Spring soccer nights returned to PCSC March 7 as Southwest Florida’s pro club builds on a historic debut.
FC Naples, the United Soccer League (USL) One expansion side that launched play in 2025, opens its second professional season recently at its home stadium, the Paradise Coast Sports Complex (PCSC) in Naples, Florida. The kicked off the 2026 season kicks against Fort Wayne FC and as they work to turn last year’s breakthrough into a lasting tradition for Southwest Florida soccer fans.
Building bigger, better
In its inaugural season, the club made an electric debut in front of more than 4,600 fans and a dramatic first-ever goal from forward Andres Ferrin, signaling that professional soccer had truly arrived on the Paradise Coast. That foundation—a playoff run, a resilient on-field identity, and a fan base that showed up from day one—gives FC Naples real momentum as it enters its sophomore season.
Head Coach and Sporting Director Matt Poland emphasized the lessons learned from the club’s inaugural campaign, highlighting resilience and mindset as key drivers moving forward.
“The biggest thing, and it’s a mantra we say all the time, is control the controllables,” said Poland. “There are always things outside of your control. As long as we, as a group and as a team, stay focused on what we’re trying to achieve and what we can control, we’ll ultimately be fine. Putting energy into things outside of our control is wasted, and it doesn’t help us impact our goals.”
A stadium built for “nights in paradise”
PCSC has proven to be a purpose-built stage for professional soccer and sports tourism in Collier County. The county-owned, 160+ acre complex features a 3,500-seat stadium with great views from every seat, 12 professional-level turf fields, sand volleyball courts, and signature amenities including The Great Lawn, The Factory outdoor fitness pavilion, and The Cove beer and wine bar. In 2023 alone, Paradise Coast Sports Complex generated roughly $47 million in economic impact, underscoring how FC Naples home dates anchor both community life and regional sports tourism on the Paradise Coast.
Community at the heart of match day
From the start, the club’s leadership has framed FC Naples as a community-first project that happens to play high-level professional soccer. Thousands of season ticket holders, a vibrant supporters’ group in La Barra 239, and regular recognition for local high school and youth teams have turned home matches into family-friendly, neighborhood-wide celebrations. That same spirit was on display as local fans, visiting supporters, and traveling teams converged on PCSC for the first home match of the new season. A 2-0 win!
A new chapter for soccer on the Paradise Coast
For Collier County, FC Naples represents more than wins and losses; it is a year-round catalyst that brings residents together, drives overnight stays, and showcases the county’s premier sports destination on regional and national broadcasts. As the club begins its second season under the lights at PCSC, the stakes are higher, the expectations are bigger, and the opportunity is even greater—for players chasing a title, for fans building new traditions, and for a community that has fully embraced professional soccer on the Paradise Coast.
