SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes released their 2026 MLS schedule this week, and it arrives with a different tone than past seasons. This isn’t just another year of fixtures — it’s the beginning of a new chapter. Cristian Espinoza, the club’s longtime creative engine, is gone. Josef Martínez, who added veteran scoring depth last season, is gone too. Their departures shape every storyline surrounding the months ahead.
San Jose opens with three of its first four matches at home, beginning Feb. 21 against Sporting Kansas City and followed by Atlanta United a week later. It’s an ideal runway for a team trying to re-shape its attack. Without Espinoza’s chance-creation and Martínez’s finishing, early home points may define how much margin for error the Quakes have later in the season.
But the comfort is short-lived. By late March, the schedule turns heavy. Trips to Vancouver, Sporting Kansas City, and LAFC sandwich a rivalry match with San Diego FC. A midweek flight to Austin on April 22 adds even more stress to an already punishing stretch.
May brings a series of matchups that should reveal whether San Jose can compete without its former stars. Vancouver on the 9th, Seattle on the 13th, Dallas on the 16th, and Portland on the 23rd — four Western Conference tests in rapid succession. These matches will show who steps into Espinoza’s role as the team’s creative outlet and who can supply the goals that Martínez once provided.
After the midseason break, the Quakes return against Orlando City before jumping right into a rivalry match with the LA Galaxy. From there, August becomes one of the harshest months on the schedule: six games in 24 days, with road trips to Minnesota, Houston, Austin, and San Diego.
Depth becomes the defining factor. Last year, whenever the attack stalled, Espinoza carried progression and Martínez offered a scoring spark off the bench. Someone else will need to take that responsibility now — and the summer grind will expose whether the team has enough behind its starters.
September features Houston, LAFC, and Portland — opponents who have spoiled San Jose’s playoff hopes before. The final stretch includes two matchups with Real Salt Lake, plus Colorado, before the season ends in Minnesota on Nov. 7.
On paper, the closing month is manageable.
The schedule gives San Jose a chance to start strong, navigate a brutal summer, and stay competitive into the fall. But this year isn’t just about matchups and mileage. For the first time in years, the Quakes enter a season without Espinoza’s playmaking or Martínez’s veteran presence. Everything about the 2026 campaign — from the tactics to the leadership — will depend on who steps up next.
If the Quakes adjust quickly, they’ll have a path to relevance. If not, the schedule won’t show much mercy. Either way, 2026 marks the beginning of a very different San Jose Earthquakes team.
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