HOUSTON (March 1, 2026) – Houston Dynamo 2 launch their fifth MLS NEXT Pro campaign this Sunday, March 1, hosting Colorado Rapids 2 at SaberCats Stadium, with kickoff set for 6:00 p.m. CT.
The match marks the first of a four-game homestand and the first of three meetings between the two sides this season. Fans can claim free tickets to every Dynamo Dos home match via Tixr.
The season starts under new leadership, with Jeremy Hurdle taking over as interim head coach of Dynamo 2 following the promotion of Marcelo Santos to the first team as an assistant coach. Hurdle previously assumed the same role during the 2024 season when Kenny Bundy was promoted to the first team coaching staff.
Like last year, Dynamo 2 will continue to build on the Club's commitment to providing young players with unique and consistent opportunities to develop their skillset and perform at the professional level. The 2025 campaign saw Dos field the youngest roster in MLSNP, with an average age of just 18.9 years and a total of 13 Dynamo Academy players made their professional debuts, while four scored their first professional goals.
Dos strengthened their roster over the offseason, signing Alief (Houston) native **D’Alessandro** **Herrera**, midfielder **Gustavo** **Dohmann**, attacker **Arthur** **Sousa**, Dynamo Academy forward **Jahmani** **“JJ” Bell**, forward **Alan** **Martins** and defender **Vinicius Rodrigues da Silva**. The Club also signed three of their 2026 MLS SuperDraft selections, including forward Austin Brummett (University of Connecticut), defender Agustin Resch (Seton Hall University), who has been named to the first team bench for the first two regular season matches, and midfielder Gilberto Rivera (San Jose State University).
Houston’s 2026 roster also features the return of a strong young core, including Dynamo Academy midfielder Mattheo Dimareli, a regular in the U.S. Youth National Team pool, forward David Garcia, who signed an MLSNP contract last season, defender Isaac Mwakutuya, midfielder Noah Betancourt, who also signed an MLSNP contract last season, and forward Sebastiao Nzita, who became the youngest player to debut for Dynamo 2 in Club history and the third-youngest player to appear in an MLSNP match. Additionally, goalkeeper Pedro Cruz will make a return after earning the 2025 Goalie Wars title and being named as a finalist for the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year award.
In 2025, Dynamo 2 earned their first penalty shootout victory of the season in their first matchup versus Rapids 2, edging Colorado 5-4 on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw. The result in regulation marked the team’s second clean sheet of the season, backed by four saves from Cruz. The two sides met again later that year, where Dos fell 2-1 on the road, before securing a 1-0 road victory over Colorado on Sept. 14, earning their fourth clean sheet of the season thanks to five saves by Cruz.
Colorado finished third in the Western Conference last season with 51 points and a 15-8-5 record (WLD). They reached the championship final and fell 3-1 in penalties to Red Bull New York II. This year, the club signed head coach Erik Bushey to a new contract as he continues in his role with Rapids 2, a position he has held since the team’s inaugural season in 2022.
The Dynamo recently announced the signing of Dynamo Academy product and Houston native MatthewArana to a first team contract as a Homegrown Player. At just 15 years, five months and 24 days of age, the midfielder became the youngest first team signing in Club history and the 20th Dynamo Academy product to sign a Homegrown first team contract. Additionally, he is is the eighth Academy player to be signed by President of Soccer Pat Onstad since he took charge of soccer operations in February 2022. Arana made five appearances (one start) for Dynamo 2 last season, while recording one assist. He made his professional debut on July 25 at Austin FC II and recorded his first professional start and assist on Sept. 17 versus Tacoma Defiance. Notably, he became the second youngest player ever to debut for Dynamo 2 at just 14 years, 10 months and 28 days old.
Dos next host Tacoma on Sunday, March 8, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT at SaberCats Stadium, the first of two matchups this season.
