The San Diego Football Club’s training facilities sit on a bowl hill in East County, and this week they have been practicing with a group of injured players, some of whom were practicing from the club and three other games in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Austin, Texas.
“One of the thinnest rosters I've ever been on,” said midfielder Luca de la Torre.
The cavalry did not ride on the hill to save them-at least not yet.
The next reel squad is the Friday night date against Nashville SC at Snapdragon Stadium, with Nashville SC ranked second with 47 points, four points higher than the SDFC total.
San Diego Football Club head coach Mikey Varas admitted the crowd after defeating Dallas Football Club at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, May 3, 2025 in San Diego, California. (MEG MCLAUGHLIN / San Diego United – Conference)
“It’s definitely a challenge because we have to see how they come back from travel and competition,” coach Mikey Varas said of the All-Star Game hiring “Chucky” Chucky Lozano, Anders Dreyer and Jeppe Tverskov. “Also, we don’t have the most numbers on the field.
“But we will never use something like that as an excuse. … It will be another huge challenge, but it's something we love because we want to pass the best test. That's how you grow up.”
Two games ago, SDFC had only five live players on the bench. In the last game, when a pair of rookies started in the central defense, it had four.
Injuries and departures are also causing losses. After averaging nearly 2 points per game in the first 20 games, SDFC (13-7-4) has only 4 points from the latest fours – just 1 point compared to the last threes. The loss against Houston was 4-3, a 1-0 loss against Toronto and a 1-1 average against Vancouver, which is likely another L, if star Whitecaps forward Brian White didn't miss a pair of babysitters.
San Diego Football Club midfielder Anibal Godoy (20), center and teammates celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (MEG MCLAUGHLIN / San Diego United – Conference)
However, this is not all bad news. Valas said the crew of the injured players “all are improving” and experienced defensive midfielder Anibal Godoy was a key figure in the SDFC's quick start, having cleared the game on Friday, though there might not be a full 90 minutes.
The MLS summer transfer window opened Thursday, meaning 19-year-old external defender Aiden Harangi received a short-term loan from the reserves of Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany's Fourth Division to qualify for adaptation.
Taylor pile of San Diego Football Club on January 17, 2025 in El Cajon, California
SDFC sports director Tyler Heaps is expected to add more bodies.
Already linked to the SDFC is Pedro Soma, a 19-year-old midfielder who belongs to Cornelia of the Spanish Fifth Division and recently completed a loan with Barcelona B in the Spanish Fourth Division. David Vasquez, 19, from the Philadelphia League Reserve, has a professional MLS.
All three fit the common ground for SDFC: from football's ruthless young, cheap players, Varas began to get familiar with his youth national team with the Accer of Soccer of Soccer. All three are members of the Under-20 national team, as are current SDFC left-back Luca Bombino. According to the Transfermarkt.us website, their market value is $100,000, $200,000 and $75,000.
Two other young men, Ian Pilcher and Manu Duah, defended second Vancouver last Saturday. Duah was considered a goal of his own on the skewed shot, but Pilcher kicked the corner to score the second half equalizer.
“I think the most important thing is to trust them,” De La Torre said. “They are here for a reason, their quality, they perform well in training, and they deserve the opportunity.”
The challenge will not stop. Nashville has the second best record for 30 teams at 14-5-5. The 6-foot-3 British striker Sam Surid tied for the MLS with Miami's Lionel Messi to score 18 goals.
“I would say they're pretty good than that,” Varas said. “Their coaches are really high. They do have mature players, and at every moment of the game, a very balanced team. They're well-trained, well-trained, and their talents can bring different abilities.”
San Diego Football Club (13-7-4) and Nashville SC (14-5-5)
when: Friday at 7:30 pm
flow: appletv
radio: 760-AM (English); 1700-AM (Spain)
Original Published: July 24, 2025, 10:53 AM PDT