Oakland Roots’ initial roster for the 2026 season was announced, marking the official start to the organization’s roster build this offseason.
Roots welcomed back 13 total players from last year’s squad. They parted ways with nine total players, including declining contract options for Jürgen Damm, Gagi Margvelashvili, Abdi Mohamed, and Timothy Syrel. Panos Armenakas and Morey Doner were released by mutual consent. EJ Johnson was outright released, while Kai Greene concluded his contract, and Camden Riley is gone by way of retirement.
Below is a current list of how the roster is shaping up.
Goalkeepers (2): Kendall McIntosh, Raphael Spiegel.
Center Backs (2): Julian Bravo, Neveal Hackshaw.
Outside Backs (1): Ilya Alekseev.
Midfielders: (5): Faysal Bettache, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Ali Elmasnaouy, Tyler Gibson, Danny Gomez.
Forwards (3): Wolfgang Prentice, Danny Trejo, Peter Wilson
Starting with the attack, Oakland brings back a healthy cast with still some room for improvement, making a group that should make Ryan Martin feel pretty comfortable going into 2026. The headline returner is Danny Trejo after some speculation about his future, already posing a formidable prospective front line with Golden Boot winner Peter Wilson and Wolfgang Prentice. Faysal Bettache has also shown he can line up at right wing or in the Central Attacking Midfield spot.
There’s also a solid cast of central midfielders with Tyler Gibson providing the veteran leadership. Bobosi Byaruhanga and Ali Elmasnaouy may be the favorites to lock down starting roles opposite each other. Danny Gomez has shown versatility as a Central Midfielder and Central Attacking Midfielder, providing solid depth at both positions. Perhaps a defensive-minded addition to the midfield is all that’s left for the group, like Loudoun’s Tommy McCabe.
After the forward and midfield spots, everything else is looking prime for new additions.
The outside back spot is the obvious spot for improvement, with Project 51O call-up Ilya Alekseev being the only returning player. Doner’s departure leaves a hole to fill at the starting right back position, while there is currently no left back on the current roster. Panos Armenakas got time at LB late in the season, while Julian Bravo also featured in the role at times, but both RB and LB spots are clear areas for major additions.
Perhaps Martin can pluck from Loudoun’s roster for an outside back.
One name I’m keeping an eye on is Keegan Tingey, who slotted in at right back for Martin the last two years. Tingey, 25, played his youth career in the Bay Area at Ballistic United in Pleasanton and the SJ Earthquakes academy before competing collegiately at Stanford until 2022. Martin’s left back at Loudoun was Kwame Awuah, who finished second on the team in minutes. Awuah, who will be entering his ninth year of professional career, would bring Roots some veteran dependability, akin to Doner.
Center back is another position that is prime for a key addition, given that Greene is currently out of contract, and Gagi Margvelashvili’s option has been declined. Neveal Hackshaw is likely a presumed starter, given the veteran leader re-signed to a contract extension last year. As for Bravo, he’s likely under a very manageable deal that would allow further spending at the position, giving Roots a solid backup. Gagi’s departure opens up a starting role, and although fans enjoyed the level he brought to the starting lineup in the latter half of the season, it could be a clue to the playing style Martin is looking to implement.
As for the goalkeeper spot, Oakland is looking set for the season with both McIntosh and Spiegel returning, which comes as somewhat of a surprise. Only Syrel leaves from the group, making 19-year-old Alejandro Caracheo Luna from Project 51O likely to fill his spot.
We’ll provide more information on Roots’ 2026 roster as the news becomes available. Here is a tracker of all Oakland’s roster moves this offseason.