The 2026 season has come to an end, and there is no way to describe it other than disappointing.

After twenty seasons, Real San Jose experienced the most difficult year in club history. The results on the field fell well below the standards we have set for ourselves, and as a club we must honestly acknowledge that.

Professional standards require commitment, preparation, accountability, and consistency. This season showed us that we fell short in those areas.

The responsibility for rebuilding begins now.

Over the coming months, the club will evaluate every aspect of its operation as we prepare for the 2027 NPSL season. Our goal is not simply to improve our record, but to rebuild a culture that reflects the values Real San Jose was founded on nearly twenty years ago.

As part of that process, the club will not participate in the 2027 U.S. Open Cup qualifying competition. We believe our resources are better invested in strengthening our roster, improving our organization, and building a team capable of competing at the level our supporters expect.

Open tryouts for the 2027 season will be announced in early 2027. Every roster position will be earned.

To our supporters, sponsors, volunteers, players, and everyone who has stood behind Real San Jose over the past twenty seasons, thank you. Difficult seasons do not define a club. How a club responds to them does.

The work begins today.

(Updated: Mar 4, 08:04 AM) Real San Jose suffered a tough loss in a thrilling match played last Saturday night in Watsonville. It was an exciting match that saw RSJ score early, PVU tally twice before half time, RSJ tie it and nearly pull ahead midway through the second half, and PVU win it with just seconds remaining.

“We saw some glimpses of what the team is capable of, and those are the things we need to build on,” said RSJ Coach Markus Kothner whos post game mood might have been different had RSJ left the 2019 UPSL season opener with a road tie or win.

Kothner’s squad already has shown a marked improvement over last season’s squad that failed to make the Wild West Division playoffs. RSJ came out strong to start the match and then fought back harder after finding themselves behind at half time. Clearly, a different referee decision or a better-timed tackle or pass would have changed the outcome of the match. It was that close.

Real San Jose opens their home schedule of the 2019 United Premier Soccer League season on March 9 versus San Leandro United at PAL Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.

Real San Jose was on the verge of making it a second fall season victory and third straight shutout on October 7 at PAL Stadium. Then came the 93rd minute. A short corner by San Leandro United was perfectly placed as was the resulting header that hit the back of the RSJ net. It was a frustrating end to a match that was clearly a tale of two halves.

The first half was dominated by RSJ who were unlucky to only net one, a 41st-minute goal by Akash Kothari. Kothari's goal demonstrated the talent the player has. He received the ball along the left wing rounded a defender by the end line, cut back toward the middle and slid the ball between the goalkeeper and the post.

Second-half action was dominated by San Leandro United as RSJ's midfield and front line seem to have lost all energy. Still, the defense held down by Nick Vargas, Danny Corral, and goalkeeper Jonathan Arellano kept a clean sheet. Despite the SLU pressure, it was RSJ that nearly sealed the win when substitute Jensen Escobar who shot over the top from close range.

Real San Jose's next home game is scheduled for November 3 against the Oakland Stompers. It is entirely possible that a makeup game versus San Ramon Dynamos will be scheduled before then. In addition, RSJ will travel to Oakland to face the Stompers in an Open Cup qualifying match on October 20.

Real San Jose earned a dramatic 1-0 victory over the Oakland Stompers on April 29 at Oakland's Raimondi Park. The match was an intense affair from start to finish and with everything on the line in the last minute of extra time it was goalkeeper Jonathan Arellano saving a penalty kick to secure San Jose's first victory of the 2018 UPS L Fall Season.

"To get a shutout on the road against the Stompers was huge for us. We did what we had to do to get three points in that situation. We knew it was going to be a tough game and we stepped up to the challenge," said Arellano.

Real San Jose's earlier big moment came in the 68th minute when Bader AlMustafa scored the game's only goal. Just three minutes earlier AlMustafa and Mike Tomsic came on as substitutes. Tomsic started the play by dispossessing a Stompers player in midfield. He then pushed forward and played the ball to the right to Akash Kothari. Kothari continued forward and then deftly put the ball over the Stomper's goalkeeper into the path of the hard-charging AlMustafa to head into an empty net.

"I saw AK had the ball on the wing, I took the defender on the inside. When he came close to me I sprinted in the box and screamed for the ball. AK played the ball that was rather hard to miss then hard to score," explained AlMustafa. "Very happy to score my first goal for the club. We got three crucial away points which is the most important thing right now."

This result is the second shutout for Real San Jose in two games this season, and in both of those, they finish the game with only ten men on the field. As the Stompers pushed forward, midfielder Naveed Ettefagh was whistled for his second yellow card in the 85th minute. Oakland pressed hard forcing Arellano to make to big-time saves before getting the penalty kick opportunity. The penalty call came when the ball crashed against the arm of Tomsic and some called for a penalty while others claimed the arm was against the body. The referee pointed to the spot.

RSJ is 1W-1T-0L after two games and returns to PAL Stadium on October 7 for 4 PM kickoff against San Leandro United.