Mountainside FC Players Take the Field at Sports Illustrated Stadium

On July 25, 2026, eleven young players from Mountainside FC traveled to Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison for an unforgettable day at a New York Red Bulls match against Charlotte FC. Before the game, the players walked onto the field alongside professional Red Bulls players. At halftime, they returned to the pitch to play in front of the stadium crowd—a moment many will remember for years.

Union County Life covers Mountainside community youth sports programs and civic initiatives across all 21 Union County municipalities.

The Experience Through Young Eyes

For Malcolm, one of the Mountainside FC players, the day was big enough that he predicted the crowd at "like, 9 million people." He'd told friends beforehand that if he scored at the stadium, he would "crash out"—lose himself to pure emotion. That kind of anticipation and excitement filled the day for each player.

Liam, entering his third year with Mountainside FC, had played on the field during the club's 2025 Red Bulls event. This year, he walked out with a Red Bulls player beside him. His mother, Erin, reflected on what these experiences mean for her son. "He felt like a celebrity, so empowered and so special and important," she said. She also credited Mountainside FC's coaches for building resilience in the players. "When he goes through those losses or he has a rough moment on the field, he can come back from that. I really credit this program for helping him gain some of those skills and some of that resilience."

George, entering his third season with Mountainside FC, plays goalkeeper and dreams of playing professionally at that position. His mother, Chelsea, noted that coaches have recognized leadership qualities in him. "Having him be able to play captain in a game and understand the importance of that and what it means to be a captain is really cool," she said. When asked about his focus as a goalkeeper facing an incoming shot, George answered simply: "I'm just laser-focused."

Timothy was experiencing his first walkout with a Red Bulls player in 2026, after playing at halftime the previous year. Henry expressed his excitement about playing on the field. One young athlete predicted the Red Bulls would win 16-10 (Charlotte FC won 2-0, but the score mattered less than the experience).

Building Community Through Soccer

Mountainside FC was formed in 2024 and grew out of a group of local parents seeking a developmentally appropriate soccer program. The nonprofit offers coach-led practices and competition, with leaders Michaela Whelan and Roxy Becker driving the program's development and success.

Jay coaches MFC's 7U team and has been doing so for about a year and a half. He started coaching recreation soccer because he thought his son Aries would feel more comfortable playing with him involved. Before the Red Bulls match, Jay described the significance of the day: "It's pretty much the big stage. He's going to get to see what that experience is like."

Vanessa noted that Mountainside is a community more closely associated with baseball. She credited the club's leaders for bringing soccer opportunity to local children. "Michaela and Roxy took it on. I'm glad that the kids who like to play soccer have this team as an option and can keep growing."

Partnership and the Future

On June 16, 2026, a three-year partnership between Mountainside FC and Red Bull New York Youth Programs was announced. The partnership is designed to provide Mountainside FC with technical support, player-development programming, coaching education, and access to Red Bulls resources. The partnership began in summer 2026 with Red Bull New York camps at Mountainside FC.

Erin put the club's draw plainly: "It's community. I get to see these kids grow and change, and it's a community that I know has their best interests at heart."

Find more Mountainside community sports and youth programming on Union County Life.

FAQ

Q: What is Mountainside FC?
A: Mountainside FC is a nonprofit youth soccer program founded in 2024. It offers coach-led practices and competition for young players and was created by local parents seeking a developmentally appropriate soccer program.

Q: When did Mountainside FC players visit the Red Bulls?
A: On July 25, 2026, eleven Mountainside FC players traveled to Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison to experience a New York Red Bulls match.

Q: What did the Mountainside FC players do at the Red Bulls game?
A: The players walked onto the field alongside Red Bulls players before the match. At halftime, they returned to the pitch to play in front of the stadium crowd.

Q: How many years has Mountainside FC been around?
A: Mountainside FC was founded in 2024 and is entering its third year of operation.

Q: Who leads Mountainside FC?
A: Michaela Whelan and Roxy Becker are the club leaders.

Q: Does Mountainside FC have a partnership with the Red Bulls?
A: Yes. A three-year partnership with Red Bull New York Youth Programs was announced June 16, 2026. The partnership provides technical support, player-development programming, coaching education, and access to Red Bulls resources.

Q: What is the partnership between Mountainside FC and Red Bulls focused on?
A: The partnership aims to develop young players through technical support and coaching education, with Red Bull New York camps held at Mountainside FC starting in summer 2026.

Q: Why was Mountainside FC started?
A: Local parents created Mountainside FC to provide a developmentally appropriate soccer program for young players in the community.