Utah Royals FC are heading into year three of version two, and this could be a breakout year.
Utah Royals FC are back for 2026 and they are almost here. The Royals have been working hard to get ready, and while there were some big departures, Utah is ready for 2026. The growing pains have been there, but this club is getting better every year. URFC have a chance to make a statement after the first couple of years were spent laying the groundwork. Utah has made some good signings this offseason, and the future looks bright.
Of course, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. The Royals, as mentioned before, said goodbye to some great players. Ally Setnor, Bianca Saint Georges, and Madison Pogarch were the among the notable departures. The Royals appear to be moving pieces around to ensure the club can stay completive. This is frustrating because the fans don’t have a look into what the club is thinking, and some moves don’t make sense. But the club has a plan, and I am sure we will see it come to fruition soon.
The Royals are in version two, so while the club is starting from the ground up in many aspects, they also have a lot of stuff already in place. A venue, an identity, a brand, and a fanbase. The Royals are basically just a new iteration of the same club on the outside, but this is a very different team, not just personnel wise, but tactically. They attack fast and aggressively. Let’s use an example. In a match last year at home against Bay FC on March 15th, Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn played a long ball to Bianca Saint Georges, who finished it. This is a great example of the fast-paced attack Utah has.
The Royals scored a lot of goals with this attack, especially in the second half of last season. But they were also left exposed a lot. The balance between a strong attack and a smart defense is a fine line, and it is getting thinner with the focus on personnel-.heavy attacks. The Royals need to be careful this season, as their pressure and big attacks could leave them exposed and vulnerable to counterattacks. Utah has great goalkeepers, but they can’t do the work alone. So the whole team needs to understand risk vs reward, and play accordingly. URFC is making some great progress, and they can be good if they balance it out well.
There is one thing that the Royals did well last year that I encourage them to continue into this year. That’s forcing giveaways in the opponent’s end. Utah had some great goals in this manner, and they had plenty of chances that didn’t result in a goal from turnovers. Not only that, but Utah was able to capitalize on unforced errors from their opposition. As mentioned before, Utah is developing a very potent attack, and takeaways can just add to that. Goals are hard to come by in this sport, and every gifted chance will be key. The opposite needs to be addressed as well, there were too many bad giveaways last year that cost games and wins.
In conclusion, there is a lot of change in the club right now, but there is also a lot of optimism. The attack from last year looked great last year, and while some of those players have left, I do have faith that Utah and head coach Jimmy Coenraets can have the new players integrated and ready to go. This is a big year, and there is a lot to be excited about. The Royals are starting to take shape as a club, and this could be their breakout season. Only time will tell, and it will be exciting.
