San Diego FC

San Diego FC is MLS's 30th franchise, set to begin play in 2025 and bring top-flight professional soccer to a city that sits at the crossroads of American and Mexican culture. San Diego's proximity to the border - Tijuana is just minutes away - gives it one of the most naturally soccer-passionate demographics in the United States. The city's large Mexican-American population, its year-round outdoor lifestyle, and its history as a hotbed for youth soccer make it a market that MLS has coveted for years.

The club will play at Snapdragon Stadium, the 35,000-seat venue on the campus of San Diego State University that opened in 2022 on the site of the former Qualcomm Stadium. While not a soccer-specific facility, the stadium's modern design and central location in the Mission Valley area provide a strong foundation for the franchise's early years, with plans for a right-sized soccer venue potentially in the future. The ownership group, led by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour, brings a unique and diverse set of perspectives to the club.

San Diego FC enters a competitive Southern California soccer landscape that already includes the LA Galaxy, LAFC, and nearby Liga MX club Tijuana. But the city's sporting identity has been reshaped since the Chargers' departure to Los Angeles, leaving a void for a major professional team that San Diego FC is positioned to fill. The club's branding and community engagement have emphasized its binational character and the seamless cultural flow between San Diego and Tijuana. As the newest entrant in MLS, San Diego FC has the advantage of learning from every expansion club that came before - and the burden of meeting sky-high expectations in a market that has waited a long time for this moment.