TEMECULA — After more than a decade of grassroots development, establishing organizational infrastructure, and behind-the-scenes hustle, Temecula FC is preparing to take the field for its inaugural professional season in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the third division of Pro U.S. Soccer. For club owner and former pro player Brandon Jantz, it was never just about soccer. “It’s been a wild ride,” said Jantz in an exclusive interview. “Every single day is absolutely nuts! There’s so much to the game here in this country that a lot of people might not realize.”
Jantz, who launched Temecula Football Club (FC) in 2013, has operated the club out of their headquarters tucked behind 6th Street in Old Town Temecula. Despite humble roots, the vision was always ambitious: to bring professional soccer to a city and a region that, until now, had never hosted a pro franchise.
No stadium, no problem
“Temecula doesn’t currently have a stadium that fits the minimum standards needed by U.S. Soccer to host a professional game,” Jantz explained. High school fields are too narrow, and there’s currently no designated space in town zoned for an experience like a sports venue with food, beer, and proper fan accommodations.
Still, he remains optimistic, and it’s one of the long-term visions Jantz has above and beyond the victory of stepping into the pro-tier for the upcoming season. “We’re not asking the city for handouts. What we need is to identify a property—the right property. From there, we can get a conditional use permit and then work to raise the capital by presenting the opportunity to our investors. Once that happens, we can build.”
Understanding the league structure
Temecula FC will compete in NISA, a Division III league in the U.S. Soccer system, alongside Major League Soccer (MLS) next and United Soccer League One (USL). While the American soccer pyramid lacks promotion and regulatory unification, Jantz hopes increased attention from the upcoming 2026 season will be another step towards bringing more structure to the overall game in the United States.
“It’s all over the place right now, and that makes it hard for supporters to follow,” he said. “But change is coming.”
Local first: Tryouts, talent, and long-term goals
On August 5, the club will hold open tryouts. “The format is simple for the first day: let the players play and see what they’ve got,” Jantz said.
“From there, we’ll identify guys who have what it takes physically, mentally, and who are aligned with the values of the club and invite them into a six-week trial period,” said Jantz.
While Temecula FC plans to bring in a handful of experienced players from outside the region, the ultimate goal is to build the roster with local talent. “Ideally, we’d use all local kids. Long-term, that’s the plan—grow our youth pipeline that creates opportunities for our own youth to elevate to the pro team.”
Milestones ahead
Jantz encourages the community to watch for major announcements in the coming months:
- Tryouts on August 5
- Signing of players to the pro-team roster
- Official uniform launch at 8 Bit Brewing Co. in September
“The best stories are going to be about the local players we sign. That’s what people are going to rally around,” said Jantz. He continued, “If you can’t make it out to a game but you can make it to one of our events, our pro uniform launch at 8 Bit Brewing is the one to be at. They’re one of our main sponsors, and the establishment is great for the whole family.”
As Temecula FC prepares to make history as Riverside County’s first professional soccer club, Jantz remains focused on the long game: a sustainable, community-rooted club that brings pride and opportunity to the region.
“We want to represent our community well. It’s not about chasing millions, we want to build something that lasts.”
