Soles de Sonora will return to the MASL family for 2025-26 season

TAMPA, Florida – Sonora, Mexico, is returning to the Major Arena Soccer League family for the 2025-26 season.

Soles de Sonora – based in Hermosillo, the capital city of the state of Sonora – will play in Major Arena Soccer League 2 starting this fall, and will serve as the official MASL 2 affiliate of the Chihuahua Savage. The Savage organization recently completed the MASL “triple crown” winning championship in the MASL, MASL 2 and MASL Women.

Owner Rogelio Enrique Cota Gutierrez – who also owned the club during its original run in the MASL – said the team is finalizing a deal for where they will play their home games, but that it would be either the Centro de Usos Múltiples or the Universidad de Sonora GYM. They used both arenas in their first stint in the MASL

Sonora spent four years in the MASL, between 2015 and 2020, compiling a regular season record of 60-20-4. They twice met the Baltimore Blast in the Ron Newman Cup Finals, with the Blast winning both.

The 2026-17 finals were one of the most memorable in league history. With Sonora having won game one in Baltimore, they took a one goal lead with 18 seconds to go in the fourth quarter in game two on a score by Franck Tayou. But seven seconds later – just 12 seconds from a Cup championship – Adriano Dos Santos scored to force overtime where the Blast's Juan Pereira got the game winner just over two minutes in. Baltimore won the mini-game 1-0 on a goal by Vini Dantas for their second straight finals win over Sonora.

“Sonora was all about excellence on the floor, and making their return to the MASL family at the MASL 2 level makes a great deal of sense in starting its pro indoor program once again,” MASL 2 Commissioner Chris Economides said. “As the true and professional indoor soccer pyramid in North American, having Sonora in MASL 2 next season is a wonderful addition.”

Sonora will be joining the growing Midwest/West Division. Gutierrez said the time was right to bring Sonora back to the MASL pyramid, and to make sure they are as successful this time around as they were from 2015-20.

“We want to build a Mexican team identity, fighting across the field, “he indicated. “We want to develop the Sonoran talent into an international competition. Our project is a platform for the young players in Mexico.,”

As an official affiliate of the MASL Savage, Sonora will be subject to the provisions of the player agreement presently in place.

MASL teams that have an official affiliation agreement with  MASL 2 teams will be allowed to have up to five players sign a dual contract with both their MASL  and affiliated MASL 2 teams at the beginning of the MASL season. Two of those five players will be considered their MASL/MASL 2 Designated Players (DP). These two Designated Players (DP) will be allowed to play with either their MASL or affiliated MASL 2 team for an unlimited number of games throughout the regular MASL/MASL 2 season and/or playoffs. Once these two Designated Players (DP) are selected they cannot be changed on the MASL/MASL 2 rosters unless they have a season ending injury, are traded, or have been released by either or both clubs.

The other three dual contract players will become the Limited Designated Players (LDP) and will be allowed to play for both their MASL and MASL 2 affiliated teams up until their 12th MASL game played. Once they have played in their 12th MASL game, they must be replaced on the LDP list and can no longer play any affiliated MASL 2 team games.

More information about Sonora can be found on theirFfacebook page at https://www.facebook.com/share/15UAaUXQSs/?mibextid=wwXIfr. More information on the league is always available at www.masl2.com.