New Mexico United is excited to announce that the club will be hosting an Open Tryout ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. The tryout will be held at the Mesa del Sol Soccer Complex on Saturday, January 11th. Males, ages 17 and above, are eligible to try out, and can register HERE.
2025 Season
NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF HEAD COACH DENNIS SANCHEZ
New Mexico United is thrilled to announce that the club has hired Dennis Sanchez as the 4th Head Coach in club history, ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. Sanchez most recently piloted Las Vegas Lights FC to their first-ever playoff appearance, and a trip to the USL Championship Western Conference Final in 2024. Along the way, Lights FC set club records for wins (13), points (50), and table placement (4th), earning Sanchez nomination as a finalist for USL Championship Coach of the Year.
“I couldn’t be more excited to become a part of the New Mexico United family,” said Sanchez. “It’s a privilege to join such a special club with a clear vision for success. The drive to win trophies, the caliber of people here, and the deep ties to our community are what made this opportunity so compelling. We’re focused on building on the club’s recent achievements and aiming for even more success, because that’s what our incredible supporters deserve.”
In addition to an impressive rise through the ranks that includes success at every stop, Sanchez has a terrific track record of identifying and growing young talent. Prior to his time in Las Vegas, Sanchez served as an assistant coach for Austin FC II of MLS Next Pro, guiding the group to a title during the 2023 season with a group that included several U.S. Youth Internationals.
In 2022, Sanchez served as Assistant Coach with Charleston Battery, where his recruitment of Fidel Barajas – who would go on to become USL-C Young Player of the Year – was crucial to the Battery’s success. Prior to his time in Charleston, Sanchez served as the Academy Director with Sacramento Republic FC, developing young players to reach their full potential.
New Mexico United will hold an introductory press conference in January, following the holiday season.
The team kicks off the home season on March 22nd against rivals El Paso Locomotive FC.
NEW MEXICO UNITED UNVEILS 2025 SCHEDULE
New Mexico United is excited to unveil their home and away schedule, ahead of the 2025 season. United will play its Western Conference opponents in a home-and-home series for 22 games and then play eight matches against the Eastern Conference – four home, four away – to make up the 30-game regular season schedule.
The recently announced expansion of the USL Jägermeister Cup will make up the remaining four matches in United’s schedule, with group play beginning on April 25th and concluding on July 26th, with dedicated Jägermeister Cup weekends featured in the last week of each month. The USL Jägermeister Cup includes all 38 professional men’s clubs competing in a World Cup-style tournament throughout the regular season with the Jägermeister Cup Final taking place on Saturday, October 11th.
Some key on the 2025 schedule fixtures include:
- Saturday, March 22nd – United’s Home Opener, against rivals El Paso Locomotive FC.
- Saturday, April 26th – United’s first USL Jägermeister Cup match, vs reigning USL League one champions Union Omaha
- Saturday, June 7th – United hosts reigning USL Championship champions Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Sunday, September 28th – United hosts USL Championship newcomers Lexington SC for the first time
- Saturday, October 25th – New Mexico wraps up their 2025 Regular Season at home vs Eastern Conference champs Rhode Island FC
See New Mexico United’s full 2025 USL Championship schedule below:
| Date | Opponent | Location | Competition |
| 03/08/2025 | Sacramento Republic FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 03/15/2025 | Las Vegas Lights | Away | USL Championship |
| 03/22/2025 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Home | USL Championship |
| 03/29/2025 | Miami FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 04/05/2025 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 04/12/2025 | North Carolina FC | Home | USL Championship |
| 04/23/2025 | Monterey Bay FC | Home | USL Championship |
| 04/26/2025 | Union Omaha | Home | USL Jägermeister Cup |
| 05/03/2025 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 05/10/2025 | Phoenix Rising FC | Home | USL Championship |
| 05/17/2025 | Orange County SC | Away | USL Championship |
| 05/24/2025 | Oakland Roots SC | Away | USL Championship |
| 05/31/2025 | Phoenix Rising FC | Away | USL Jägermeister Cup |
| 06/07/2025 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Home | USL Championship |
| 06/14/2025 | Lexington SC | Away | USL Championship |
| 06/21/2025 | San Antonio FC | Home | USL Championship |
| 06/28/2025 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Home | USL Jägermeister Cup |
| 07/04/2025 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Away | USL Championship |
| 07/12/2025 | Charleston Battery | Home | USL Championship |
| 07/26/2025 | San Antonio FC | Away | USL Jägermeister Cup |
| 07/30/2025 | Hartford Athletic | Away | USL Championship |
| 08/09/2025 | FC Tulsa | Away | USL Championship |
| 08/16/2025 | Las Vegas Lights | Home | USL Championship |
| 08/23/2025 | Louisville City FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 08/30/2025 | Sacramento Republic FC | Home | USL Championship |
| 09/06/2025 | San Antonio FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 09/10/2025 | Detroit City Football Club | Home | USL Championship |
| 09/13/2025 | FC Tulsa | Home | USL Championship |
| 09/20/2025 | Monterey Bay FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 09/28/2025 | Lexington SC | Home | USL Championship |
| 10/04/2025 | Phoenix Rising FC | Away | USL Championship |
| 10/11/2025 | Orange County SC | Home | USL Championship |
| 10/18/2025 | Oakland Roots SC | Home | USL Championship |
| 10/25/2025 | Rhode Island FC | Home | USL Championship |
New Mexico finished the 2024 USL Championship season at the top of the Western Conference and will look to build upon that success in 2025 with a new coach, and an exciting roster full of key returners and impactful newcomers. The season starts on March 22nd at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park.
Fans can view the team’s online schedule HERE: www.newmexicoutd.com/2025-schedule
CAPTAIN KALEN RETURNS! NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES RETURN OF KALEN RYDEN FOR 2025 SEASON
New Mexico United is thrilled to announce the return of center back and captain Kalen Ryden ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. Ryden returns for his sixth season with the club, becoming just the second player to spend that long in the Black & Yellow. Ryden ranks second, all-time, in appearances for United, with 129 appearances in all competitions since his arrival in 2020.
Ryden has served as captain for the last two seasons, and has been an on-and-off-the-pitch leader for United. Ryden is the club’s all-time leader in most defensive categories, including clearances, blocks, and aerial duel win percentage. Ryden has also scored four times and assisted four more in all competitions.
One of the most influential players in United’s history, Ryden joins a growing list of returning players from 2024’s top-of-the-West roster. The addition of Ryden takes the number to thirteen returners announced, so far.
MUST BE MUKWELLE! NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES RETURN OF MUKWELLE AKALE FOR 2025 SEASON
New Mexico United is thrilled to announce that forward and top assist-maker in 2024, Mukwelle Akale will return to the club for the 2025 season. Akale joined United ahead of the 2024 season, and recorded a team-best seven assists in all competitions during the 2024 season.
In addition to leading the club in assists, Akale was adept at finding the net, himself in 2024. His five goals in all competitions were tied for second on the team during the 2024 season. Akale’s fantastic footwork along the right side of attack, and his ability to score and create from set pieces really set him apart last season.
Akale was terrific throughout 2024, but perhaps his most-notable contribution came in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, as United played host to rivals Phoenix Rising FC in their first-ever home playoff match. With the score level at 1-1 in the 85th minute, Akale tapped home what would be the match-winning goal, earning United a trip to the Western Conference Quarterfinal.
Akale joins a growing list of returning core players for New Mexico United, who look to build on last season’s top-seeded finish.
HURST SO GOOD! NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES RETURN OF TOP GOALSCORER GREG HURST FOR 2025 SEASON
New Mexico United is thrilled to announce that top goalscorer and forward Greg Hurst will return to the club for the 2025 season. Hurst joined United ahead of the 2023 season, and has a team-high 18 goals scored in all competitions since his arrival. Hurst has made 74 appearances in Black & Yellow.
In addition to leading the club, Hurst’s 12 goals in 2023 were tied for third-most in the USL Championship Western Conference. He also led the team in shots (49), shots on goal (34), and big chances (10). His 18 goals in Black & Yellow rank him tied for 4th in club history, even with Kevaughn Frater.
Prior to his time in New Mexico, the Scotland-native won a title with Union Omaha of USL League One.
NEW MEXICO UNITED TO JOIN JÄGERMEISTER CUP IN 2025, FIRST INTERLEAGUE CUP CREATED BY DOMESTIC LEAGUE
New Mexico United is excited to join the 2025 edition of the Jägermeister Cup during the upcoming season. The tournament will pit clubs from USL Championship and USL League One in competition against one another for silverware. This tournament represents the first time that a U.S. soccer league has established its own interleague cup.
New Mexico will compete in Group 2 in 2025, facing off against some familiar USL Championship rivals, and new USL League One opponents. Group 2 will include: New Mexico United, Phoenix Rising FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and San Antonio FC from USL-C, as well as USL League One champions Union Omaha, and Texoma FC from the same division.
United’s 2025 schedule, including all Jägermeister Cup fixtures, is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
ZICO’S BACK! NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES RETURN OF ZICO BAILEY FOR 2025 SEASON
New Mexico United is thrilled to announce that midfielder Zico Bailey will return to the club for the 2025 season. Bailey joined United in August, 2023, and has been a crucial piece of the New Mexico United midfield since. In 2024, Bailey logged more than 2,200 minutes in league play, serving as a technical leader and midfield maestro in that time.
Bailey has made 46 appearances in the Black & Yellow since his arrival during the 2023 season from San Antonio FC. In that time, he’s scored three goals, and assisted three more. Two of those tallies came in United’s emphatic 4-2 victory over MLS Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Those goals came just two minutes apart.
Bailey’s 85.6% passing accuracy was among the best on the club in 2024. Defensively, he was second on the team in tackles and tackles won, as he was crucial to United’s transition from defense to attack throughout the year.
THEY’RE CENTER BACK! NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES RETURN OF MAPLES AND HERBERT FOR 2025
New Mexico United is thrilled to announce that center backs Anthony Herbert and Talen Maples will return to the club for the 2025 season, following a terrific first season in Black & Yellow. Herbert joined United from FC Haka in Finland, before the 2024 year, while Maples joined from Houston Dynamo FC 2 of MLS Next Pro.
In the intervening year, both players have proved to be steady and incredibly effective in the middle of defense. In 33 league appearances, Maples was tops on the team, and among the USL Championship leaders in clearances, with 141 on the season. Maples and Herbert were also #1 and #2, respectively in aerial duels, aerial duels won, and blocks for United in 2024.
The announcement continues United’s offseason player transactions, with more player announcements to come in the coming days and weeks.
