for them.
“Now we’re in playoffs, that’s really the main thing,” Pineda said. “We’re part of the big party now, it’s the best teams in the country that get to vie for the title and we’re part of it so we’ll move forward and continue to go.”
FC Tucson has won three in a row against Ventura County Fusion, but those three matches were at home. They only played in Pima County in the 2025 regular season, a 2-1 FCT win on July 3
In FC Tucson’s last trip to Ventura County in May 2024, they tied 0-0.
The Men in Black have a five-match unbeaten streak against the Fusion, but did lose to them 4-0 in Ventura County in May 2023.
On a team filled with players from places like Brazil, Tucson, France, Switzerland, South Korea, Mexico and in the case of Idiakhoa, Ireland, the players who play in Southern California form a bond even if they suit up for opposing college sides in the fall.
“A lot of my teammates I played against before so knowing how they play is helpful,” said FC Tucson midfielder Jesse Wangusi, who plays at Cal State Bakersfield and is from England.
FC Tucson’s midfielder Jesse Wangusi (10) makes the flying leap to control a loose ball in the box against Ventura County in the first half of their USL League Two match in Tucson on July 3, 2025.
Even if FC Tucson doesn’t get to play Ventura County again, they will face some familiar players.
“I have friends at Almaden, so that’ll be a big game,” said Idiakhoa, who goes to Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.
Corner kicks
– FC Tucson will host a watch party for the Almaden match at 2 p.m. at Zerai’s International Bar, 2725 E. Broadway. There will be merchandise on clearance, giveaways and food and drink specials.
– With the draw against Stars, FC Tucson finished the regular season undefeated at home for the second season in their last three. They went 5-0-1 in league play (5-0-2 overall) this season at Kino North Stadium and have a 14-match unbeaten streak in USL League Two home matches.
– In 2023, their first year back at the USL Two level, they went 5-0 and in 2015 they went 5-0-2 at home in the regular season, 2-1 in the postseason.
– FC Tucson has played 10 seasons at the USL League Two or Premier Development League (League Two’s name before 2019) and made the playoffs eight times. The Men in Black have made the conference final five times and the national final four once.
– LAFC announced on Tuesday that defender and FCT alum Aaron Long suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Long, who went to the 2022 World Cup with the US Men’s National Team, played for FC Tucson for three summers starting in 2011.
