The Verde & Black are back. And as we head into our sixth season together, it’s time to continue the tradition of providing a sneak peek at some of the new elements that will appear across the Austin FC universe in 2026.
Below is a mix of updates ranging from league-level changes to matchday experiences at Q2 Stadium to key World Cup insights – all in support of what will be a truly special year for soccer.
A WORLD CUP YEAR IN AUSTIN
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is set to be, without hyperbole, the largest and most watched sporting event in the world. This will be a defining moment for the growth, visibility, and cultural relevance of our sport across North America and beyond.
In recognition of this historic moment, Austin FC will soon announce plans to host a large-scale outdoor public watch party in downtown Austin for the tournament’s opening two (2) days, featuring the opening matches for both USA and Mexico. Austin FC will then host Official World Cup Watch Parties every subsequent day of the tournament, encompassing every match, at another soon-to-be-announced location in downtown Austin.
In addition, Austin will serve as an official Team Base Location, as designated by FIFA, for the Saudi Arabian National Team in the build up to, and during, group play.
No matter which nation you’re supporting, Austin FC events will be the place to gather throughout the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
BROADCAST UPDATES
MLS on Apple TV: Simpler and More Accessible
One of the most meaningful changes for fans this season is how MLS matches are delivered on Apple TV.
Ahead of 2026, Apple streamlined its platform and updated its agreement with MLS so that all MLS matches are now available to Apple TV subscribers in one place. If you already subscribe to Apple TV for sports such as F1 or MLB, or for original programming like Ted Lasso or Severance, you now also have access to every MLS and Leagues Cup match – without the need for a separate subscription.
For Austin FC Season Ticket Members, this remains a complimentary benefit as part of your 2026 membership, ensuring you never miss an Austin FC match all season long.
Austin FC Matches to Re-Air on KBVO
Starting in ’26, fans in Central Texas can tune in to KBVO on Tuesday nights to watch a re-broadcast of the most recent Austin FC match, which originally aired live on Apple TV earlier in the week. Re-broadcasts will begin at 7:00 p.m. CT each Tuesday and continue the partnership between Austin FC and KBVO’s parent station KXAN.
COMPETITION UPDATES
A Return to Leagues Cup
Austin FC has qualified for the 2026 Leagues Cup based on our finish in the 2025 MLS regular season. We’re excited to return to this international competition when we welcome Liga MX clubs back to Austin for another chapter of this cross-border tournament. Austin FC’s Leagues Cup schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
U.S. Open Cup: Back Again After a Special Run in ‘25
Following our memorable run to the U.S. Open Cup Final in ’25, Austin FC returns to the tournament in ’26. Our pursuit of the Club’s first-ever U.S. Open Cup championship will begin in mid-April when we enter the tournament in the Round of 32.
As with Leagues Cup, select Open Cup matches are included as part of your Season Ticket Membership. We will share additional details once U.S. Soccer announces the official schedule for each round.
MATCHDAY UPDATES
A New Kit for ‘26
By now, you’ve seen the newest addition to our Club’s jersey collection. The Rooted Kit, which makes its official debut on Opening Night (February 21), replaces the Armadillo Kit and joins the Heartbeat Kit as our on-field set for the ’26 season.
Rooted in Austin’s natural beauty, this kit celebrates Austin’s connection to the outdoors. It is inspired by the aquatic greens and clear waters of Barton Springs and the lush flora and fauna found around the greenbelt. The sentiment from both players and fans has been outstanding.
New Season Ticket Member Benefit: 10% Food & Beverage Discount at Concessions
One of the most impactful new benefits for Season Ticket Members in ‘26 is a 10% discount on food and beverage purchases at concessions throughout Q2 Stadium. To activate this discount, Season Ticket Members simply open the Austin FC app, go to the “Frost Wallet” tab, select “ATX Pay” and scan the QR code at checkout.
Promotions & Giveaways
Yes, the rumors are true: we will debut our first-ever bobblehead giveaway night on July 22, courtesy of SeatGeek.
Additional promotions throughout the season include:
- Commemorative Opening Night pins, courtesy of Q2
- A YETI hat giveaway when we host LAFC in March
- The debut of “Evergreen Night” in April – a special matchday dedicated to celebrating the Club’s sustainability platform
- Our inaugural “Little Legends Night” in May, presented by St. David’s HealthCare, celebrating the next generation of Austin FC fans
Matchday Experience Enhancements
Following great fan response last season, we’re expanding our pre-match festivities in Live Oak Park to be the lead-in to at least eight (8) regular season matches, with the potential for more.
Enjoy $4 beers, live music, food offerings, player appearances and autograph opportunities, in addition to family-friendly activities like face painting. Stay tuned to Austin FC social channels for dates and start times.
For those of you who had a chance to see rooftop fireworks last year when we defeated Sporting KC on Opening Night of the ’25 season, you’ll be happy to hear that we’re expanding our rooftop fireworks programming to be a part of six (6) matches in ’26.
And speaking of light, fans can also expect some new uses of our stadium lighting including expanded Verde lights elements throughout pregame and halftime.
Single Match Tickets / Ticket Packages
As we kick off 2026, it is worth noting that only the first seven (7) regular season home matches are available for single-match purchase. The remaining 10 regular season matches (all of which will occur after the World Cup) will go on sale later in the spring.
We are introducing new VERDE Matchday Bundles which are designed as family-focused ticket packages that combine tickets with classic stadium concession favorites. Designed as simple, “all-in” options, these bundles make planning a family night at Q2 Stadium easier than ever.
New Food & Beverage at Q2 Stadium
We’ve expanded refreshment options across Q2 Stadium for 2026, giving fans more variety, stronger local representation, and enhanced value on matchday.
New this season is Wanderlust Wine Co. (Section 126), a locally founded and operated Austin brand. Wanderlust joins a beverage portfolio that includes two other local additions in Twisted X out of Dripping Springs and Celis Brewery from right up the road. These new offerings strengthen an already diverse group of both local craft and national offerings such as Pinthouse, Austin Beerworks, St. Elmo, Meanwhile, Zilker, Karbach, New Belgium, Western Cider, and our longstanding national partners Anheuser-Busch and Heineken across the stadium footprint.
Prioritizing accessible, family-focused price points remains central in 2026. Value beer offerings include 12oz Bud Light and Tecate for $6.50 (available at Grillove 101, Munchies 103, DoubleDave’s 105 & 123, OneTaco 122, Eastside Eats 128, Oak Hill Grill 129, Plucker’s 135; The Austin Table 137, ATX Doghouse 314) and 12oz Michelob Ultra and Dos Equis for $7 (available at Munchies 103, Eastside Eats 128, ATX Doghouse 314).
Fans will also enjoy new gathering spaces, including the Michelob Ultra Pitchside Patio (Section 118) and Kesos Tacos (Sections 106 and 312), adding new experiences and hospitality environments throughout the venue. In the southeast corner of the stadium, near the Supporters’ Section, guests can continue to enjoy Michelin-starred local Austin cuisine from la Barbecue – one of the only stadium settings in the country to feature a Michelin-recognized restaurant on matchday.
Expanded family bundles are available at multiple locations. The $26 Family Four Pack (four hot dogs, four chips, and four drinks) and the $6.50 hot dog, chips, and drink combo are both offered at Munchies 103, Eastside Eats 128, and ATX Doghouse 314. Shareable Cowboy Hat Chicken Tenders and Fries are available for $30 at Grillove 101 and Oak Hill Grill 129, while Shareable Cowboy Hat Nachos are offered for $36 at Munchies 103, Eastside Eats 128, and ATX Doghouse 314. These offerings along with featured pricing from Bao’d Up, JABS Burgers, DoubleDave’s, and Little Patagonia are designed to ensure an affordable and enjoyable matchday experience for families and groups.
Visit q2stadium.com for a look at all food and beverage options available on matchdays.
Additionally, fans can take advantage of the new 30oz YETI Souvenir Refillable Fountain Soda program, which allows you to bring back the YETI throughout the 2026 Austin FC season for unlimited free refills of soda.
Together these enhancements reflect our continued investment in elevating the Q2 Stadium food and beverage experience.
Transportation
We recently announced a new partnership with Uber, making it easier than ever for fans to get to and from Q2 Stadium. As part of this partnership, fans will have access to both Uber’s traditional, human-driven vehicles and Uber’s autonomous vehicle options when traveling to events. For fans, the experience is simple: the Uber Rideshare Pickup / Drop-Off Zone remains in the same convenient location adjacent to the Cap Metro Station. The big difference is that Uber is expanding transportation options.
New Charging Stations
Based on fan feedback, Q2 Stadium is introducing new charging stations in the VIP Lobby and North Concourse, in partnership with O’Reilly Auto Parts.
After receiving fan feedback that stationary chargers were not always ideal due to the understandable reluctance to leave phones unattended or miss match action while waiting nearby, Austin FC fans at Q2 Stadium will now have the option to rent portable chargers to take back to their seats whichallows users to stay connected while enjoying the match.
Signal Strength
A few years ago, we partnered with T-Mobile to enhance cell service inside Q2 Stadium for their subscribers, and last season we shared that Verizon had joined our distributed antenna system (DAS) network as well. This year, Verizon is upgrading its in-stadium infrastructure to deliver faster speeds through its 5G Ultra-Wideband network. The enhancement is expected to roll out during the 2026 season, further improving connectivity for Verizon customers at Q2 Stadium.
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Thank you to our fans, partners, and staff for making our Club extraordinary and Q2 Stadium one of the premier destinations in the game.
I look forward to welcoming you back on February 21 for our home opener.
Andy Loughnane
President
Austin FC