Over 27% of the United States is blanketed in snow at the moment, and Punxsutawney Phil has supposedly doomed everyone to six more weeks of winter. Despite believing a seemingly-immortal groundhog has been capable of predicting the weather based on its shadow since 1886, what is certain is that the start of the 2026 USL Championship regular season is on the horizon, as is FC Tulsa’s quest to build on last season’s record-breaking success.
A total of 14 players who helped the Black and Gold secure its first-ever Western Conference Championship title make up the core of the roster so far, including goalkeeper Johan Peñaranda; defenders Abdoulaye “AB” Cissoko, Delentz Pierre, Harvey St. Clair, Lamar Batista, Lucas Stauffer, Owen Damm, Ian Carlos Souza Daniel; midfielders Boubacar Diallo, Giordano Colli, Marcos Cerato; and forwards Taylor Calheira, Stefan Lukić, Jamie Webber, Kalil ElMedkhar.
“Consistency is the foundation of every successful club,” stated Sporting Director & General Manager Caleb Sewell. “Retaining a strong core allows us to build culture year after year rather than starting over. Having this group return gives us our best starting point in recent memory and a platform to push forward rather than rebuild.”
While some of last year’s contributors have moved on, Sewell and Head Coach Luke Spencer have been working diligently to fill the gaps ahead of another competitive campaign.
“We have been working hard to get the right pieces in the door. We wanted to make sure we added quality and high character to what is already an incredible group of guys,” said Sewell. “We have also looked ahead by adding some younger players to the squad that we think can grow and develop and help us along the way.”
Between the Posts
Two new faces have joining Tulsa’s goalkeeper union in 2026 with the additions of veteran shotstoppers Alex Tambakis and Triston Henry.
Tambakis brings a bevy of USL Championship experience with stops at Charleston Battery, North Carolina FC, and, most recently, with New Mexico United. The 33-year-old brings also holds the league’s all-time saves (661) record and is tied for the most shutouts (58), feats he reached during his five seasons with United.
Henry joins the Black and Gold with over a decade of decorated experience, having most recently spent the last two seasons in the USL Championship with Phoenix Rising FC (2025) and Memphis 901 FC (2024).
Henry broke into the professional ranks after signing with Canadian Premier League’s Forge FC ahead of the league’s inaugural season in 2019. Henry made 142 appearances across five seasons for The Hammers, helping the club to four CPL Championship titles (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023), one CPL Shield (2021), and twice earning the league’s Golden Glove Award honors (2020, 2023), as well as earning a spot on the CPL Best XI in 2023.
The Backline
The club’s defensive corps welcomes the signing of Davidson College alum Alonzo Clarke to his first professional contract. Clarke recently wrapped up his collegiate career after recording 4,205 minutes across 58 appearances for the Davidson Wildcats, earning Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team honors before graduating from the program. Clarke also racked up USL League Two experience with Vermont Green FC (2023), Long Island Rough Riders (2024), and Charlotte Independence II (2025) before going pro.
In the Center Circle
The midfield has seen the bulk of acquisitions with the signings of Raheem Somersall, Bailey Sparks, Jeorgio Kocevski, and Zion Siranga.
Somersall has ascended through the USL ecosystem with stops at Ocean City Nor’easters (USL League Two), FC Tucson (USL League One), South Georgia Tomenta FC (USL League One), and North Carolina FC (USL Championship). Somersall arrived in Tulsa after a stellar 2025 season with NCFC, where he made 29 appearances, 22 starts, and excelled at disrupting channels and distributing to his teammates through the middle third.
Sparks made 18 appearances, 16 starts, and tallied a goal and a pair of assists in MLSNP play for Inter Miami CF II last season after being drafted by Inter Miami CF in the second round (52nd overall pick) of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. Sparks excelled at distribution as he maintained an 88% passing accuracy throughout his debut season.
Kocevski brings box-to-box capabilities to the mix, which he flexed during his time with MLS NEXT Pro side Ventura County FC last season. The central midfielder scored seven goals across 25 competitive appearances, 23 of which were starts. Following an accolade-filled college career at Syracuse University, Kocevski broke into the professional ranks after being selected in the first round (21st overall pick) of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City SC, where he made 12 First Team appearances and four for the club’s MLSNP side the same year.
FC Tulsa announced the signing of 17-year-old midfielder Zion Siranga to a USL Academy contract. The Oklahoma City native, who currently plays for MLS NEXT developmental youth side Greenwood Soccer Club, will continue to represent Greenwood in matches when not involved in FC Tulsa First Team matchday squads. In joining the club as a USL Academy signing, Siranga retains his future NCAA eligibility while training and competing in a professional environment.
Leading the Attack
The Scissortails opted to boost its presence in the attacking third by bringing two-time USL Championship All-League select Bruno Lapa, 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot winner Rémi Cabral, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC loanee Nelson Pierre to the 918.
Lapa possesses an impressive USL Championship pedigree and is looking to pick up where he left off. The Curitiba, Brazil native made his professional debut in 2020 with Birmingham Legion FC, where he amassed 17 goals and 11 assists in 67 appearances across three seasons with the club, and earned 2020 USL Championship All-League First Team honors in his rookie season.
Lapa made the move to then-Championship side Memphis 901 FC before the start of the 2023 season, where he notched another 15 goals and nine assists in 60 league appearances, earning a spot on the 2024 All-League Second Team before his departure.
Cabral joins the Black and Gold after spending the last two seasons with Western Conference peers Phoenix Rising FC, where he made 48 appearances and recorded 14 goals and four assists across all competitions. The Paris, France-born midfielder made a permanent move to Rising in 2025 after spending 2024 on loan from Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids.
The Frenchman was a standout performer for Colorado Rapids’ MLS NEXT Pro side, Rapids 2, in 2023, tallying 19 goals across 22 appearances. Cabral finished the campaign in a three-way tie in the MLSNP Golden Boot race, notching a second-half hat-trick in Colorado’s regular season finale to claim his share of the accolade.
Pierre joins the Black and Gold after splitting the 2025 season between the Vancouver Whitecaps first team and its MLS NEXT Pro outfit, Whitecaps 2. The 20-year-old striker spent the first half of the year on loan from MLS side Philadelphia Union before having his contract option picked up by Vancouver in June 2025, making his league debut shortly after on July 4. In all, Pierre made three first team appearances and scored 12 goals and four assists across 22 MLSNP appearances last season.
FC Tulsa 2026 Roster (as of February 26, 2026):
Goalkeepers (2): Alex Tambakis, Triston Henry
Defenders (8): Abdoulaye “AB” Cissoko, Delentz Pierre, Harvey St. Clair, Lamar Batista, Lucas Stauffer, Owen Damm, Ian Carlos Souza Daniel, Alonzo Clarke
Midfielders (7): Boubacar Diallo, Giordano Colli, Marcos Cerato, Raheem Somersall, Bailey Sparks, Jeorgio Kocevski, Zion Siranga*
Forwards (6): Stefan Lukić, Bruno Lapa, Jamie Webber, Kalil ElMedkhar, Nelson Pierre, Rémi Cabral
*USL Academy signing
“Across our new additions, we’ve brought in players with both quality and experience who can elevate what we already have and give us greater tactical flexibility,” said Sewell. “Alex Tambakis is one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in the league’s history and a model of consistency. Raheem Somersall brings intensity, discipline, and work rate to our midfield. Bruno Lapa has a proven goal-scoring pedigree in this league, and Jeorgio Kocevski has the technical ability and engine that could easily see him still in the MLS. We’re excited about how this group can grow together and help us reach our ambitions this season.”
There are still a handful of weeks of preseason left before the USL Championship season officially kicks off, which gives Tulsa plenty of time to ink a few more potential contracts. What is definitive, though, is that the Scissortails have fortified their perch, and they are eager to start the season on the front foot.
FC Tulsa will kick off the 2026 USL Championship season on the road at Sacramento Republic FC on March 7 before returning to ONEOK Field the following week. Fans can secure their seats to the club’s Home Opener on March 14 at 7:00 p.m., against San Antonio FC, or any home match in 2026 with a Season Ticket Membership. Ticket packages, single game tickets, and more are available now at fctulsa.com/tickets or by calling 918-727-2231.
