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.

A pair of early goals, one scored and another created, by CD Aguiluchos USA star striker Simon Rawnsley, was enough to doom Real San Jose to a fourth straight loss. This time 2-0.

RSJ best chance was the first as Juan Carlos Leal ripped a shot off the post in the second minute. Then Rawnsley opened the scoring in the 14th minute as the 2015 NPSL Golden Boot winner expertly slotted the ball in with only the goalkeeper to beat. Rawnsley saw luck continue when just, ten minutes later, his cross into the box was scored by RSJ defender Cesar Rodriguez. The own goal summed up the shaky start to the match for San Jose.

“Frustrating for us, but Simon just has that magic touch right now, and we just need to get better,” said RSJ manager Nick Arellano.

RSJ has now suffered four straight losses after starting the season with a win in Sacramento and a draw in Oakland.

RSJ travels to Hayward on Sunday to play the East Bay FC Stompers. Kickoff is at 3:00 pm. The Stompers announced a special Mother’s Day promotion as all Mothers will be allowed in free if they bring a son or daughter, any age, to the game.

Real San Jose fell 3-0 to the high-flying Gold in Sacramento on April 16. The victory for Sacramento evens the season series between the two Golden Gate Conference teams at 1-1. RSJ won the first match to open the season. The final match, scheduled for June 25, will be at PAL Stadium.

“Hat’s off to Ruben Mora and his boys tonight. They came out firing on all cylinders and were rewarded,” said RSJ manager Nick Arellano.

The Gold has run-off three straight wins since losing at home to RSJ on March 19. San Jose takes a 1 W 1T 2L record for another road match this weekend in Portland Oregon.

There’s an old saying in soccer, “Players win games, coaches lose games, and referees ruin games.” Unfortunately, for Real San Jose it was the referees that took center stage during the clubs’ home opener on April 2. A nice crowd was on hand to see an exciting match until referee Victor Rivas increasingly took over leading up to a game-altering decision to show RSJ midfielder Sami Sreis a straight red card in first-half extra time. East Bay FC Stompers took full advantage and scored twice in the second half as RSJ lost for the first time in their new stadium and the 2016 season.

“Obviously were disappointed in the result and how it transpired. That said, we were still tied and did not do very well in meeting the challenge of being short-handed in the second half,” said RSJ manager Nick Arellano. “On the positive side, we had a nice crowd and PAL is a great place to experience a soccer game. We will bounce back. It’s soccer. “

RSJ aren’t going to wait long to get that bounce back chance as they return to PAL Stadium to host the defending Golden Gate Conference Champions Sonoma Sol next Saturday on April 9. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm.