A Historic Spring 2026 for Miami United FC: UPSL National Finalists, U.S. Open Cup Bound and Champions Across the Club
Miami,FL- The curtain has fallen on the 2026 Spring Season, and while the final result did not end with a national championship, Miami United FC closes another remarkable campaign that further strengthens its place among the premier semipro soccer organizations in the United States.
From another appearance in the UPSL National Championship Final to continued success across every level of the club, the 2026 season will be remembered as a very good season.
The First Team reached the UPSL National Final for the second consecutive season, earned automatic qualification for the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, while the Reserve Team captured the SPL Gold Division Regular Season Championship and the U23 Team won the SPL Silver Division Playoff Championship in its inaugural season.
A Championship Run Across Florida
Miami United entered the UPSL playoffs determined to finish what it had started after ending the regular season tied on points with Florida Badgers. Although the club finished second because of the head-to-head tiebreaker, the response in the postseason was nothing short of exceptional.
The playoff run began with a 1-0 victory over Florida Badgers, avenging the club's only regular-season defeat and securing the UPSL South Florida Championship.
That victory marked Miami United's third consecutive South Florida Championship, further confirming the club's dominance in the region.
The following week, Miami United was set to face Pinellas County United in the UPSL Florida State Championship.
The team delivered one of its finest performances of the season, cruising to a 5-0 victory to capture its third consecutive Florida State Championship.
A Night Atlanta Will Never Forget
Perhaps the defining moment of the season came in the UPSL Southeast Regional Final against SCU Heat in Atlanta.
After an intense 90 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw, the match was decided from the penalty spot.
Goalkeeper Franco Acerbi delivered one of the greatest individual performances in club history.
He saved two penalty kicks, keeping Miami United alive before stepping forward himself to take the final kick of the shootout.
With incredible composure, Acerbi buried the decisive penalty to give Miami United a 6-5 victory, sending the club to the National Final Four while securing its second consecutive UPSL Southeast Regional Championship.
It was one of the most dramatic victories ever recorded by Miami United FC.
Another National Final
The National Semifinal at UCLA brought another unforgettable performance.
Facing NY Renegades FC, Miami United fell behind early before producing another remarkable comeback.
Goals from Luis Peralta, Guido Cacciabue, and David Mizrahi, combined with another crucial penalty save by Franco Acerbi, secured a 3-1 victory and booked Miami United's place in the UPSL National Championship Final for the second consecutive year.
The season concluded at Wallis Annenberg Stadium at UCLA, where Miami United fell 3-1 to Deportivo Rose City.
Although the championship slipped away, the achievement of returning to the National Final reaffirmed Miami United's place among the elite semipro clubs in America.
The Road to the U.S. Open Cup Continues
By reaching the National Championship Final, Miami United automatically qualified for the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The qualification represents the club's eighth appearance in the Tournament Proper and its fifth appearance in the last six years, an extraordinary record of consistency for an independent amateur club.
From its memorable 2018 Round of 32 appearance against Orlando City SC to repeated national recognition in recent editions of the competition, Miami United continues to build one of the strongest Open Cup traditions in American semipro soccer.
Success Throughout the Organization
The First Team's accomplishments were matched by success throughout the club.
The Miami United Reserve Team captured the 2026 SPL Gold Division Regular Season Championship, once again demonstrating the quality and depth of the club's developmental structure.
Meanwhile, the newly established Miami United U23 Team enjoyed a dream debut season, winning the 2026 SPL Silver Division Playoff Championship and immediately validating the club's long-term vision of creating a complete pathway from the Academy to the First Team.
Today, Miami United proudly offers one of the most complete player development structures in the region:
Academy → U23 → Reserve → First Team
Three Setbacks That Fueled the Journey
Even during such a successful season, three results proved disappointing.
Miami United was eliminated in the Winter Cup Semifinal by Florida Wolves, fell 3-2 to Athletum FC in the Referee Cup Quarterfinal, and narrowly missed first place in the UPSL regular season despite finishing level on points with Florida Badgers.
Rather than defining the season, those setbacks became motivation for one of the club's greatest postseason runs.
A Season to Remember
The accomplishments of the 2026 Spring Season speak for themselves:
UPSL South Florida Champions
Three Consecutive South Florida Championships
UPSL Florida State Champions
Three Consecutive Florida State Championships
UPSL Southeast Regional Champions
Back-to-Back Southeast Regional Championships
UPSL National Finalists
Qualified for the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
8th U.S. Open Cup Tournament Proper Appearance
5th U.S. Open Cup Appearance in the Last Six Years
SPL Gold Division Regular Season Champions (Reserve Team)
SPL Silver Division Playoff Champions (U23 Team)
While the season ended one victory short of a national title, the legacy of the 2026 campaign extends far beyond one match.
Miami United FC once again demonstrated its championship culture, strengthened its player development model, expanded its national reputation, and continued building a foundation for sustained success.
The future has never looked brighter.
One Club. One Identity. One Pathway.
Miami United FC
