Capital City Roots FC enters Fall 2026 with a new roster, higher standards, expanded opportunities and the same commitment to making soccer accessible in Des Moines.
Capital City Roots FC is heading into Fall 2026 with momentum.
Nearly 90 players signed up to try out for our Fall 2026 roster, the largest number of interested players we’ve had since starting the club.
Not every player who registered ultimately made it to tryouts, and we believe in being transparent about that. But having 91 players put their names down and express interest in becoming part of Roots tells us something important:
There is a real demand for more competitive soccer opportunities in Central Iowa and throughout the Midwest.
Now our responsibility is to make those opportunities meaningful.
A New Roster and Higher Standards
Our Fall roster will look significantly different from previous seasons.
Around 11 players are returning from previous Roots teams, while the majority of this fall’s roster will be joining the Roots family for the first time.
With new players comes new competition, new personalities and a new opportunity to establish what representing Capital City Roots FC should mean.
We’re also continuing to raise our standards.
As we’ve grown, one of our biggest priorities has been improving transparency between club leadership, coaches, staff and players. We want our players to understand where the club is going, why decisions are being made and what we expect from everyone involved.
Players invest their time, energy and money into competing with Roots. We have a responsibility to continue improving what they receive in return.
That includes something we’re particularly proud to implement this fall.
Returning Roots players had their Fall 2026 club registration fee reduced by 50%.
Our goal is to build something sustainable. As the club becomes stronger, we want the people who have committed to helping us build it to benefit from that progress as well.
Building More Opportunities to Play
Our top men’s team will continue competing in the UPSL Premier Division this fall.
But nearly 90 player registrations also reinforced something we’ve been discussing internally for some time:
One roster isn’t enough to develop every player who deserves an opportunity.
Capital City Roots FC and Council Bluffs Captains have been in direct discussions with league leadership about helping establish a new Midwest competition. As those conversations have progressed, Roots is working as a founding club partner in bringing another competitive league opportunity to the region.
The developing Midwest competition currently has five teams registered, representing Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Omaha and Sioux Falls.
For Roots, this isn’t about adding another team just so we can say we’re getting bigger.
It’s about building a better pathway.
A second competitive squad can provide players with meaningful match minutes, additional development and an opportunity to demonstrate that they’re ready for the demands of our UPSL Premier roster.
It also allows us to maintain stronger standards at the Premier level without shutting the door on players who may need more matches and more time to continue developing.
More opportunities to play. More opportunities to develop. More opportunities to earn the next one.
Development Has to Lead Somewhere
We talk frequently about player development, but development can’t simply be something written in a club mission statement.
There has to be a next opportunity.
This summer, two players from our Spring 2026 team earned opportunities to compete with the Des Moines Menace.
We don’t take credit for everything a player accomplishes. Players earn opportunities through their talent, discipline, work and commitment.
Our responsibility is to create an environment that helps put players in a position to pursue those opportunities.
That continues this fall.
Along with league competition, we’re working to provide additional opportunities against local organizations, including friendlies with Sporting Iowa and the Des Moines Menace.
Every additional meaningful match is another chance for a player to compete, learn and show what he can do.
But Roots Was Never Supposed to Be Just Another Soccer Club
Competition matters to us.
Winning matters.
Player development matters.
But Capital City Roots FC was never created simply to collect registration fees, put a team on the field and move on to the next season.
We’re trying to prove that competitive soccer can be built differently.
We want to create a sustainable soccer organization that develops players while remaining connected to the community around it.
That’s why admission to our home matches remains free.
We want families to be able to spend an evening together watching competitive soccer without first having to calculate what tickets for the entire family will cost.
We want young players sitting along the field.
We want them meeting Roots players after matches.
We want parents bringing their kids back.
And we want a young player from Des Moines to look onto that field and realize there are competitive soccer opportunities being built right here at home.
A weekend at a Roots match should be more than 90 minutes of soccer.
It should be a place where families can create memories around the game.
Rising Roots Initiative: Growing Beyond Matchday
That community mission continues through Rising Roots Initiative, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Once the Fall 2026 schedule is released, we will begin developing our next series of free youth soccer clinics for children ages 6 to 12.
Nothing is formally scheduled yet because we want to build those events around our confirmed home schedule. Once dates are available, clinic information will be announced through Capital City Roots FC and Rising Roots Initiative social media and websites.
Our objective is simple:
Give more kids access to the game.
At Roots home matches, admission will continue to be free, with anyone who wants to support the mission given the opportunity to make a voluntary donation directly to Rising Roots Initiative.
Those donations help us continue building community programming and creating opportunities around soccer.
Local Businesses Can Help Us Keep the Gates Open
None of this happens by accident.
Fields cost money. Officials cost money. Equipment costs money. Matchday operations cost money. Building community programming requires resources.
That’s where local businesses and community partners can make a meaningful difference.
We’re actively looking to create new relationships with Central Iowa businesses that see value in supporting something bigger than a logo on a jersey.
Every partnership helps us work toward keeping Roots home matches accessible to the public while continuing to improve the environment we’re providing our players and community.
There are multiple ways to become involved, whether that’s through a club partnership with Capital City Roots FC or by supporting eligible charitable programming through Rising Roots Initiative.
We’re not asking the Des Moines community simply to support another soccer team.
We’re asking people to help us build something that belongs to the community.
The Roots Are Getting Deeper
We’re still a young club.
There are things we’re going to learn this fall. There are things we’ll change. And there are areas where we still need to improve.
We’re comfortable saying that.
But look at where we’re headed.
Nearly 90 players signed up for an opportunity to try out.
A predominantly new roster is preparing to represent the crest.
Returning players are helping establish the culture for the next group.
We’re continuing at the UPSL Premier level while working to create another competitive pathway for developing players.
We’re building relationships with clubs throughout the region.
Players are earning opportunities at higher levels.
Free home admission remains part of our commitment.
And once our schedule is finalized, Rising Roots Initiative will begin working toward bringing free youth clinics back to our matchdays.
That’s what growth looks like to us.
Not simply getting bigger.
Getting better. Becoming more sustainable. Creating more opportunities. And putting deeper roots into the community we represent.
Fall 2026 is the next chapter.
And we’re just getting started.
No One Grows Alone.
Help Us Keep Soccer Accessible
If you believe in creating more opportunities for local players, free youth programming and accessible community soccer, you can support Rising Roots Initiative directly through our Community Support Fund.
Donate to Rising Roots Initiative
Every contribution helps us continue building opportunities around the game for players, kids and families throughout our community.
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