FIU men's soccer slotted in at No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches national preseason rankings, with the Panthers receiving 60 total points in the poll and appearing at the same spot where FIU finished the 2021 season.

For the complete United Soccer Coaches Top-25, click here.

"We are pleased to start off the 2022 season in the national rankings," said Head Coach Kyle Russell. "Our program always strives to represent FIU at the highest standard and we are proud to bring our university the national recognition it deserves. I hope this is only the beginning of yet another exciting season for Panther Nation. I know the character of the group of guys we've recruited and all this ranking means to them is that there are 17 spots left to climb."

FIU maintains its spot as the highest-ranked program in the state of Florida, while standing as one of two programs in the American Athletic Conference to grace the United Soccer Coaches Top-25. Tulsa appeared at No. 11 in the preseason poll.

FIU is returning a roster that features 10 of its 11 starting players from the 2021 season, to go along with a talented group of 13 newcomers. The Panthers are welcoming back All-Southeast Region honorees Stephen Afrifa, Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro, and Matteo Gasperoni. Included in the mix are 2021 All-Conference USA selections David Garcia, Julian Hodek, and Tyler Hogan.

The Panthers are coming off one of the best seasons in program history, in which they soared as high as No. 12 in the national rankings and earned the program's 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament. FIU claimed the 2021 Conference USA regular season title after defeating No. 1 ranked Marshall in the final contest of the regular season, while racking up the program's most points ever (22) within the C-USA standings. At the conclusion of the 2021 season, Russell was named the C-USA Coach of the Year.

Russell's third season at the helm will begin on Aug. 25 at FIU Soccer Stadium, against a top Akron program that appeared in last season's NCAA Tournament.