Built for Players.
Driven by
Community.
We are not just building a team. We are building a platform — for players, families, and communities who believe that access to the game should never be limited by circumstance.
2026 Home — OpenerHow Roots
Were Born
“If there is ever an opening in this league, I’m going to build something better.”
It started with a $10 ticket and an empty stadium. In 2025, Josh Jerkovich — then working as the sponsorship coordinator for the Council Bluffs Captains — drove to James Cownie Sports Complex to watch the local Des Moines UPSL squad with his family. What he found was a closed-off environment with no fans, no community, no sponsors, and no energy. A semi-professional soccer match in a city that deserved far better.
He turned to his wife and said it plainly: if there is an opening in the league, I’m starting my own club.
A few weeks later, on a visit to Council Bluffs for family, Josh walked with Captains owner Taylor Stanton and learned the Des Moines team had forfeited their season. The door was open.
“I walked back into the house, looked at my family, and said — I’m going to start a professional development soccer club in Des Moines. I went home and started building.”
Josh Jerkovich — Founder & Executive Director, Capital City Roots FC
By June the social pages were live. Relationships were forming. By end of July tryouts were completed, August held their first practice and in September Capital City Roots FC was competing in the UPSL Premier Division. By the end of year one, they had made the playoffs.
But the reason behind it runs deeper than the result. Josh grew up in a single-income household, raised by a mother who worked 40 hour weeks and still found time to coach him and his friends. He remembers exactly what it cost to play — the uniforms, the travel, the tournament fees — and what it meant when families could not afford it.
“If I grab a basketball, I can walk onto any city court and play for free. Try and find a soccer field where you can do the same. Soccer is heavily guarded in the US. We are just trying to open it up.”
Josh Jerkovich
That is why every home match is free. That is why the Rising Roots Initiative exists. That is why the goal is never to make money from players or their parents. We are built around community and partnerships — businesses investing in a community asset, not families paying to access the game.
With twin girls of his own, the women’s program is not a future talking point — it is a personal commitment. A Semi-Professional Women’s Division team is part of the plan because the pathway being built has to work for everyone.
Our Mission
Access. Opportunity. Development.
For Every Player. Every Family. Every Community.
Capital City Roots FC exists to prove that a soccer club can be financially sustainable without over-charging the people it serves. Support comes from businesses. Opportunity goes to players.
Three Pillars. One Platform.
Everything we do at Capital City Roots FC runs through three core commitments — compete, develop, and connect. Each one reinforces the other.
Compete
UPSL Premier Division competition — the highest level of semi-professional soccer in the region. Real opponents, real referees, real stakes. Players who are serious about the next level compete here.
Develop
Development beyond the 90 minutes. Guest speakers on mental health, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Networking with college scouts. Mentorship from coaches with professional experience. Players leave here better prepared for everything.
Connect
Youth clinics. Community matchdays. Local vendor partnerships. School visits. We do not just play in Des Moines — we are embedded in it. Every home match is a free community event and we treat it that way.
Building Something Lasting in Iowa
Capital City Roots FC is the anchor. What grows around it will reflect the community, the players, and the relationships we are building right now — one season at a time.
Men’s UPSL Premier Division
Spring and Fall seasons competing in the UPSL NE/IA/SD Premier Division. Year two of operation with a playoff appearance already in the books from year one.
Rising Roots Initiative
A separate, fully recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded alongside the club, focused on youth access, equipment, clinics, scholarships, and community programming. The charitable engine that funds access for families who cannot afford it.
Women’s Team
A women’s first team is a personal commitment from the founder — not a future talking point. A pre-professional Women’s squad is actively being planned to kick off in Spring 2027.
C2 Regional Alliance
The developing Midwest alliance between Capital City Roots FC and Council Bluffs Captains FC — combining markets, players, and exposure across Iowa and the Nebraska corridor.
C2 — The Midwest Pipeline
C2 is the developing regional alliance between Capital City Roots FC and Council Bluffs Captains FC — combining two markets, two rosters, and two fan bases into a unified Midwest development platform. For players it means more exposure and opportunity. For scouts it means one place to find the best talent across Iowa and the Nebraska corridor.
- Unified showcase and combine events for college and professional scouts
- Cross-market player visibility across Des Moines and Council Bluffs / Omaha
- Year-round competitive platform — Spring & Fall UPSL seasons plus the FandomWire Winter Elevens Tour
- Shared sponsor visibility across both clubs and both markets
- Clear pathway from grassroots access to professional evaluation
Combined Market Reach
700K+
People across the Des Moines & Omaha metro corridor
The Road Ahead
This is not a one season project. Every decision we make is building toward something larger — rooted in Des Moines for the long term.
Fall 2026 season underway. Tryouts complete, roster finalized, season kicks off in September. Free admission. C2 alliance active. Nonprofit Approved.
Capital City Roots FC is exploring an expansion side to compete in a new development league forming across the Midwest — widening the pathway before players ever reach the UPSL Premier roster. Details to follow.
C2 regional combine and showcase event for college scouts and professional clubs. First edition of the FandomWire Winter Elevens Tour — a full-field indoor 11v11 winter league in the Midwest.
The Semi-Professional Women’s Division team takes the field for its first season. A personal commitment from the founder — built for every player, including the next generation.
There is more coming. We are continuing to build relationships and open up new doors. OUR ROOTS WILL RUN DEEP IN THE SOCCER COMMUNITY.
Ready to Compete at the Next Level?
If you have the drive and the ability, we want to hear from you. UPSL Premier Division tryout information, what we look for, and how to get in front of our coaching staff — start the conversation.
Invest in Something Now For The Future.
Your brand embedded in a growing community club — on jerseys, fan apparel, at stadiums, across social media, and inside a nonprofit ecosystem. Reach out to discuss Club Partnership options for your organization. Want to make a donation to the Roots? View the full breakdown.
Help Us Run Matchday.
Every home match needs hands on deck for setup and teardown — goals, tents, banners, tables, and everything in between. If you want to be part of the crew that makes matchday happen, we would love to hear from you.