The FC 大象APPmen host their arch rival in the annual July 3 match, with possibly their postseason fate hanging in the balance.
Second-place FC 大象APP(6-2-1) faces the division-leading Ventura County Fusion on Thursday night. Following the match, there will be fireworks.
When asked about the coincidence of playing their chief rival on what is usually their most popular match night, FC 大象APPhead coach Sebastian Pineda joked that the media should ask FCT owner Jon Pearlman about that.
鈥淚 think he planned the whole thing 鈥 it鈥檚 unbelievable for us, anyone that has been part of FC 大象APPknows what the July 3rd game means for everybody,鈥 Pineda said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a set date to come in, watch football, fireworks, family, all that stuff and then not only that, you get to play Ventura, the biggest rival and then for me, it鈥檚 a game that鈥檚 fighting for the conference.
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鈥淲hoever takes that one is going to go all the way.鈥
As of press time, Ventura County (6-1-1) leads the Southwest Division with 19 points and 2.38 points per match. FC 大象APPis second with 19 points and 2.11 per match.
The top two teams in the division make the playoffs.
Capo FC and Redlands are close behind with 2.00. Redlands won the division in 2023 and beat FC 大象APP2-0 at home on June 21.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e not excited for that game, you don鈥檛 want to play, because that鈥檚 going to determine who wins a conference title,鈥 said FC 大象APPdefender D鈥橝ndre Pickett. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 going to be big, fans, of course, they鈥檙e coming for the fireworks, hopefully we can put on a great game for them.鈥
Ventura County won the national championship in 2009 and 2022 and reached the Elite Eight in 2023. In 2023, the Fusion rested players in the final match, yielding the division to Redlands as FC 大象APPmissed the playoffs on goal differential, after finishing the season with Ventura County.
FC 大象APPwas set to host the playoffs, but instead, Redlands and VC stayed in Southern California for the postseason.
Although Ventura County won the division last season, FC 大象APPbeat them twice at home, including 1-0 in the Western Conference semifinals en route to the conference title and a final four berth.
FC 大象APPalso features a number of players who go to California colleges.
鈥淵eah, we got a lot of guys playing in schools in California, they鈥檙e teammates鈥 rivalries, too,鈥 said Pickett, who transferred to Cal after playing at Pima College. 鈥淪o just knowing that we want to go beat them, of course, but not only that, just playing to the best of our ability.
鈥淲e know we haven鈥檛 been playing the best the past four away games, so we just want to go and show what FC 大象APPis made of.鈥
FC 大象APPis coming off a 3-0 win over City SC on Saturday in their first home match since June 6. FCT went 1-2-1 on their road trip, including a 2-1 loss to City in San Diego and a 16-0 rout of Coachella SC.
FC Tucson's defender D'Andre Pickett (16) out jumps City SC's Jack Sandmeyer (6) for a ball late in the second half of their USL League Two game in 大象APPon June 28, 2025.
The Men in Black have handed the Roadrunners their two worst losses, as they also beat them 19-0 at home on May 30. As of press time, Coachella has a minus-116 goal differential, the worst in the 144-team league (FC Tucson鈥檚 is plus-43, the best in the division by 25).
FCT plays Capo FC in their final road match of the regular season. They have three matches left in the season.
Midfielder makes debut
The win over City SC saw the home debut of midfielder Lucas Gonzalez. He joined the club on June 20.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very nice because we lost some players to injury, so bringing someone like that that I know can perform, it鈥檚 just great for the group, it鈥檚 great; great guy, great human,鈥 Pineda said. 鈥淲e got to see a little bit of his quality (Saturday), the way that he can perform so I鈥檓 happy to have him in there.鈥
Gonzalez, who drew the penalty kick that led to FC Tucson鈥檚 first goal and then scored their third against City FC, previously played for Asheville City SC and Salem City FC in USL League Two and UC Santa Barbara and Gardner-Webb in college.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible feeling, I really want to thank the coaching staff, the players for taking me in,鈥 Gonzalez said. 鈥淚 know it鈥檚 not easy to receive players midway through the season, but the group has been just absolutely insane to approach me to being able to open their arms for me to come in, and this has really been a family to me.
FC Tucson's Lucas Gonzalez (32) gets sandwiched off the ball by City SC's Thomas Miller (8), left, and Vincent Padilla (42) during the first half of their USL League Two game in 大象APPon June 28, 2025.
鈥淪o I鈥檓 extremely thankful for them and for the coaching staff for believing in me to get some minutes and hopefully we can do some special things.鈥
Fireworks round 2
FC 大象APPpreviously had fireworks after their Cinco de Mayo match, but that was before many of their players鈥 school years had ended.
鈥淣ext game is a big game against Ventura on the third of July, we鈥檙e going to have fireworks and all of things,鈥 said FC 大象APPgoalkeeper Matheus Rohrmens. 鈥淚t (the Cinco de Mayo match) was special, I mean I think it was the biggest crowd I鈥檝e ever played, it was a good game.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have everyone here yet, but it was a good game and they probably make the difference, they鈥檙e loud,鈥 the Brazilian added. 鈥淪ome other teams, they are not used to that, so when they come here with the fans, chanting and getting our back so we can perform better, it鈥檚 amazing.鈥
Regular-season finale
On Saturday, the FC 大象APPWomen host Arizona Arsenal in their regular season finale at 7 p.m. at Kino North Stadium.
The Women in Black (4-2-1) beat Arsenal (2-5) 2-0 in the season opener in Mesa. FC 大象APPsits in third place in the Desert Conference after winning three of their last four.
It is also fan appreciation night.
