HOUSTON (Sept. 19, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC signed Houston Dynamo 2 midfielder Gilberto Riverato a first team contract, the Club announced today. Rivera’s contract runs through June 2027 with Club options through the 2028-29 season.
“Gilberto has earned this opportunity through his continued growth since joining the Club and is another positive example of our club utilizing its player pathway,” said President of Soccer Pat Onstad. “He has embraced each step of his development from the collegiate level, to Dynamo 2 and gaining valuable experience in the USL Championship, and has demonstrated the composure and competitive mentality needed to impact the midfield. We are excited to welcome him to the first team and look forward to supporting his continued development.”
The 21-year-old midfielder originally joined the Club after being selected with the 88th overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft out of San Jose State University, where he concluded his junior season with 52 appearances, three goals and 10 assists. The midfielder helped the Spartans reach back-to-back Western Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament finals in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, he earned First Team All-Far West Region and First Team All-WAC honors after recording two goals, eight assists and 1,648 minutes in 19 appearances, while helping the Spartans lead the conference with eight shutouts. He also earned WAC All-Tournament Team honors in 2024.
While receiving four short-term loans to the first team this season, Rivera has helped Dynamo 2 through another strong campaign to clinch their place in the MLS NEXT Pro 2026 Playoffs for the fourth time in team history. The midfielder has totaled 10 appearances with Dos, scoring two goals and recording one assist, as the team looks to secure a top-three position on Decision Day this weekend. Dynamo 2 continues to find success while fielding one of the youngest rosters in the league over the past three seasons.
Rivera also spent a loan stint with USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC this season, totaling 12 appearances, including two starts in Group 2 of the USL Cup versus Orange County SC and AV Alta FC.
Rivera is the second 2026 MLS SuperDraft selection to sign a first team contract this season, as defender Agustin Resch made the jump in March. The 6-foot-6 Argentinian, drafted out of Seton Hall University, has been a key figure in Houston’s backline this season, with strong defensive performances that include 11 clean sheets. The Dynamo also recently tied a league-record with a five-match shutout victory streak and held opponents scoreless for an impressive 485 minutes, the second-longest run over the last decade for Houston. Notably, Resch joined former Dynamo forward Will Bruin as the only Houston rookies selected in the MLS SuperDraft to surpass 1,600 regular season minutes in their first MLS seasons.
Rivera continues the strong track record of players progressing from Dynamo 2 the Dynamo first team. He is the ninth player to sign a first team contract from Dynamo 2, a list that includes recent first team contributors such as Micael, Felipe Andrade and Agustin Resch.
The Dynamo currently sit second in the Western Conference on 43 points, just three points off the top spot and the team’s highest point total in history through 25 matches. Houston next hosts FC Cincinnati for an interconference matchup on Saturday, Sept. 19, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium. Fans can secure their tickets for the match via Tixr HERE.
