FRESNO, CA — Fuego U23 opened its Fall campaign with a 2–1 victory over Academica on Sunday night at Blackbeard’s Family Entertainment Center.
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The match served as Fuego’s Back to School Night, bringing families and young players to Blackbeard’s while giving the club an opportunity to showcase its U23 program. Fuego partner Mazda was also in attendance to support the team.
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The season opener also highlighted Fuego’s player development pathway. Four players recently moved up from the U19 roster to the U23 team, with Christian Sanchez earning a starting position and making an immediate impact in his first appearance at the U23 level.
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First Half
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Fuego took the lead in the ninth minute after Academica made a defensive mistake. A header played back toward the goalkeeper created an opportunity for Andres Garcia-Diaz, who reacted quickly to win the loose ball and finish to give Fuego a 1–0 advantage.
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In the 19th minute, Garcia-Diaz was involved again and carried the ball forward and created a 1v1 opportunity for David Valencia down the right side. Valencia used his technical ability to beat the defender before finishing at the near post to double Fuego’s lead.
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Fuego entered halftime with a 2–0 advantage.
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2nd Half
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Academica changed its approach coming out of halftime, playing with a much higher defensive line and pushing its goalkeeper farther up the field. The adjustment created space for Fuego to attack behind the defense, and Fuego had several opportunities to extend its lead. The team continued to move forward and create chances but was unable to find a third goal.
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As the match progressed, Academica remained within striking distance. Fuego also began to make a few defensive mistakes, eventually allowing Academica to cut the deficit to 2–1.
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The final stages became a test of Fuego’s ability to manage the game and protect its lead.
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With the experience of center back Steven Randall helping organize the defense, Fuego managed to hold off Academica and secure the 2–1 victory to receive the full three points.
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We also wanted to give an honorable mention to the promotion of four U19 players moving into the U23 roster provides which gave those players an opportunity to continue developing while competing at a higher level.
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Fuego will now look to build on its opening-night victory when it returns to Blackbeard’s this weekend.
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NEXT MATCH
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Fuego U23 vs. Sonoma County Sol\n\n
Saturday, August 29\n\n
7:00 PM\n\n
Blackbeard’s Family Entertainment Center

Fuego U23 Opens Fall Campaign With 2–1 Home Victory Over Academica

Fuego FC is proud to announce that the club has officially submitted both its Men's and Women's Beach Soccer teams for participation in the Americas Winners Cup Costa Rica 2026, one of the premier club beach soccer competitions in the Americas.
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The tournament will take place from December 13-19, 2026, in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, bringing together leading beach soccer clubs from across North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean for a week of international competition on the Pacific coast.
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The 2026 edition will mark Fuego FC's second appearance in the competition after making its international debut at the 2025 Americas Winners Cup in El Salvador. Competing against some of the top beach soccer clubs in the region, Fuego FC reached the quarterfinals in its first-ever appearance and established itself as a competitive presence on the international stage.
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Building on that experience, Fuego FC now returns with even greater ambitions.
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The club will once again field a men's team while also making history with the introduction of its first-ever Women's Beach Soccer team, which is expected to make its international debut in Costa Rica.
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The addition of a women's side reflects the continued growth of the Fuego FC Beach Soccer program and the club's commitment to creating opportunities for athletes across multiple areas of the game while representing the Central Valley beyond the United States.
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Hosted by Beach Soccer Worldwide in partnership with local organizers in Costa Rica, the Americas Winners Cup has become the leading club competition for beach soccer across the region and regularly features some of the strongest clubs and players in the Americas.
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After a quarterfinal run in El Salvador, Fuego FC now sets its sights on Costa Rica as the club prepares for another opportunity to compete against the best beach soccer clubs in the Americas.

Fuego FC se enorgullece en anunciar que el club ha inscrito oficialmente a sus equipos masculino y femenil de fútbol playa para participar en la Americas Winners Cup Costa Rica 2026, una de las principales competencias de clubes de fútbol playa en América.
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El torneo se llevará a cabo del 13 al 19 de diciembre de 2026 en Puntarenas, Costa Rica, reuniendo a los principales clubes de fútbol playa de Norteamérica, Centroamérica, Sudamérica y el Caribe para una semana de competencia internacional en la costa del Pacífico.
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La edición 2026 marcará la segunda participación de Fuego FC en la competencia, después de su debut internacional en la Americas Winners Cup 2025 en El Salvador. Compitiendo contra algunos de los mejores clubes de fútbol playa de la región, Fuego FC alcanzó los cuartos de final en su primera aparición y se estableció como una presencia competitiva en el escenario internacional.
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Sobre esa experiencia, Fuego FC regresa ahora con ambiciones aún mayores.
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El club volverá a presentar un equipo masculino y además hará historia con la presentación de su primer equipo femenil de fútbol playa, que se espera haga su debut internacional en Costa Rica.
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La incorporación de un equipo femenil refleja el crecimiento continuo del programa de fútbol playa de Fuego FC y el compromiso del club por crear oportunidades para atletas en múltiples áreas del deporte, representando al Valle Central más allá de Estados Unidos.
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Organizada por Beach Soccer Worldwide en colaboración con organizadores locales en Costa Rica, la Americas Winners Cup se ha convertido en la principal competencia de clubes de fútbol playa de la región y regularmente reúne a algunos de los clubes y jugadores más fuertes de América.
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Tras llegar a cuartos de final en El Salvador, Fuego FC pone ahora la mira en Costa Rica mientras el club se prepara para otra oportunidad de competir contra los mejores clubes de fútbol playa de América.

Fuego FC to Compete in the Americas Winners Cup Costa Rica 2026

Fuego FC competirá en la Americas Winners Cup Costa Rica 2026

Fuego FC is proud to announce a new partnership with Valley Children's Healthcare, further strengthening our commitment to serving players, families, and communities throughout the Central Valley.\n\n

This partnership represents an important step in the continued growth of our organization and our mission to create opportunities through the sport of soccer. With the support of Valley Children's, Fuego FC will continue expanding programs and initiatives that positively impact athletes both on and off the field.\n\n

As Fuego FC continues to grow across youth, amateur, women's, and community programming, partnerships such as this provide additional resources to invest in youth development, community engagement, and the long-term growth of the game throughout our region.\n\n

Both organizations share a commitment to supporting the next generation and creating environments where young people can thrive. Through this partnership, Fuego FC and Valley Children's look forward to working together to make a meaningful impact across the Central Valley.\n\n

We are excited to officially welcome Valley Children's to the Fuego family and look forward to supporting one another throughout this partnership.

Fuego FC se enorgullece en anunciar una nueva alianza con Valley Children’s Healthcare, fortaleciendo aún más nuestro compromiso de servir a jugadores, familias y comunidades de todo el Valle Central.\n\n

Esta alianza representa un paso importante en el crecimiento continuo de nuestra organización y en nuestra misión de crear oportunidades a través del fútbol. Con el apoyo de Valley Children’s, Fuego FC continuará ampliando programas e iniciativas que impactan positivamente a los atletas dentro y fuera de la cancha.\n\n

Mientras Fuego FC sigue creciendo en sus programas juveniles, amateur, femenil y comunitarios, alianzas como esta brindan recursos adicionales para invertir en el desarrollo juvenil, la vinculación con la comunidad y el crecimiento a largo plazo del deporte en toda nuestra región.\n\n

Ambas organizaciones comparten el compromiso de apoyar a la próxima generación y crear entornos donde los jóvenes puedan prosperar. A través de esta alianza, Fuego FC y Valley Children’s esperan trabajar juntos para generar un impacto significativo en todo el Valle Central.\n\n

Estamos emocionados de dar oficialmente la bienvenida a Valley Children’s a la familia Fuego y esperamos apoyarnos mutuamente a lo largo de esta alianza.

Fuego FC Announces Partnership with Valley Children’s

Fuego FC anuncia una alianza con Valley Children’s

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a 100% member-owned organization, is proud to announce that Central Valley Fuego Fútbol Club has joined the league. The club has already joined the league as a member and will begin play in the 2027 season.\n\n

“Fuego FC is an incredible addition to our league,” NPSL Managing Director Cindy Spera said. “Along with their success on the field, the Fuego FC management team is aligned with the business philosophy of the NPSL with regards to club ownership and member-driven governance.  We welcome them to the league as a competitive team and a strong business partner.”\n\n

The team is led by Club President Brian Easler, Co-Founder Alfredo Guzman, Managing Partner Angel Ruelas, and General Manager Juan Gerardo Ruelas Jr.\n\n

Easler joined Fuego FC in 2025, bringing extensive experience in business development, sales, strategic partnerships, technology, beach soccer, and sports program development. His focus on sustainable growth, revenue generation, and expanding opportunities throughout the Central Valley has made him a driving force behind the club’s long-term vision and continued evolution.\n\n

“We chose to join the NPSL because we believe the league is moving in a direction that aligns with what we have been looking for since we first began this journey in 2019: a league built for its clubs,” Easler said. “For us, this was never just about finding a place to play games.  It was about finding a group of like-minded clubs that believe in building something together, sharing in the upside of that growth, and creating a structure where clubs are not just participants, but real stakeholders in the future of the league.”\n\n

Guzman, known throughout the community as the “Godfather of Fuego,” is one of the founding figures behind Central Valley Fuego FC.  More than two decades ago, Guzman helped lay the foundation for what the club would become, and he continues to play an important role in its growth, direction, and connection to the local soccer community.\n\n

Angel Ruelas is a local real estate investor, developer, and former professional soccer player. Having played under USMNT legend Jermaine Jones, Angel brings a player’s perspective, competitive mentality, and deep understanding of the game to the club’s leadership group.  In his current role, Angel oversees the day-to-day management of the club on behalf of the Ruelas family, helping guide operations, player-facing decisions, and the continued development of the club’s vision.\n\n

Juan Gerardo Ruelas Jr. previously served as the club’s Managing Partner during its professional era.  A software engineer, real estate investor, and strategic operator, Juan has played a key role in shaping the club’s long-term infrastructure vision. He has been directly involved in the club’s major asset acquisitions, facility planning, and organizational development, while also helping recruit and build out key leadership positions across the club.\n\n

Founded in 2002, Fresno Fuego began as a PDL club and quickly established itself as one of the region’s most recognizable soccer brands.  Through strong performances in the U.S. Open Cup, the club earned opportunities to compete against some of the nation’s top teams.  In 2022, Fuego entered the professional ranks at the USSF third-division level, marking a major milestone in the club’s evolution.\n\n

During its professional era, the club competed for multiple seasons and was led at different points by respected figures in American soccer, including Martin Vasquez and Jermaine Jones.  Following that chapter, the organization restructured with a broader long-term vision: to become a comprehensive sports and development ecosystem for the Central Valley. Today, Fuego operates U-23, U-19, U-15, women’s, beach soccer, youth soccer, and pro-am basketball programs, all designed to create meaningful opportunities for athletes throughout the region. The club’s philosophy is rooted in player development, community engagement, and sustainable growth.  Fuego’s mission extends beyond fielding teams; it is about building infrastructure, creating pathways, and developing a sports ecosystem that can serve players, families, and communities across the Central Valley for generations to come.\n\n

“The NPSL has credibility, history, and strong competition, but what excites us most is the opportunity to be part of a league that can grow with its clubs, not just around them,” Easler said. “For Fuego FC this represents more than a league move.  It represents an opportunity to help build the type of soccer ecosystem we have believed in for years.”\n\n

La National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), una organización 100% propiedad de sus miembros, se enorgullece en anunciar que Central Valley Fuego Fútbol Club se ha unido a la liga. El club ya ingresó como miembro y comenzará a jugar en la temporada 2027.\n\n

“Fuego FC es una incorporación increíble para nuestra liga”, dijo Cindy Spera, directora general de la NPSL. “Además de su éxito en la cancha, el equipo directivo de Fuego FC está alineado con la filosofía de negocio de la NPSL en cuanto a la propiedad de los clubes y la gobernanza impulsada por los miembros. Les damos la bienvenida a la liga como un equipo competitivo y un sólido socio comercial”.\n\n

El equipo está encabezado por el presidente del club Brian Easler, el cofundador Alfredo Guzman, el socio administrador Angel Ruelas y el gerente general Juan Gerardo Ruelas Jr.\n\n

Easler se unió a Fuego FC en 2025, aportando amplia experiencia en desarrollo de negocios, ventas, alianzas estratégicas, tecnología, fútbol playa y desarrollo de programas deportivos. Su enfoque en el crecimiento sostenible, la generación de ingresos y la ampliación de oportunidades en todo el Valle Central lo ha convertido en una fuerza impulsora detrás de la visión a largo plazo y la evolución continua del club.\n\n

“Elegimos unirnos a la NPSL porque creemos que la liga avanza en una dirección que se alinea con lo que hemos buscado desde que comenzamos este camino en 2019: una liga construida para sus clubes”, dijo Easler. “Para nosotros, esto nunca se trató solo de encontrar un lugar donde jugar partidos. Se trataba de encontrar un grupo de clubes con la misma mentalidad, que creen en construir algo juntos, en compartir los beneficios de ese crecimiento y en crear una estructura donde los clubes no sean solo participantes, sino verdaderos protagonistas del futuro de la liga”.\n\n

Guzman, conocido en toda la comunidad como el “Padrino de Fuego”, es una de las figuras fundadoras detrás de Central Valley Fuego FC. Hace más de dos décadas, Guzman ayudó a sentar las bases de lo que el club llegaría a ser, y continúa desempeñando un papel importante en su crecimiento, su rumbo y su conexión con la comunidad futbolística local.\n\n

Angel Ruelas es inversionista y desarrollador inmobiliario local, y exjugador profesional de fútbol. Habiendo jugado bajo la dirección de la leyenda de la USMNT Jermaine Jones, Angel aporta la perspectiva de un jugador, una mentalidad competitiva y un profundo entendimiento del juego al grupo directivo del club. En su rol actual, Angel supervisa la administración diaria del club en representación de la familia Ruelas, ayudando a guiar las operaciones, las decisiones relacionadas con los jugadores y el desarrollo continuo de la visión del club.\n\n

Juan Gerardo Ruelas Jr. se desempeñó anteriormente como socio administrador del club durante su era profesional. Ingeniero de software, inversionista inmobiliario y operador estratégico, Juan ha desempeñado un papel clave en dar forma a la visión de infraestructura a largo plazo del club. Ha participado directamente en las principales adquisiciones de activos del club, en la planificación de instalaciones y en el desarrollo organizacional, además de ayudar a reclutar y consolidar puestos clave de liderazgo en todo el club.\n\n

Fundado en 2002, Fresno Fuego comenzó como un club de la PDL y rápidamente se consolidó como una de las marcas futbolísticas más reconocidas de la región. Gracias a sus buenas actuaciones en la U.S. Open Cup, el club se ganó la oportunidad de enfrentar a algunos de los mejores equipos del país. En 2022, Fuego ingresó a las filas profesionales en el nivel de tercera división de la USSF, marcando un hito importante en la evolución del club.\n\n

Durante su era profesional, el club compitió por varias temporadas y fue dirigido en distintos momentos por figuras respetadas del fútbol estadounidense, incluidos Martin Vasquez y Jermaine Jones. Después de ese capítulo, la organización se reestructuró con una visión más amplia y de largo plazo: convertirse en un ecosistema integral de deporte y desarrollo para el Valle Central. Hoy, Fuego opera programas Sub-23, Sub-19, Sub-15, femenil, de fútbol playa, de fútbol juvenil y de baloncesto pro-am, todos diseñados para crear oportunidades significativas para los atletas de toda la región. La filosofía del club está arraigada en el desarrollo del jugador, la vinculación con la comunidad y el crecimiento sostenible. La misión de Fuego va más allá de presentar equipos; se trata de construir infraestructura, crear caminos y desarrollar un ecosistema deportivo que pueda servir a jugadores, familias y comunidades de todo el Valle Central por generaciones.\n\n

“La NPSL tiene credibilidad, historia y una competencia sólida, pero lo que más nos entusiasma es la oportunidad de ser parte de una liga que puede crecer con sus clubes, y no solo a su alrededor”, dijo Easler. “Para Fuego FC esto representa más que un cambio de liga. Representa la oportunidad de ayudar a construir el tipo de ecosistema futbolístico en el que hemos creído durante años”.\n\n

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Latest News

Fuego U23 Opens Fall Campaign With 2–1 Home Victory Over Academica

Fuego FC to Compete in the Americas Winners Cup Costa Rica 2026

Fuego FC Announces Partnership with Valley Children’s

Fuego FC Joins The NPSL

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Fuego FC - Professional Soccer Club in Fresno, California

2026MembershipsAvailable Now

Latest News

Fuego U23 Opens Fall Campaign With 2–1 Home Victory Over Academica

Fuego FC to Compete in the Americas Winners Cup Costa Rica 2026

Fuego FC Announces Partnership with Valley Children’s

Fuego FC Joins The NPSL

Iconic Moments

Our Partners