“You can see that these players have passion, and they want to prove that they are good enough,” assistant coach Marcos Reina told Phoenix New Times. Reina came to Phoenix this year from Barcelona, Spain, by way of three teams in the Mexican Pacific League and the Rising’s rival in the United Soccer League Championship, Oakland Roots SC.
Hopefuls paid $200 for the chance to impress the Phoenix Rising coaching staff and former professional players and coaches who have extensive knowledge of professional soccer.
“If they’re good enough to play with us, they will, and if not, they’re having fun, which is okay, too,” Reina said.
A handful of those who tried out on January 20 and 21 qualified for a scrimmage against the Rising’s academy team on January 22. Some of those finalists could don a red-and-black kit for the team’s regular season opener on March 11.
Searching for the Missing Puzzle Piece
Phoenix Rising recorded back-to-back appearances in the USL Championship finals in 2019 and 2020. The team is looking to reverse its fortunes after it missed the postseason last year for the first time since 2016.There’s no guarantee that anyone who tried out in January will make the cut, coaches said. But the team could sign several players to fill some of the 10 vacancies on this year’s roster.
“We’re looking for local talent, somebody that is not on the radar right now,” Reina said. “It’s a way to be sure that we know about players in the Phoenix area. Maybe we can find a hidden talent here. That’s why the tryout is important, to see if we were missing some local talent.”
Players on the Rising’s active roster hail from a dozen countries, including Gambia, Sweden, Nigeria, and Argentina. But others, such as defender Channing Chasten from Queen Creek, are the product of local scouting here in the Valley.
Chasing a Dream
Jack Terrell, a 21-year-old outside forward from Salt Lake City, Utah, flew in for the chance to prove himself to new head coach Juan Guerra, who came to Phoenix from Oakland with Reina during the offseason.“There’s a lot of competition out here. I’m feeling good, though. My ultimate goal in life is to go pro in soccer,” said Terrell, who has played soccer for 18 years.
However, most of those who tried out had a shorter commute.
Dom Iovino, a 29-year-old center midfielder from Phoenix, has managed the men’s soccer program at Deer Valley High School and coached for the Paradise Valley Community College men’s soccer team. He also has been coaching the Rising’s youth club for six years.
Still an avid player, the New York native and one-time standout collegiate athlete at the New York Institute of Technology decided to throw his hat in the ring this year before it’s too late.
“I got the itch to play again,” Iovino said. Regardless of whether or not he’s tapped for a training camp slot, as a longtime club soccer coach, he said the tryout is “good for the organization.”
Devin Franklin, a 25-year-old outside back from Avondale, has been honing his craft for a decade. He played semi-pro soccer for the last two years and hopes to continue in his hometown.
“My ultimate goal is to get a contract and play a long career here in Phoenix,” he said. “I’m before my prime.”
Like Iovino, Franklin trains hundreds of youth players in Phoenix. He grew up playing just about every sport — football, basketball, baseball — but he turned soccer from a high school pastime to a legitimate career ambition to support his two young children.
“It’s the sport that requires the most fitness, technical skill, and execution,” he said. “It’s a free-flowing game of creativity. I think that’s the difference between this game and many others. You have to stay engaged and locked in.”
A Global Game
Soccer, the most-watched sport on Earth, is more popular than ever in the U.S. after the country lagged behind on the global stage for generations. Buoyed by the U.S. Men’s National Team reaching the Round of 16 in the World Cup last December, the upward trend of soccer’s stateside popularity shows no signs of slowing down. The 2026 World Cup will be played in stadiums across North America.Domestically, high school soccer participation has jumped more than 32 percent in the past two decades — beating out baseball and hockey, which grew by less than 7 percent.
Contributing to that growth was Franklin, who joined the soccer team at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear at age 15.
“It’s a global game,” Franklin said. “I think that what the American team did this World Cup said enough about the potential of what’s coming out of soccer in this country. I think the coaching infrastructure is improving at the pro level.”
Reina said that because soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., he’s exactly where he belongs after a career in Europe and Central America.
“Football is growing a lot in Arizona and the U.S.,” Reina said. “This is something that can attract anybody because it’s a great country, and soccer is going up and up. It’s going to be an unstoppable country for soccer soon, and I’m excited about that.”
Phoenix Rising debuts its regular season on the road against the Charleston Battery on March 11. The club’s home opener is slated for April 1 against the San Diego Loyal SC at its new digs near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The new stadium at Washington and 38th streets seats 10,000 and includes the option of adding a sportsbook, which was not possible at the team's previous home venue in Chandler, according to city documents.
