By Lex Ogilvie/NPSL.com
After building momentum throughout the 2026 NPSL season, Ambassadors FC Ohio has taken another step forward. The second-year club now prepares for its biggest match yet, traveling to face El Farolito in the NPSL National Semifinals in Milwaukee.
For Amir Spratt, the opportunity carries extra meaning. A native of Kent, Ohio, Spratt played in the Ambassadors youth side before continuing his career at Soccer Vision Academy and the University of Mount Union. Now, he’s helping lead the club on its postseason run.
“You obviously have full hope in your team and believe you can go all the way,” Spratt said. “But just being in that moment, after all the months of preparation and work we’ve put in, it was amazing.”
For Spratt, representing the club so close to home has made the experience even more rewarding.
“It actually means a lot,” he said. “Not even just for me being this close to home, but for our players. We’ve had a lot of guys playing together for a while now, and I think it really shows on the field.”
Diego Pinto has experienced the journey from a different perspective. After breaking his foot in the Ambassadors’ second match of the 2025 season, Pinto missed nearly the entire season. Now healthy, he has returned to help the Canton, Ohio side reach the NPSL National Semifinals.
“It feels great,” Pinto said of returning from injury to be part of this year’s playoff run.
Throughout the season, the Ambassadors have developed a reputation for rallying together on multiple occasions during games. Both Spratt and Pinto point to the team’s mentality as the foundation for that success.
“I’ll never forget our first team meeting,” Spratt said. “We talked about our pillars and the things that were important to us. From that very moment until now, it’s been rock solid…There have been several games where we’ve come back in the last few minutes because everyone believes in each other.”
Pinto echoed that sentiment, saying the team’s discipline has remained constant throughout the summer.
“I think our discipline and our consistency in training lead to the results we’re getting,” Pinto said. “We had a couple of games where we were losing late, and we came back and won. I think that mentality is what has taken us this far.”
As the season has progressed, the chemistry within the squad has continued to grow, particularly during long road trips that have brought the players closer together.
“In the beginning of the season, not a lot of us knew each other,” Pinto said. “Our chemistry has definitely built up, especially on the away trips where we’re all on the bus together. That’s something that shows in the games as well.”
Spratt believes the Ambassadors’ culture has been just as important as their talent.
“Our coach always says we’re a very process-driven team,” he said. “We’re never super focused on the score or the outcome. Everyone focuses on our culture and playing their role.”
Saturday’s NPSL National Semifinal presents the Ambassadors with its toughest challenge yet against El Farolito, a club with a long history of success.
“We definitely respect them because of their history and what they’ve accomplished,” Spratt said. “But we’re thankful to be in this position and want to continue moving on.”
Pinto shares that confidence heading into the weekend.
“My mentality doesn’t change,” he said. “I think we’re going to win.”
A victory would send Ambassadors FC Ohio to the NPSL National Championship, capping another milestone in the club’s young history. For both Spratt and Pinto, the opportunity represents more than a chance to compete for a title, it reflects the culture, trust, and perseverance that have defined the Ambassadors throughout their first two seasons in the league.
Photo Credit: Sheila Mathers/Ambassadors FC Ohio
