MLS unveil newest expansion team in San Diego | OneFootball

Major League Soccer confirmed on Thursday the latest expansion team has been awarded to San Diego, California.

The league’s 30th club will join in 2025 and use 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium as its home ground, as it plays a vital role in the region’s soccer community.

The venue previously set a single-game attendance record in the National Women’s Soccer League with San Diego Wave FC, hosted a LIGA MX friendly and will host part of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.

“For many years, we have believed San Diego would be a terrific MLS market due to its youthful energy, great diversity, and the fact that soccer is an essential part of everyday life for so many people,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber.

Entrepreneur and investor Mohamed Mansour (Man Capital/Right to Dream) will own the club alongside the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation – the first Native American tribe to own a stake in professional soccer in the country.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado is also named as part of the ownership group.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Sycuan Tribe to bring Major League Soccer to such a deserving community and legion of San Diego soccer fans. This is a real opportunity to create a powerful and lasting legacy for the city and region,” said Mr. Mansour.

“We look forward to introducing Right to Dream’s unique developmental approach and unparalleled soccer expertise to San Diego and MLS by delivering tangible benefits to the community as we look to open doors and identify and nurture talent from across the county and beyond.”

The San Diego expansion means a total of 19 clubs have joined MLS since 2005.