Wildcats Set to Open 2026 Season vs. Western Michigan
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky men’s soccer team is set to kick off the 2026 season Thursday night against the Western Michigan Broncos at the Bell Soccer Complex. Kickoff for the season opener is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be streaming live on ESPN+.
Last August, the two programs faced off in the opening match of the 2025 season in Kalamazoo, Mich., where the Wildcats came away with a 2-1 road victory thanks to a brace from senior Alex Ruiz in his first career appearance in a Kentucky uniform. That win improved UK’s all-time record against Western Michigan to 14-2-1.
The Wildcats enter the 2026 season coming off an Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Title in 2025, finishing 7-1-1 in league play. The Cats return 10 players from a year ago, including key starters Agustin Lopez, Max Miller, Sinan Solmaz, Bertil Alban and Marcus Andersen, and welcome 16 new players, including eight freshman and six collegiate transfers.
Kentucky was voted fourth in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for the second consecutive season with 76 total votes and received votes in the preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll, featuring as the third-highest unranked team.
Three Wildcats received Sun Belt Preseason honors, including midfielder Lopez and defenders Solmaz and Miller making the SBC All-Conference Preseason Team.
Head Coach Johan Cedergren enters his 15th season at the helm in Lexington. Last season, in a 3-2 win over UCF, he claimed his 150th win with the Wildcats since taking over the program in 2012.
Western Michigan enters the new season coming off a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title in 2025, their third title in the past three seasons. They were selected to finish atop the conference in the 2026 MVC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
With the tournament championship, the Broncos made their fourth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, along with their fourth-straight first round victory following a 1-0 win over the Clemson Tigers.
Western Michigan added 13 newcomers to its 2026 roster through the spring season and summer, including former Wildcat defender Dan McHale.
Admission to all 2026 Kentucky Soccer regular season home matches will be free to the public. For the latest on Kentucky Men’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on X, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKAthletics.com.
