Fort Wayne Football Club captain Tiago Dias was selected to USL League One’s All-League First Team as a defender, it was announced Tuesday, becoming the club’s first player to gain such recognition in the professional ranks.
“We are incredibly proud of Tiago for earning this recognition, although given the season he has had, none of us are surprised,” Fort Wayne FC head coach Mike Avery said. “Throughout the year, Tiago has consistently demonstrated that he is among the very best players in this league, and it is gratifying to see his performances recognized in this way.
“What makes Tiago truly special, however, goes well beyond his ability on the field. He would be the first to tell you that individual recognition is a reflection of the collective effort of the team around him. That humility, appreciation for his teammates, and team-first mentality are what make him not only an exceptional player, but also an outstanding leader.”
Dias, 25, played 31 matches in league play, starting them all. He scored four goals – three of them on headers – and assisted on two more. He had an 85% success rate passing, including 44% on long passes, and he had 165 clearances and 27 interceptions. With 8.8 defensive contributions per 90 minutes, Dias ranked seventh in USL League One.
Collectively, Fort Wayne FC ranked fifth in the league with only 1.3 goals conceded per match. With 10 clean sheets, the Autumn Gold & Black ranked second to FC Naples’ 11.
This was Dias’ fourth season with Fort Wayne FC, including three seasons in the pre-professional level of USL League Two, during which he helped the club to three division titles and captained it for two seasons.
He was the first player signed by Fort Wayne FC for its ascension to USL League One.
He is now the club’s all-time leader in matches played with 71, and he’s tied for second in club history with 10 goals regardless of competition.
Fort Wayne FC’s first season in pro soccer ended with a 2-0 loss Oct. 24 to Athletic Club Boise, which is in the playoff semifinals. Fort Wayne FC finished ninth in the 17-team table and missed the postseason by one point with a 12-11-9 record that included an 11-match unbeaten streak – the second longest in league history for a first-year team.
Joining Dias on the All-League First Team are: goalkeeper Matt Levy, Charlotte Independence; defenders Samuel Owusu, Union Omaha; Javen Romero, Charlotte Independence; and Anderson Rosa, Sarasota Paradise; midfielders Teddy Baker, One Knoxville SC; Jon Bakero, Charlotte Independence; and Conor McGlynn, Westchester SC; and forwards Ryan Carmichael, Forward Madison FC; Denis Krioutchenkov, One Knoxville SC; and Souaibou Marou, Charlotte Independence.
The team was selected by a vote of technical staffs across the league.
“While this award recognizes Tiago’s individual excellence, it is also a moment of pride for our entire club,” Avery said. “We will celebrate this achievement together, recognizing both Tiago’s remarkable season and the collective commitment, sacrifice, and hard work of everyone who helped create an environment where he could thrive.”
USL League One will announced the finalists for league-wide awards, including Defender of the Year, on Friday. Dias won Fort Wayne FC’s Defender of the Year Award after voting by club staff and local media.
Season tickets for Fort Wayne FC’s 2027 season are on sale.
About Fort Wayne Football Club
Fort Wayne Football Club, founded in 2019, is a professional soccer club playing its first season in USL League One in 2026. The club plays home matches at Ruoff Mortgage Stadium, which opened May 2, 2026, and is a soccer-specific venue. In pre-professional USL League Two, Fort Wayne Football Club won division titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. For more information, visit FortWayneFC.com.
About United Soccer League
Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.