RSL Unified visited Zion’s Bank Training Center in Herriman on a Wednesday morning, eager to kick off their 2026 season with a full-scale media day.
The day was packed, with athletes unveiling their new season kits, taking professional headshots, and connecting with the first team in a memorable experience that highlighted the spirit of the program.
What is RSL Unified?
Unified Soccer is an inclusive sports program that brings together Special Olympics athletes that have intellectual disabilities with unified partners, creating a team that trains year-round and competes each season. The goal of the Special Olympics extends beyond competition, offering athletes opportunities to build leadership skills, confidence, and community.
Real Salt Lake has supported a Unified team since 2016, and last year, RSL Unified came close to capturing the Rocky Mountain Cup in a matchup against the Colorado Rapids Unified team. The roster resets every two years, with the current group entering the second year of their two-year contracts.
The Start of the 2026 Season
Media day began with a jersey reveal inside the locker room, where family and friends gathered to watch athletes see their names printed on the back of their kits for the new season. Excitement was palpable as each player took in the moment seeing the locker room stocked with gear, arranged like it would be prior to a game for the first-team.
After changing into full team gear, the players rotated through a professional photo session, Real Salt Lake team photographers capturing headshots and celebration poses — with the Unified coaches also stepping in front of the camera for their own portraits.
While the athletes were getting their photo taken, the athletes’ families were able to watch a sunny first team training session. After completing photos and media, the Unified players were invited down to the practice field to mingle and chat with the first team players, before lining up to take a combined team photo against the backdrop of the gorgeous Wasatch Mountains.
The day continued with a fun, interactive moment as the players took shots on goal against Real Monarchs goalkeeper Trace Alphin. Laughter and cheers filled the training center as the athletes celebrated goals and encouraged one another, RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroni standing by offering support and guidance.
Utah Soccer Community Connection
When asked about the impact of RSL Unified on the broader Utah soccer community, Kyle Schroeder, Vice President of Community Relations for Real Salt Lake emphasized inclusivity:
“We want to make sure that soccer is accessible for everyone...I think every kid should have the dream of being able to represent Real Salt Lake and play on America First Field, and with the Special Olympics Utah and Zion’s Bank we’re able to make that possibility a reality for these kids today.”
Co-captain for RSL Unified, Luis De La Paz, echoed the importance of inclusion within the team:
“Something big I've learned, especially after the first year, was how to incorporate everyone in general—practice, games, any activity. We'll do something like karaoke, and maybe some people might be sitting out, and I will do my best to try to include them and push everyone to participate.”
An Impact On and Off the Field
With a rotating roster every two years, the time together as a team is short, but incredibly impactful. Players and coaching staff alike speak to the positive meaning RSL Unified has created in their lives.
When asked about any standout moments with the team, Mustafa Saedi, co-captain of RSL Unified shared about an experience during RSL Unified’s home win against Sporting Kansas City’s Unified Team last season:
“When we walked in [to America First field] and we saw our families and everyone cheering for us, it was really really nice. I really loved it. I’ll never forget that moment.”
RSL Unified Coach Jenna Holland is no stranger to this team, having coached RSL Unified for the last decade. Holland emphasized how rewarding it is to witness substantial growth from the players in the second year of their contract:
“The best part about coaching this team is every 2 years we start a new team, and so watching each team's skills develop and grow and then putting it all on the field, it's exciting to watch...I’ve seen so much growth with this team and the relationships that they’ve built on and off the field.”
Holland noted that moments like signing day and the kit reveal are especially meaningful:
“The look on their [athlete’s parents] faces are like ‘Wow! We’re part of this huge program’ And you know that they had no idea what to expect.”
Excitement for the 2026 Season
Looking ahead, RSL Unified knows exactly what it wants out of the upcoming season and RSL Unified Team Captains Saedi and De La Paz spoke to those objectives:
"A goal for this season is we're going to be playing against Colorado again. We lost [the Rocky Mountain Cup] to them last year. So we want to win it, and we want to beat them. Their goalkeeper is really good, and we're really hoping to beat them this year.”
The team captains also shared a message for their teammates and RSL Unified fans:
“Thank you, especially to the fans for coming out and watching and supporting us,” said De La Paz. “And to my teammates—keep playing. This is the best sport in the world.”
Saedi added,
“Thank you to our coaches Jenna and Maddie, and everyone, I really appreciate you. And to our team—play hard. And the fans—we appreciate everyone who supports us. We appreciate everyone who comes out to cheer us on.”
Coach Holland reiterated the sentiment:
“This is a huge program, not only for Real Salt Lake and Special Olympics Utah, but for the world—to see that this program is out there for those that have always wished to play on the first team fields or practice alongside them. So come out and support at our home games...we love the support from the fans. And to the team—the message is to never give up.”
Looking Ahead
RSL Unified begin their 2026 campaign on Saturday May 9 against FC Dallas Unified Team at Toyota Stadium before returning home to host the Colorado Rapids Unified at America First Field on Saturday, May 16 following RSL’s match against the Colorado Rapids.
