We're less than one week away from the start of Forward Madison's 8th season in USL League One. The 'Mingos have been ultra successful off the pitch, sadly that success hasn't really followed the club onto the pitch. The Flamingos come off an 8-11-11 season last year in USL1, where they ultimately ended up missing the playoffs. Madison also finished 5th (of 6) in their USL Cup group and we're eliminated in the second round of the Lamar Hunt US. Open Cup by FC Tulsa.
So far the 2026 pre-season has started well for Forward Madison. Three pre-season matches, resulted in two wins and a draw against a trio of non-league opponents. Madison took down Chicago Fire II 4–0, drew with Indy Eleven nil-nil, and defeated Detroit City 3–1 last weekend.
Matt Glaeser returns for fifth season in charge of Flamingos and has a tough task ahead of him to start the 2026 campaign. Due to turf replacement Forward Madison will have a season opening swing of 8 matches away from home. The club's first home match will not be until mid-May in the USL Cup.
Notable Acquisitions
- Roman Torres: 2025 MLS SuperDraft pick of MNUFC. Joins on free from MNUFC2. Spent part of 2025 with Birmingham Legion (USLC)
- Enrique Machasen: joins on loan from Panamanian top flight side C.D. Universitario
- Mark Segbers: comes in on a free from Charleston Battery, played collegiately at University of Wisconsin in Madison
Notable Departures
- Isaac Angking (Rhode Island). Nico Brown (Lexington, now w/ Birmingham) Lucca Dourado (Birmingham), Temi Ereku (Birmingham), and Adrien Graffin (Amazonas, BRZ) loans ended
- Nazeem Bartman retired following 4 years with Forward Madison & a 13 year senior career
Following the eight match season opening away stretch the 'Mingos finally return to Madison for their home opener on 16 May. In the first match on the new turf they'll Detroit City in the USL Cup group stage. Forward Madison will then play their first league match at home on 29 May against Corpus Christi FC.
Madison's new USLW sister club Rally Madison has their inaugural home match on 23 May as they take on Minnesota Aurora, in between Forward's first two home matches.
With the super late home opener Forward will have series of long homestands over the season. The longest individual stretch is five matches lasting from 11 July to 1 August. This is part of an even bigger stretch where 8 of 9 matches will be played on the isthmus between 13 June to 1 August.
