Basically, if you’ve been following the USL Championship for more than a minute, you know that looking at the san antonio fc standings in January is a bit like trying to predict the Texas weather—you can guess, but you’re probably going to be wrong. Right now, every team in the Western Conference technically sits at the top of the table. Zero games played. Zero goals conceded. It’s that beautiful, stressful blank slate that every fan in the 210 both loves and dreads.
Honestly, last year was a bit of a roller coaster. After a mid-table finish in 2025 where the club ended up 6th in the West with 40 points, there’s this weird mix of optimism and "wait-and-see" vibes floating around Toyota Field. We saw 11 wins and 12 losses last season. That’s not exactly the dominant SAFC we’ve grown used to since the 2022 title run. But 2026 is a fresh start, and with Carlos Llamosa entering his first full season as head coach, the expectations are—predictably—sky-high.
Where SAFC Sits in the Western Conference
The 2026 USL Championship season hasn't kicked off yet, so everyone is tied for first. Or last. Depends on how much caffeine you've had today.
The Western Conference is going to be a gauntlet this year. You've got heavy hitters like Sacramento Republic FC and New Mexico United always lurking. Then there's FC Tulsa, who absolutely surged last year to take the top spot in the conference with 57 points. San Antonio is currently grouped with 11 other teams in the West, and the goal is simple but brutal: finish in the top eight to make the playoffs.
Missing out isn't an option. Not in this city.
Looking at the san antonio fc standings from a historical perspective, the club has usually hovered near the top, but the parity in the USL is getting ridiculous. Every year, some "underdog" like Lexington SC or El Paso Locomotive FC decides to go on a ten-game unbeaten streak and ruins everyone's brackets. The margin for error in the West is basically zero. If you drop points at home in June, you're usually crying about it in October when you're fighting for that 8th seed.
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The 2026 Roster: Who’s Staying and Who’s Gone?
You can’t talk about the standings without talking about the guys on the pitch. The front office made some big calls in December.
Jorge Hernandez is back. That’s huge. He’s a four-time All-League selection and basically the engine of the midfield. Last season, he led the team with 11 goals and 6 assists. When he’s on, SAFC is a nightmare to defend. When he’s marked out of the game? Well, that’s when things got a bit stagnant last year.
Mitchell Taintor is also returning to anchor the defense. You need that grit. Beside him, we'll see Alexis Souahy and the ever-reliable Richard Sanchez in goal. Sanchez had 68 saves last season, which tells you two things: he’s still got the reflexes, and the defense probably let too many shots through.
The big heartbreak for a lot of fans was the retirement of Juan Agudelo. The former USMNT striker hung up the boots after netting 12 goals in two seasons here. Replacing that veteran presence isn't easy. Santiago Patiño is going to have to shoulder a lot of that scoring load this year, alongside Alex Greive and Diogo Pacheco.
Key Dates That Will Define the Standings
The march back to the top starts on March 7, 2026. SAFC opens at home against Phoenix Rising FC. That is a massive opening fixture. Phoenix is always a measuring stick in this league, and starting with three points at Toyota Field would set a tone that was missing for chunks of last year.
Another one to circle on your calendar is September 26, 2026, when the Tampa Bay Rowdies come to town. By then, the san antonio fc standings will actually mean something. That late-season stretch is usually where the wheels either fall off or the team finds another gear.
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The schedule also includes some "group stage" matches for the Prinx Tires USL Cup starting in late April. While it’s a separate trophy, the momentum (or lack thereof) usually bleeds into the regular season form.
Why the Postseason Format Matters
The USL Championship sticks to a single-elimination, fixed-bracket format. For 2026, the top eight teams from each conference advance.
- First round (Conference Quarterfinals): Oct 30 – Nov 1
- Conference Semifinals: Nov 6–8
- Conference Finals: Nov 13–15
- USL Championship Final: Nov 20–22
Basically, you don't just want to be in the standings; you want to be in the top four. Home-field advantage at Toyota Field is a real thing. The "Mission City" crowd is loud, the humidity is a weapon, and nobody wants to play here in the playoffs.
Actionable Steps for SAFC Fans
If you're looking to keep a close eye on how the team climbs the table this year, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:
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- Track the "Home Points" Percentage: SAFC historically thrives when they turn Toyota Field into a fortress. If they aren't averaging at least 2 points per home game by May, the standings will look ugly.
- Watch the Midfield Rotation: Jorge Hernandez needs help. Watch how Llamosa integrates the newer midfielders like Dmitrii Erofeev to see if the creative burden is shared.
- Sync the Schedule: The season ends on October 24 with a home game against Orange County SC. That match could very well determine if SAFC gets a home playoff game or has to travel to Sacramento or Tulsa.
- Monitor the Clean Sheets: Richard Sanchez is elite, but the team’s standing usually correlates directly with clean sheets. In their 2022 championship year, they were impenetrable. Last year, they conceded 38 goals in 30 games. That number has to come down.
The path back to the top of the san antonio fc standings isn't going to be a cakewalk. But with a settled roster and a full preseason under Llamosa, the ingredients are there. Now we just have to see if they can cook.