Julio Cascante

Cascante joined Austin FC ahead of the Club's inaugural season in 2021 and has since become a key presence on the team's backline, signing a three-year guaranteed contract extension in April 2023 to keep him at the Club through the end of the 2025 season. Between 2021 and 2024, the Costa Rican made 115 appearances for the Verde & Black across the MLS regular season and playoffs, contributing nine (9) goals and 10 assists.

At the international level, Cascante has earned 13 caps for the Costa Rica National Team, scoring his first career international goal on September 12, 2023 against the United Arab Emirates.

In 2022, Cascante’s seven (7) goal contributions were tied for the most among all MLS center backs. That same season, his average of 55.1 touches per game was the most of any Austin FC player, and he also ranked second on the team in accurate long balls (157), second in duels (277), and third in tackles won (22).

Prior to joining Austin FC, Cascante spent the 2018 to 2020 seasons with Portland Timbers, scoring two (2) goals and adding two (2) assists in 51 matches (41 starts) across all competitions. He was a member of the Timbers team which was crowned champions of the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020.

Ahead of his move to MLS, Cascante played for Deportivo Saprissa in his native Costa Rica during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, making 59 appearances (49 starts) including five (5) appearances in the Concacaf Champions League. He ranked among the team leaders in goals scored (9) and helped Saprissa capture its 33^rd Primera Division title. He also had stints with C.F. Universidad de Costa Rica and Orión FC in Costa Rica.