MLS · Eastern Conference · Cincinnati, Ohio, US · TQL Stadium
Cincinnati FC
From a lower-division experiment that drew 30,000 fans to a college football stadium to a gleaming new fortress on the banks of the Ohio River, FC Cincinnati is the proof that if you build a soccer culture from the ground up with genuine passion, the rest of the infrastructure will follow.
2016–2018
The USL Sensation
Record-breaking crowds in the lower divisions
FC Cincinnati launched in the USL in 2016 and immediately became one of the most talked-about clubs in American soccer - not because of their results, but because of their attendance. Playing at Nippert Stadium on the University of Cincinnati campus, FC Cincinnati drew crowds that dwarfed most MLS teams. A match against Crystal Palace in a friendly drew over 30,000, and regular-season USL matches routinely attracted 20,000-plus fans.
The on-pitch product matched the off-pitch energy. FC Cincinnati won the USL regular-season title in 2018 and made deep runs in the U.S. Open Cup, including a memorable 2018 tournament run where they defeated MLS sides Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew before falling to the Philadelphia Union. Those Open Cup matches, played before raucous crowds at Nippert, proved that Cincinnati's soccer passion was real and sustainable.
The club's success made MLS expansion inevitable. In May 2018, FC Cincinnati was officially awarded an MLS franchise, with ownership committing to build a new soccer-specific stadium downtown. The USL years were short but foundational - they proved that Cincinnati was a sleeping soccer giant waiting to be awakened.
Key Facts
- Drew 30,000+ fans to USL matches at Nippert Stadium
- Won the USL regular-season title in 2018
- Memorable U.S. Open Cup runs defeating MLS sides
- Awarded MLS expansion franchise in May 2018
2019–2021
The MLS Transition
Learning to compete at the highest level
The jump from USL to MLS proved more difficult than many expected. FC Cincinnati's 2019 inaugural MLS season was a struggle, with the club winning just six matches and finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The gap in quality between the USL and MLS was stark, and the roster assembled for the first season lacked the depth and quality needed to compete.
The 2020 season, disrupted by COVID-19, brought little improvement, and coaching changes - from Alan Koch to Ron Jans to interim options - reflected the instability within the organization. The on-field product was a sharp contrast to the electric atmosphere that Cincinnati fans had grown accustomed to during the USL years.
Despite the poor results, the club's fanbase remained loyal, and construction on TQL Stadium progressed on schedule. The front office used the difficult early seasons to learn what worked and what didn't in MLS, laying the groundwork for the transformation that was to come.
Key Facts
- 2019 inaugural MLS season ended at the bottom of the Eastern Conference
- Multiple coaching changes in the first two MLS seasons
- TQL Stadium construction continued through the difficult period
- Fanbase remained loyal despite poor on-field results
2022–Present
Cincinnati Rising
From worst to first in the Eastern Conference
The transformation that began with Pat Noonan's hiring as head coach before the 2022 season was nothing short of remarkable. Noonan, a former Union assistant, instilled a clear tactical identity built around high pressing, fluid attacking play, and the individual brilliance of players like Luciano Acosta, Brandon Vazquez, and Matt Miazga. The 2022 season saw Cincinnati reach the Eastern Conference semifinal, and the club opened TQL Stadium to rave reviews.
The 2023 season was the breakthrough. FC Cincinnati won the Supporters' Shield with the best regular-season record in MLS, with Acosta - the diminutive Argentine playmaker - earning the league MVP award. TQL Stadium, a 26,000-seat jewel that opened in 2021, provided one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the league. The Bailey, a 3,100-person safe-standing supporters' section, became one of MLS's most iconic fan experiences.
While an MLS Cup title remains the ultimate goal, FC Cincinnati's trajectory from USL upstart to MLS powerhouse has been one of the great success stories in American soccer. The club's blend of smart recruitment, tactical coaching, and passionate support has created a model that other expansion franchises aspire to replicate.
Key Facts
- Pat Noonan hired as head coach before the 2022 season
- Won the 2023 Supporters' Shield with the best record in MLS
- Luciano Acosta named 2023 MLS MVP
- TQL Stadium opened in 2021 as one of the league's finest venues