Updated 12/16/2025
Click below to jump to a specific question in this guide to Rhode Island FC.
- What Is Rhode Island FC?
- Where Does Rhode Island FC Play?
- Where Do I Park for Matches?
- Is Rhode Island FC Good?
- How Does Rhode Island FC Line Up?
- Who Are The Key Players?
- How Does The Schedule Work?
- How’s The Quality of Play in USL?
- Where Can I Watch Away Games?
Whether you’re a brand new fan, or a seasoned veteran who needs to be re-integrated after a long offseason, here is some basic info to bring you up to speed before the third season of Rhode Island FC.
What Is Rhode Island FC?
Rhode Island FC is an American professional soccer club headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Founded in 2019 and beginning play in 2024, the team plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer system. Wikipedia
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men’s soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. Wikipedia
Where Does Rhode Island FC Play?
Rhode Island FC play home games at their new 10,500 person soccer-specific stadium at Centreville Bank Stadium, opened on May 3, 2025. The stadium is located at 150 Taft St, Pawtucket, RI 02860, and will host all Rhode Island FC home soccer games in addition to many other events throughout the year. They’ve made their intentions clear to use the stadium as many days out of the calendar year as possible for all kinds of events.
In their inaugural season (2024), Rhode Island FC played their home games at Beirne Stadium on the Bryant University campus.
We’ve now played a full season at Centreville Bank Stadium and I can’t say enough good things about the venue. If you haven’t been yet, you are missing out and we’d love to see you there. Our advice at Tide Talk? Get one of the pretzels.
Where Do I Park for Matches?
The club released a comprehensive plan for parking when attending matches, and RIPTA has announced that they will be running Route R-1636, which will “loop continuously between key bus stops and the stadium every 8-10 minutes on game day”. This makes public transportation, and/or the MBTA (via the Central Falls/Pawtucket station) a very viable option.
Personally, I’ve been parking at M7 in the Apex parking lot, tailgating with the supporters group, and walking over to the match from there.
If you’re interested in alternative methods of transportation, the supporters group, Defiance 1636, has launched the Defiance Rhode Riders, a fan-run and organized Bike Bus: a slow, social group ride from the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Pedestrian Bridge in Providence to Tidewater Stadium for home matches.
I’ve participated in the ride a handful of times, and even as a non-experienced biker I found the ride incredibly accessible and inviting to casual riders. It was very carefully planned out by the organizers in the group to utilize bike lanes and other safe roadways nearly the entire way to the stadium.
Is Rhode Island FC Good?
The short answer is… It’s Complicated.
From an outside perspective, they’ve built quite a resume over their first two years – with a trip to the Championship game in their inaugural season, followed by a second trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, where they lost to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. They also reached the semifinals of the USL Jägermeister Cup, where they fell to Sacramento Republic FC on penalty kicks. But frankly, despite the on-paper success, the team was inconsistent for large parts of the 2025 season.
How Does Rhode Island FC Line Up?
Like most teams in the modern game, the tactics are pretty fluid. In 2024, Rhode Island FC almost always played a 3-5-2. In 2025, they shifted formations often in attempt to find something (anything) that clicked, but ended the season in decent form mostly playing in a 3-4-3.
This means there are three central defenders in front of the goalkeeper. The left and right flanks are occupied by a wingback on either side who stays wide and contributes both defensively and offensively. There is a double pivot in midfield (oftentimes one holding and one more progressive midfielder), and three attacking players leading the forward line.
Is this the shape we’ll stick with to open 2026? Your guess is as good as mine.
Who Are The Key Players?
I won’t go through the roster one by one, as you’ll fall in love with these players on your own. Here’s an intro to some of the key pieces:
Koke Vegas (GK)
The clubs first-ever signing and captain. Koke is a solid shot blocker, and above average with the ball at his feet and distributing out from the back. Don’t be surprised when Rhode Island FC is in possession to see Koke pushing up towards the half way line. He also quickly ingratiated himself with the fans due to his obvious passion for winning.
Clay Holstad (MF)
To borrow the well-used Tide Talk line, Clay Holstad is Rhode Island FC’s equivalent of Roy Kent. “He’s here, here’s there, he’s everyf***ingwhere.”
He also, famously, only scores worldies:
Noah Fuson (MF / F)
Fuson most closely identifies as Rhode Island FC’s creative number 10 role, but he has much more utility than just that. He can also comfortably play as a forward and/or wingback. Fuson was the 2024 USL Golden Playmaker – leading the league with 10 assists, and also contributed 8 goals.
Hugo Bacharach (MF)
Bacharach joined the team ahead of the 2025 season, and made his debut in July following a long-term injury. He immediately became a mainstay in the team thanks to his quality defending and signature gazelle-like strides that let him cover the length of the field faster than just about any other player (let alone any other defender). By the end of the season, he was regular starting as a holding midfielder in the double pivot.
JJ Williams (F)
Williams is a hard-working forward who also knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. He’s crucial to the way that we play, as he’s a big target for long balls. The popular theory is that JJ was signed to be the centerpiece of our attack before Dikwa became available – so he’s more than capable of leading the attack on his own, or in a pair.
Karifa Yao (D)
Yao has been the team’s most consistent defender over the course of its two year history. Yao seems to always be in the right place, at the right time, as he regular leads the team in blocked shots, clearances, and/or aerial duels won. He’s also not afraid to make a big tackle in a big moment – and he almost always gets them right.
How Does The Schedule Work?
Rhode Island FC will play 30 regular season games: Home and Away against each Eastern Conference team (24 games), and then three home and three away against six out of the twelve Western Conference teams.
There are also two domestic cup competitions that will run parallel to the USL Championship season: The U.S. Open Cup, and the Prinx Tires USL Cup. Rhode Island FC will play at least four additional games via the group stage of the USL Cup – two home, and two away. They will also enter the U.S. Open Cup in the first round of the competition and are guaranteed at least one knockout game.
How’s The Quality of Play in USL?
Where are my fellow Euro Snobs at? I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of play when I started following the USL Championship. I’m a certified MLS-hater so take this with a grain of salt, but I honestly think the quality of play in USL Championship is not at all far off from the middle-end talent of MLS. I regularly have people ask me “is soccer those guys’ full time job?” and I have to explain to them that yes – these are professional athletes who have dedicated literally almost their entire lives to becoming professional soccer players. Many of them have aspirations for their career to reach MLS or an international league.
While the talent and quality of play obviously won’t be up to par with what you’re used to watching on Saturday/Sunday mornings in the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, etc. – it actually makes the league more endearing in some ways. There’s an element of randomness and parity in the USL Championship that doesn’t exist in most other leagues. Any team (except maybe Miami FC last season) can show up on a given day and win a match. It keeps things fun and interesting.
There’s also no Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR), which is sucking the joy, spontaneity, and raw emotion out of world football. I’m going to cling to this one and enjoy it as long as it lasts. In USL, when the ball hits the back of the net and the referee signals a goal – whether right or wrong – it’s a goal.
Where Can I Watch Away Games?
There are a slew of options for watching away games, and the list will only grow as time goes on. The majority of away matches are available on ESPN+. However, in the words of Christopher McCandless, “Happiness is only real when shared” – so why not watch among fellow fans?
There are several bars and organizations who regularly host watch parties throughout the state. The best and most reliably watch party for every away match is hosted by the supporters group, Defiance 1636, at The Guild at 461 Main St, Pawtucket, RI 02860.
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