Team Announcements

Open Cup match moved to Highmark Stadium

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 6, 2026) — The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup First Round contest between Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Steel City FC will now be played at Highmark Stadium, with an earlier kickoff time of 7 p.m. for the match on Tuesday, March 17.

The venue change, which has been approved by the U.S. Soccer Federation, comes by mutual agreement of the two clubs in anticipation of high ticket demand for the historic match, the first Open Cup match between two Pittsburgh-area teams in 69 years.

The match will be another chapter of Open Cup history at the stadium, which has hosted two Hounds wins over MLS teams since 2023. Highmark Stadium also played host the last time a Pittsburgh amateur team advanced beyond the First Round of the Open Cup, when local side Tartan Devils Oak Avalon called Pittsburgh’s showcase venue home against the professionals of Louisville City FC in the 2017 Second Round.

The First Round outing also will be the first competitive match at the Riverhounds’ home since their victory in the 2025 USL Championship Eastern Conference Final, a win that helped propel the team to its first league title last year.

Steel City FC, the 2025 USL League Two Great Forest Division champions, earned its place in the Open Cup by advancing through three qualifying matches. The club made its Open Cup debut in 2024, and the upcoming match marks its second test against professional opposition in the competition.

Tickets for the First Round match are on sale now, and Riverhounds fans can purchase through Ticketmaster using the following link.

RIVERHOUNDS U.S. OPEN CUP TICKETS

Steel City FC fans can purchase tickets for the match through their own group link via Fevo.

STEEL CITY FC TICKET OFFER

Duquesne added to preseason schedule

Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Charles Ahl plays the ball in the team's preseason match against Duquesne University on Feb. 8, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Photo: Mallory Neil/Riverhounds SC) — *Charles Ahl plays the ball in the Hounds’ last meeting with Duquesne, a preseason match on Feb. 8, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Photo: Mallory Neil/Riverhounds SC)*

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 4, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC has added an additional match to its 2026 preseason schedule, as the team will play host to Duquesne University at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Highmark Stadium.

The match brings the Hounds’ schedule to seven total preseason matches, a slate that began with Monday’s 2-0 win over the Richmond Kickers. It will be the second straight year the Hounds and Dukes have met in the exhibition season, and it adds to the team’s already announced matchups with area Division I college programs West Virginia University (Feb. 27) and at the University of Pittsburgh (Feb. 28).

All home preseason matches are free and open to the public. In the event of wintry weather, home preseason contests could be moved to the AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis.

To see the team’s full preseason schedule, visit riverhounds.com.

Kremers named Hounds 2 head coach

Assistant coach Josh Kremers watches during the Pittsburgh Riverhounds' practice on Jan. 27, 2026 at the AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis, Pa. (Photo: Mallory Neil/Riverhounds SC) — Assistant coach Josh Kremers watches during the Hounds’ practice Tuesday at AHN Montour. Kremers will be the head coach of Riverhounds 2, which begins play in USL League Two this year. (Photo: Mallory Neil/Riverhounds SC)

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 30, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has named Josh Kremers as the head coach of Riverhounds 2, the club’s entry into USL League Two that will begin play for the first time later this year.

Kremers, 33, has been with the Riverhounds organization for the past two years, joining as the Riverhounds Academy’s Boys Regional League Director and also coaching academy boys teams in the 2007-08 and 2012 age groups.

“Josh is a fantastic young coach who brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to Riverhounds 2. We’re thrilled to have him leading this project and helping shape the next phase of our player development pathway,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.

In addition to leading Riverhounds 2 in the 2026 season, Kremers also will serve as an assistant with the Riverhounds First Team.

Kremers comes to the role with USL League Two experience, most recently with FC Carolinas, where he served as the club’s Boys Director of Coaching and helped with their teams in League Two and the USL W League. He was also an assistant coach in 2017-18 with the Charlotte Eagles, who won the League Two title in 2017.

Before entering coaching Kremers was a three-year starter at Messiah College, where he won three national championship during his career from 2010-13. Making the move into coaching after the conclusion of his time at Messiah, Kremers currently holds a U.S. Soccer Federation B Coaching License.

Kremers and Visser are preparing Riverhounds 2 for the team’s first season in the Great Forest Division of League Two’s Central Conference. The team’s schedule is expected to be announced next month.

Agostoni joins First Team on Academy contract

Riverhounds Academy product Warren Agostoni, who last year played in the Austin FC Academy, signed a USL Academy contract to join the Riverhounds' First Team in 2026. — *Riverhounds Academy product Warren Agostoni, who last year played in the Austin FC Academy, signed a USL Academy contract to join the Hounds’ First Team in 2026.*

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 28, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed midfielder Warren Agostoni to a USL Academy contract, making him the latest player to come up through the Riverhounds Development Academy to earn a spot with the club’s First Team. The deal is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Agostoni, 16, hails from nearby Latrobe, Pa., and he was a standout youth player in the RDA since his pre-teen years with the Pre-ECNL and ECNL teams. Last year, he played in the academy of MLS team Austin FC with their Under-18 team, and now he will have the opportunity to train with and suit up for his hometown’s pro team.

“Warren is among the most promising prospects our academy has produced, and we’re excited to welcome him back from Austin FC,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said. “Our environment and player development pathway are built to help ambitious young players like Warren maximize their potential and pursue professional careers in the game.”

Agostoni is the fourth-ever player to join the Hounds’ First Team on a USL Academy contract, which allows him to play as a full member of the Hounds in the USL Championship, while also maintaining his amateur status. The high school junior has begun preseason practices with the pro team this week.

The Hounds begin their preseason match schedule this Monday, Feb. 2, when they host the Richmond Kickers of USL League One at the AHN Montour Sports Complex.

Hounds begin Open Cup with all-Pittsburgh matchup

Pittsburgh Riverhounds captain Danny Griffin dribbles past New York City FC's Nico Cavallo in the Hounds' 1-0 U.S. Open Cup win on May 7, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Photo: Ryan Shaffer/Riverhounds SC) — *Hounds captain Danny Griffin dribbles past New York City FC’s Nico Cavallo in the Hounds’ 1-0 U.S. Open Cup win on May 7, 2025 at Highmark Stadium. (Photo: Ryan Shaffer/Riverhounds SC)*

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 27, 2026) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will begin their journey in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a historic, all-Pittsburgh First Round matchup against Steel City FC out of USL League Two on Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Duquesne University’s Rooney Field.

It will be the first-ever meeting between the Hounds and the local amateur side, which is making is second-ever appearance in the Open Cup. The Hounds, Open Cup quarterfinalists in 2001 and 2023 and the reigning USL Championship title holders, have been the farthest-advancing team from outside of MLS in two of the past three editions of U.S. Soccer’s national championship.

Last season, the Hounds defeated Columbus Crew 2 out of MLS Next Pro and MLS side New York City FC — the third MLS team the Hounds have beaten over the past three years — to advance to the Round of 16 before falling on the road at the Philadelphia Union.

The Hounds have only faced another Western Pennsylvania team once before in the Open Cup, which this year is in its 111th edition. They defeated the amateur Erie Commodores, 2-1, on the road in the 2018 Second Round.

Two Pittsburgh-area teams have not met in the Open Cup in nearly 70 years. The last occurrence came in the 1957 Quarterfinals, when the defending champion Harmarville Hurricanes defeated Bridgeville-based Morgan Strasser, 2-1, at Harmarville’s Consumer Field. Harmarville’s 1956 title stands as the last time a Western Pa. team lifted the trophy.

This year’s U.S. Open Cup matches will be shown on multiple CBS networks, as well as streaming via Paramount+ and U.S. Soccer’s official YouTube channel. Additional information about the First Round match, including broadcast and ticket details, will be announced soon.

To see the complete First Round matchups, visit ussoccer.com.

Hounds join with hummel as team’s kit, apparel provider

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 23, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has reached a multi-year deal with historic Danish sportswear brand hummel to be the official team wear and apparel provider of the club, outfitting the Hounds pro team, the Pittsburgh Riveters women’s team and the Riverhounds Academy.

Under this new partnership, hummel will help design and manufacture custom kits for the club’s teams, as well as training gear, staff gear and fan wear. The new apparel deal will go into effect for the 2026 season for both the Hounds and Riveters, and for the 2026-27 season for the Hounds Academy.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome hummel into the Riverhounds family as our official apparel partner. As a brand with deep roots in soccer history and a reputation for bold, bespoke design, hummel aligns perfectly with our vision for the Hounds and Riveters. This partnership is about more than just a logo on a jersey; it’s about providing our players, our academy and our supporters with world-class gear that reflects the ambition and spirit of Pittsburgh,” said Ben Wilson, Riverhounds Director of Merchandise.

Founded in Germany in 1923 before moving to its current headquarters in Denmark, the hummel brand is recognized globally by its distinctive bumblebee logo and chevron-bearing designs.

Most commonly associated with Denmark’s national teams, hummel is the kit provider for clubs across Europe’s top soccer leagues, including Werder Bremen and FC Köln in Germany, Sunderland in England, and Spain’s Real Betis, which last summer brought the bumblebee logo to Pittsburgh when they played a preseason match at Acrisure Stadium. Domestically, nine teams across the USL Championship were outfitted by hummel in 2025, including the Charleston Battery and the Hounds’ USL Championship Final opponent, FC Tulsa.

“Our team is thrilled to be welcoming the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Riveters and academy teams to the hummel family. The Pittsburgh community backs their teams week in and week out, and we’re excited to create custom designs for this passionate fan base and city. On the back of the USL Championship victory and the planned expansion of the club’s stadium, it’s a great time to be part of the Pittsburgh soccer scene,” Conor Caloia of hummel North America said.

The Hounds will unveil new home and away kits by hummel later during their preseason. Further details about the team’s kit launch event plans, including date, time and location, will be announced in the coming weeks.

About the Riverhounds

Established in 1999, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is Pennsylvania’s oldest professional soccer team and one of the longest-operating pro soccer teams in the United States. The team plays its home games at Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2013 as a team-owned, soccer-specific stadium in Pittsburgh’s South Shore neighborhood. The team is an original member of the USL Championship, one of the world’s largest second-division pro soccer leagues, and in 2025, the Hounds were victorious in claiming the team’s first league title.

About hummel

Founded in 1923, hummel’s iconic bee and chevrons feature on the jerseys of globally recognized teams including the Danish national team, Sunderland, Real Betis, as well as numerous teams through the USL Championship and League One. hummel prides itself on changing the world through sport, making sure that its designs, sponsorships, people, teams, and initiatives work to drive change and progress.

Vacter, Ydrach lock in new deals

Pittsburgh Riverhounds defenders Beto Ydrach (left) and Guillaume Vacter smile for a photo at training on Oct. 21, 2025 at the AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis, Pa. (Photo: Mallory Neil/Riverhounds SC) — *Hounds defenders Beto Ydrach (left) and Guillaume Vacter agreed to restructured deals ahead of the 2026 season. (Photo: Mallory Neil/Riverhounds SC)*

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 20, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has agreed to restructured contracts with second-year defenders Beto Ydrach and Guillaume Vacter, pending USL and U.S. Soccer Federation approval.

The new deals come on the heels of both players’ leading contributions to the Hounds’ USL Championship title in 2025. Financial terms were not disclosed, but both new contracts go into effect for the 2026 season with a club option for 2027.

“Gui and Beto played important roles in our success last season, and we’re excited to reward them with new contracts. We expect them to remain key pieces within the group for years to come,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.

Ydrach, 24, famously netted the clinching penalty kick in the Hounds’ shootout win over FC Tulsa to secure the league title, and he also headed the game-winning goal in the team’s U.S. Open Cup victory over New York City FC in the Round of 32 last year. A Puerto Rico international with 17 appearances for his national team, Ydrach started 27 of the Hounds’ 29 regular-season matches as a rookie out of the University of Akron.

Vacter, 25, signed with the Hounds a month into the 2025 season, and shortly after his April 26 debut for the team, he locked down an everyday starting role at center back. The native of Paris and first-year pro out of the University of Connecticut started the Hounds’ final 23 regular-season matches and the playoff opener against Hartford Athletic before an injury knocked him out of the lineup in November.

Vacter, Ydrach and the rest of the Hounds will be on the field when preseason training for the team’s Championship title defense begins Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Goal scorer Amann signs with Hounds

Former Sacramento Republic and FC Tulsa forward Trevor Amann has signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the 2026 season. (Photo: Sacramento Republic FC) — *Former Sacramento Republic and FC Tulsa forward Trevor Amann has signed with the Hounds for the 2026 season. (Photo: Sacramento Republic FC)*

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 19, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has added another piece to its attack with the signing of forward Trevor Amann for the 2026 season with a club options for 2027. The deal is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Amann, 27, has been a decorated goal scorer throughout his career and joins the Hounds after splitting last season between Sacramento Republic FC and FC Tulsa, where he appeared as a late substitute in the USL Championship Final won by the Hounds on penalties.

“Trevor is a proven goal scorer who brings attacking experience to our group. We’re tremendously excited to see what he can produce in our environment and how he can impact games for us this season,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.

A native of Westminster, Colo., Amann was the 2023 USL League One Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner with the Northern Colorado Hailstorm, scoring a record 23 regular-season goals as part of a 27-goal season overall. That breakout season led to his signing in the Championship with Sacramento, where he scored 12 goals in 45 appearances over a season and a half before a transfer move to Tulsa.

Amann’s knack for finding the net goes back to his college days, where he scored 49 goals over five seasons, the first two at Colorado School of Mines and the last three at Midwestern State (Texas), where he earned All-American honors in 2021.

While in college, he also featured in the amateur ranks in the National Premier Soccer League. Amann led Detroit City FC in scoring in 2018 before their club’s leap to the professional ranks, and he pushed the Denton Diablos to an NPSL title in 2021 with two goals in the championship game to earn Man of the Match honors.

The Hounds continue to prepare for the start of their 2026 preseason, which will begin with the team’s first practice on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Keep up with further Hounds news by following the club at riverhounds.com and at @RiverhoundsSC on social media.

Center back Souza signs for upcoming season

Former New England Revolution 2 defender Victor Souza has signed with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for the 2026 season. — *Former New England Revolution 2 defender Victor Souza has signed with the Hounds for the 2026 season.*

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 16, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed defender Victor Souza, adding to their back line for the 2026 season. The deal includes a team option for 2027 and is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Souza, 24, spent his first three professional seasons with New England Revolution II in MLS Next Pro after being drafted by the Revolution in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Boston College, where he was a two-time All-ACC Third Team selection.

“After a successful college career in the ACC and three strong years in MLS Next Pro, Victor is well prepared for the demands of USL Championship soccer,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said. “He has everything we look for in a center back, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Pittsburgh.”

Across his three seasons with Revs II, Souza amassed 70 total appearances and led the team in minutes played in 2023, his first pro season. He had two goals and an assist in MLS Next Pro, and he also made one appearance with the MLS side, recording an assist off the bench against the Chicago Fire in this year’s U.S. Open Cup.

Hailing from the Ozone Park neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., Souza played in the New York City FC Academy as a youth player, helping them to a 2019 national championship before beginning his college career.

The Hounds continue to gear up for their USL Championship title defense in 2026, and season tickets and multi-match plans are on sale now. Visit riverhounds.com/tickets or call the Highmark Stadium Box Office at 412-865-GOAL to secure seats.

2026 preseason schedule announced

Charles Ahl dribbles between a pair of Columbus Crew 2 defenders in the Pittsburgh Riverhounds' preseason match on Feb. 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Photo: Chris Cowger/Riverhounds SC) — *Charles Ahl dribbles between a pair of Columbus Crew 2 defenders in the Hounds’ preseason match on Feb. 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium. (Photo: Chris Cowger/Riverhounds SC)*

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 15, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has announced its preseason schedule ahead of the 2026 season, and the reigning USL Championship title holders will one again face a mix of pro and top-level college opposition to prepare for their championship defense.

The preseason will kick off Monday, Feb. 2, with a reunion of two of the USL’s oldest clubs when the Hounds host the Richmond Kickers for the first time since Richmond dropped to USL League One. That match will be played at the AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis, as for the first time, the Hounds will split their home preseason schedule between their training facility and Highmark Stadium.

Three straight USL Championship opponents come next on the schedule with a road trip to face Indy Eleven on Feb. 6, a home match at AHN Montour against Loudoun United FC on Feb. 13, and a first-ever visit by Lexington SC to Highmark Stadium on Feb. 21.

The exhibition schedule will wrap up the next weekend with matches on back-to-back nights. The Hounds host West Virginia University at Highmark Stadium on Friday, Feb. 27, before making the trip across the river to face the University of Pittsburgh on Saturday, February. 28 at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

The preseason schedule is subject to changes, and home preseason matches are open to the public. In the event of wintry weather, matches scheduled for either home venue could be moved to the indoor field at AHN Montour.

To see match times and keep up with the most up-to-date information, view the Preseason Schedule at riverhounds.com.

Team Announcements

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