San Diego FC

Last updated

San Diego FC
San Diego FC logo.svg
Full nameSan Diego Football Club
FoundedMay 18, 2023;18 months ago (2023-05-18)
Stadium Snapdragon Stadium
San Diego, California
Capacity35,000
Owner
Head coach Mikey Varas
League Major League Soccer
2025 Inaugural Season
Website sandiegofc.com
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

San Diego Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in San Diego. The club will compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference; it is joining the league as an expansion team in 2025. The team will play its home matches at Snapdragon Stadium, a multi-use venue built in 2022.

Contents

The club's ownership group is led by British-Egyptian businessman and former politician Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe. The group was awarded an expansion team on May 18, 2023; the club will be the 30th in MLS.

History

First division soccer in San Diego

San Diego's earliest professional soccer team was the short-lived San Diego Toros, a North American Soccer League (NASL) team that relocated from Los Angeles in 1968 and played a single season. A second NASL team, the San Diego Jaws, was established in 1976 from the former Baltimore Comets and played one year before moving to Las Vegas; the club returned in 1978 and was renamed the Sockers, playing outdoor matches at Jack Murphy Stadium, which was shared with the National Football League's San Diego Chargers and Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. [1] [2] The Sockers had poor attendance but survived the folding of the NASL by moving to the Major Indoor Soccer League, where they won eight championships in nine seasons. [1] The team moved to the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1993 and folded in 1997; [3] the name was later revived for a second indoor team from 2001 to 2004 and a third indoor team that began play in 2009. [4] Other outdoor teams, including the San Diego Flash and San Diego 1904 FC, had played short stints in the lower divisions of American soccer in the 2000s and 2010s before folding. [5]

Previous MLS bids

Qualcomm Stadium hosted the 1999 MLS All-Star Game and was a factor in several San Diego expansion bids. Qualcomm Stadium.jpg
Qualcomm Stadium hosted the 1999 MLS All-Star Game and was a factor in several San Diego expansion bids.

During the formation of MLS in the mid-1990s, San Diego was not among the U.S. cities to formally submit a bid for a team in the inaugural season, but expressed interest and held several meetings with the league. [6] MLS commissioner Doug Logan described San Diego as a "prime candidate" for an expansion team, but the city's lack of a suitable stadium to accommodate soccer was a "major hurdle"; at the time, Jack Murphy Stadium was shared with the Padres and had a larger capacity than the league's desired size. [7] The renovated Jack Murphy Stadium (renamed to Qualcomm Stadium) hosted several exhibition matches as well as the 1999 MLS All-Star Game, which drew an attendance of 23,277; [8] [9] it was the only MLS All-Star Game to be played outside of an active or future MLS market. [10]

Following the approval of plans to build a downtown ballpark for the Padres, the MLS expansion committee voiced their support of a potential team playing at Qualcomm Stadium—either permanently or until a soccer-specific stadium was built. [11] The San Diego market was considered for Chivas USA, an MLS expansion team that later served as a reserve team for C.D. Guadalajara of the Mexican Primera División. [12] The team instead chose to share its home venue with the LA Galaxy in Carson, California, and played for ten seasons before folding for low attendance and ownership issues. [13] [14] The league continued to list San Diego as a potential candidate for expansion and negotiated with several interested investor groups, but the lack of a suitable stadium prevented further consideration. [15] [16] Balboa Stadium, the 1960s home of the Chargers and Jaws, was also mentioned as a potential site for a smaller stadium built for an MLS team. [17]

A new team across the Mexican border, Club Tijuana (nicknamed the Xolos), was founded in 2007 and promoted to Liga MX—Mexico's top-flight league—in 2011. [18] The team attracted support from fans in San Diego—about 20 miles (32 km) north of their home stadium—and played several exhibition matches in the area at various venues, [19] including Qualcomm Stadium and the Padres' Petco Park. [20] [21] San Diego also remained one of the top U.S. viewing markets for television broadcasts of the FIFA World Cup, Premier League, and other overseas soccer competitions. [17] The area had also produced several prominent players for the United States men's and women's national teams. [22]

The San Diego Chargers announced plans to relocate to the Los Angeles area in 2015 while it also pursued a new downtown San Diego stadium, which required voter approval but was rejected. [23] The team's departure was made official in early 2017 and opened an opportunity for a new MLS expansion bid to be led by businessman Mike Stone with several other investors, including Padres owner Peter Seidler and former soccer player Landon Donovan. [24] [25] A separate bid from former Padres owner John Moores—who had shown interest in an MLS team in the 1990s—and an unspecified Premier League team was withdrawn a year earlier. [26] [27] The Stone bid proposed a redevelopment of the Qualcomm Stadium site named "SoccerCity" that would include mixed-use development and a park surrounding a stadium shared with San Diego State University (SDSU)'s athletic teams, known as the Aztecs. [25] The stadium would seat 20,000 to 32,000 spectators and cost $200 million to construct. [28] A separate proposal from SDSU, named SDSU West, was announced and placed on the same November 2018 ballot; SoccerCity was defeated with 30 percent of votes, while SDSU West earned 55 percent approval. [10] [29]

A second-division team, San Diego Loyal SC, was established by Warren Smith and Landon Donovan in 2019 and began play the following year in the USL Championship at Torero Stadium. The team also showed interest in launching an MLS expansion with other partners, but were not part of any later bids. [1] [30] The SDSU West stadium, named Snapdragon Stadium, opened in 2022 and became the home of San Diego Wave FC, a National Women's Soccer League expansion team that moved from Torero Stadium. [10] The team set several U.S. women's soccer attendance records in their first season and drew 32,000 fans at the new Snapdragon Stadium. [31] Several investor groups also approached SDSU to launch a MLS expansion team that would play at Snapdragon Stadium with financial concessions requested by the league. [10] A separate proposal to build a mixed-use residential and hotel district in the suburb of Chula Vista with a soccer-specific stadium was announced in April 2023 by Petra Development Group and outside investors. [32]

Mansour–Sycuan bid

Mohamed Mansour joined the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation to bid for an MLS expansion team in 2022 Mohamed Mansour of Mansour Group.jpg
Mohamed Mansour joined the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation to bid for an MLS expansion team in 2022

The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe and operators of local entertainment venues, began looking for opportunities to invest in sports ownership in December 2020. The tribe partnered with developer Brad Termini to bid for an MLS expansion team the following year and searched for a major financial partner with help from the league. [1] [33] The Sycuan Tribe contacted the Mansour Group, led by businessman Mohamed Mansour, who joined the bid in late 2022. In October 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the proposed team would require an agreement with SDSU to use Snapdragon Stadium. [34] San Diego competed with proposals from Las Vegas, who had previously been described as the "favorite" to become the 30th MLS team; [35] the primary Las Vegas bid, led by Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, who co-owned Aston Villa F.C. in the Premier League, included a conceptual indoor stadium. [36] [37]

On May 18, 2023, at a Snapdragon Stadium event, MLS announced that the expansion team had been awarded to San Diego and would be owned by Mansour and the Sycuan Tribe. The ownership group paid a $500 million expansion fee according to media reports. [22] [38] Within a day, a total of 5,000 season ticket deposits had been sold. [33] The team's name, San Diego Football Club, and colors were unveiled at an event on October 20. [39] San Diego FC is scheduled to begin play in 2025, giving the state of California four clubs in MLS. [40] The team's first player, former Loyal SC goalkeeper Duran Ferree, was signed in December 2023 and loaned to Orange County SC for the 2024 season. [41]

San Diego FC announced a five-year partnership with Club Tijuana in May 2024 that will include an annual friendly match between the two teams, hosted in San Diego. It is the first partnership of its kind between individual MLS and Liga MX clubs. [42] The team signed their first Designated Player, Mexico international and forward Hirving "Chucky" Lozano from PSV Eindhoven, to a four-year contract in June. Lozano will remain with PSV until the first San Diego FC training camp in January 2025. [43] San Diego FC selected five players during the 2024 MLS expansion draft, which took place at the Mission Valley shopping mall on December 11. [44] Three of the players were retained by the club, while two selections were traded to other MLS teams. [45]

Club identity

The team's crest comprises a shield in the club's official colors—chrome and azul—surrounded by a gradient band of blue, red, orange, and yellow. [46] At the center of the shield is a circular design, named "The Flow", with 18 lines that represent the 18 cities of San Diego County. [39] [47] At the top of the shield is an arch with the "San Diego" wordmark, representing monumental signs that adorn the city's neighborhoods. [48]

San Diego FC contracted with Pupila, a Costa Rican design consultant, to develop the club's identity. [46] A series of secondary logos with "The Flow" and an "SD" wordmark were also part of the unveiling. [49] San Diego FC had been used as a working name and placeholder at the time of the expansion announcement in May 2023; [22] the team is the eleventh in MLS to use the "FC" suffix. [50] The name and crest, which were leaked by The Athletic a day prior to the October unveiling, both garnered a generally negative reception online. [46] [51] The team's merchandise at the event sold out and was supplemented by the opening of a pop-up space at the Mission Valley shopping center in November. [52]

Sponsorship

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2025–future Adidas DirecTV

The team announced their first jersey sponsorship with DirecTV on July 18, 2024. [53]

Stadium and facilities

Aerial view of Snapdragon Stadium, the team's future home venue An aerial view of Snapdragon Stadium (2022-08-26).jpg
Aerial view of Snapdragon Stadium, the team's future home venue

San Diego FC will play home matches at Snapdragon Stadium, a 35,000-seat outdoor venue that opened in 2022 at the former site of San Diego Stadium. The stadium is located on the campus of San Diego State University at SDSU Mission Valley and is primarily used by the university for Aztecs college football games. It is also home to San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby. The stadium has also hosted international friendlies and CONCACAF competitions since 2023, including the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup final. [54] [55]

Snapdragon Stadium was built to soccer specifications with various fixtures that meet MLS standards; the stadium's seating capacity is larger than most soccer-specific stadiums, but lacks a roof or other weather protection. [1] [10] The stadium also has 20 luxury suites and 260 pitchside seats. [56] [57] According to The San Diego Union-Tribune , San Diego FC signed a lease agreement in May 2023 with San Diego State University for use of the stadium, which is expected to cost $200,000 per match. The team would share the locker rooms with the university's football team and have scheduling priority behind them, but ahead of San Diego Wave FC. The club will also receive $1.75 million from the stadium naming rights paid by Qualcomm as part of the lease agreement. [58]

The team's training facilities are planned to be constructed on a 28-acre (11 ha) site adjacent to the Singing Hills Golf Resort on the Sycuan Reservation east of El Cajon. The campus will be shared with the Right to Dream youth academy and centered around a 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) building with five full-size fields and one half field. [59] The former Singing Hills Hotel will be renovated into dormitories for academy players and staff. Construction began in November 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by 2025, with the first academy programs beginning late that year. [60] The team's headquarters are at a leased space in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego. [61]

Ownership and management

The team is owned by Mohamed Mansour, a British-Egyptian businessman and politician, [62] and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. [38] The Mansour Group also owns Danish club FC Nordsjælland and the Right to Dream Academy, which has facilities in Ghana, Egypt, and Denmark. [63] A branch of the Right to Dream Academy is planned to be opened in El Cajon with residential facilities for 120 to 160 players, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune . [64] The Sycuan Band are the first Native American tribe to own part of a professional soccer team in the United States and the second to have an ownership stake in any professional sports team after the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut. [33] [38] The ownership group also includes Padres player Manny Machado, developer Brad Termini, and several Right to Dream executives. [38] Tom Penn was named the club's chief executive officer on May 18, 2023; he was previously president of Los Angeles FC. [38] [65] On November 20, 2024, the club announced that Spanish footballer Juan Mata joined their ownership group. [66]

San Diego FC's first head coach is Mikey Varas, who was appointed in September 2024. He had been the interim coach of the United States men's national team for two matches and had previously coached the United States under-20 team. [67]

Players and staff

Current roster

As of December 11, 2024 [68]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
11 FW Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Hirving Lozano (DP; joining from PSV on January 1, 2025)
20 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Duran Ferree (on loan to Nordsjælland until January 1, 2025)
GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA CJ dos Santos
DF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Hamady Diop
DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Jasper Löffelsend
DF Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Paddy McNair (on loan to West Bromwich Albion until January 1, 2025)
DF Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE Christopher McVey
No.Pos.NationPlayer
DF Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Andrés Reyes
MF Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Heine Gikling Bruseth
MF Flag of Denmark.svg  DEN Jeppe Tverskov (joining from Nordsjælland on January 1, 2025)
FW Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Tomás Ángel
FW Flag of Denmark.svg  DEN Marcus Ingvartsen (joining from Nordsjælland on January 1, 2025)
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Alex Mighten (on loan to Nordsjælland until January 1, 2025)

Team records

Head coaches

As of September 16, 2024
All-time San Diego FC coaching statistics
CoachNationalityStartEndGamesWinLossDrawWin %
Mikey Varas Flag of the United States.svg  United States September 16, 2024present0000!

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major League Soccer</span> Professional soccer league in the United States and Canada

Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 30 teams. MLS is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Stadium</span> Former multi-purpose stadium in San Diego, California

San Diego Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in San Diego, California. Opened in 1967 as San Diego Stadium; it was renamed Jack Murphy Stadium for sportswriter Jack Murphy from 1981 to 1997. From 1997 to 2017, the stadium's naming rights were owned by Qualcomm; it was known as Qualcomm Stadium. The naming rights expired on June 14, 2017, and were purchased by San Diego County Credit Union, renaming the stadium to SDCCU Stadium on September 19, 2017; those naming rights expired in December 2020. Demolition of San Diego Stadium began in December 2020; its last freestanding section was felled on March 22, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation</span> Native Kumeyaay Indians in Southern California

The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Mission Indians from Southern California, located in an unincorporated area of San Diego County just east of El Cajon. The Sycuan band are a Kumeyaay tribe, one of the four ethnic groups indigenous to San Diego County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego State Aztecs</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of San Diego State University

The San Diego State Aztecs are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San Diego State University (SDSU). The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I (FBS) as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW); they will become a member of the Pac-12 Conference in 2026. The Aztec nickname was chosen by students in 1925; team colors are scarlet (red) and black. The university currently fields 17 varsity teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snapdragon Stadium</span> Stadium in San Diego, California, US

Snapdragon Stadium is an outdoor stadium in San Diego, California, located on the campus of San Diego State University (SDSU). Opened in 2022, it is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team. The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I (FBS) as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expansion of Major League Soccer</span>

Major League Soccer is the top level of professional soccer in the United States. It began play in 1996 with 10 teams and has expanded several times since 1998. From 2005 to 2025, the league expanded rapidly and has added an average of one new team per season. The league will reach 30 teams in the 2025 season with the debut of San Diego FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Record attendances in United States club soccer</span>

Competitive men's professional soccer has been played in the United States since 1912 and since 2001 for women's. Numerous leagues have existed over the years with some recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and some not. The lists below are the single game attendance records for men's outdoor (60,000+), women's outdoor (20,000+), and men's indoor (18,000+) matches in American club soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Championship</span> Professional soccer league in the United States

The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Sports in San Diego and its surrounding metropolitan area includes major professional league teams, other highest-level professional league teams, minor league teams, and college athletics. San Diego hosts two teams of the major professional leagues, the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB) and San Diego FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). The city is home to several universities whose teams compete in various NCAA Division I sports, most notably the San Diego State Aztecs. The Farmers Insurance Open, a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, is played annually at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Women's Soccer League attendance</span>

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the top-tier professional women's soccer league in the United States. It has the highest average attendance of any professional women's sports league in the United States, surpassing the Women's National Basketball Association and Professional Women's Hockey League. During the 2024 season, the NWSL reached a total attendance of over 2 million spectators for the first time in the league's history. The single-match attendance record of 35,038 spectators was set by the Chicago Red Stars and Bay FC on June 8, 2024, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen McNabb</span> American soccer player (born 1994)

Kristen Claire McNabb is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). McNabb has represented the United States on the under-18 and under-23 national teams. She played college soccer at the University of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego 1904 FC</span> Soccer club

San Diego 1904 FC was an American professional soccer team based in San Diego, California. In December 2021, the team was absorbed by Albion San Diego, which effectively took over 1904's membership in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Loyal SC</span> Former American soccer team in San Diego, California

San Diego Loyal SC was an American professional soccer team based in San Diego, California, that competed in the USL Championship. The team was founded by Warren Smith and Landon Donovan; it made its debut in 2020 as an expansion team. The team played its home games at Torero Stadium. The Loyal shut down following the 2023 season after failing to find a long-term home venue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Wave FC</span> National Womens Soccer League team in San Diego, California

San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is an American professional women's soccer team based in San Diego, California, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The team plays its home games at Snapdragon Stadium. The Wave began play in the 2022 season as an expansion team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 Major League Soccer season</span> 30th season of Major League Soccer

The 2025 Major League Soccer season will be the 30th season of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and the 47th season overall of a national first-division league in the United States.

The 2023 San Diego Loyal SC season was San Diego Loyal SC's fourth, and last, season of existence and their fourth season in the USL Championship (USLC), the second division in the American soccer system.

The 2025 season is the upcoming first season for San Diego FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional club soccer in the United States. San Diego FC was announced as an expansion team on May 18, 2023, under the ownership of Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a local indigenous tribe. The team will play their home matches at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, which it will share with San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the San Diego State Aztecs football team.

The 2024 MLS Expansion Draft was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team San Diego FC that was held on December 11, 2024. The list of eligible players was revealed on December 10, 2024, which included 354 players from the 28 other MLS teams. San Diego FC selected five players in the draft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Maurer, Pablo (May 18, 2023). "MLS expansion into San Diego: What you need to know about team name, owner and local history" . The Athletic . Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. Brents, Phillip (October 15, 2020). "End of an era, and start of a new one, for Mission Valley stadium". The Star-News . Chula Vista, California. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  3. Zeigler, Mark (May 21, 1997). "San Diego remains a soccer city". The San Diego Union-Tribune . p. D3.
  4. Salazar, Jo-Ryan (July 25, 2010). "The San Diego Sockers: A Legacy Renewed". Bleacher Report . Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  5. Zeigler, Mark (June 19, 2019). "Second-division USL soccer team coming to San Diego". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  6. Zeigler, Mark (November 17, 1994). "Best-laid plans for U.S. soccer on hold till '96". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D1.
  7. Zeigler, Mark (August 17, 1996). "S.D. next on MLS' growing wish list?". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D4.
  8. Zeigler, Mark (December 23, 1998). "Top-level soccer set for Qualcomm". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D3.
  9. Zeigler, Mark (July 18, 1999). "Preki powers West to first All-Star win". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C1.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Zeigler, Mark (May 15, 2022). "Major League Soccer continues to eye San Diego as attractive expansion candidate". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. Zeigler, Mark (July 17, 1999). "MLS eyes San Diego, but expansion delayed". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D1.
  12. Zeigler, Mark (October 9, 2003). "San Diego on short list for MLS expansion in 2005". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D3.
  13. Gutierrez, Paul (August 3, 2004). "On Paper, Chivas Seems Ready to Go". Los Angeles Times . p. D3. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  14. Maurer, Pablo; Stejskal, Sam (October 27, 2020). "The short life and long death of Chivas USA" . The Athletic. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  15. Zeigler, Mark (April 25, 2007). "MLS seems to want San Diego to have a team, but there's no suitable venue". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D2.
  16. Zeigler, Mark (August 4, 2010). "San Diego tries to solve puzzle of MLS expansion". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D2. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Elder, Adam (August 12, 2014). "The San Diego mystery: America's soccer-crazy city seeks top-flight team". The Guardian . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  18. Zeigler, Mark (May 13, 2011). "Tijuana rehabilitates image with soccer team". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  19. Zeigler, Mark (September 26, 2012). "Number of Xolos backers north of the border growing". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D2. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  20. Carlisle, Jeff (January 31, 2017). "Proposed San Diego MLS franchise hopes to coexist with Liga MX's Tijuana". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  21. Zeigler, Mark (July 3, 2013). "Cultures collide: Soccer in SD football, baseball stadiums". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D1. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 Elder, Adam (May 19, 2023). "San Diego FC: Tory treasurers, tribal leaders and a $500m California dream". The Guardian. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  23. Farmer, Sam; Fenno, Nathan (January 12, 2017). "Double-teamed: Chargers make move to Los Angeles official". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  24. Showley, Roger (January 29, 2017). "San Diego's new white knight? Mike Stone and pro soccer". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Straus, Brian (April 5, 2017). "San Diego's MLS expansion bid opts to put stadium deal proposal to public vote". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  26. Zeigler, Mark (February 27, 2016). "John Moores thwarted in bid to buy Everton". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  27. Jenkins, Chris (February 15, 1997). "Padres owners eye big-league soccer team". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. A25.
  28. Straus, Brian (February 16, 2017). "MLS expansion city profile: San Diego". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  29. Van Grove, Jennifer (November 7, 2018). "SDSU West bests SoccerCity as voters embrace a new vision for Mission Valley stadium site". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  30. Krasovic, Tom (August 13, 2021). "Column: SD Loyal owner dishes on MLS, eyes growth for own franchise". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  31. Keatts, Andrew (September 18, 2022). "How San Diego smashed the NWSL attendance record with 32,000 fans". The Guardian . Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  32. Van Grove, Jennifer (April 6, 2023). "Group pitches $2.5-billion MLS stadium and sports complex on Chula Vista Bayfront in San Diego County". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  33. 1 2 3 Zeigler, Mark (May 18, 2023). "San Diego becomes Major League Soccer's 30th franchise in landmark moment for sport's hotbed". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  34. Zeigler, Mark (October 28, 2022). "Investment group expected to submit bid for Major League Soccer expansion in San Diego" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. A1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  35. Zeigler, Mark (May 6, 2023). "San Diego could be weeks away from getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  36. Zeigler, Mark (November 4, 2022). "MLS chief indicates San Diego has hope" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  37. Carlisle, Jeff (April 26, 2023). "MLS expansion: San Diego has the momentum to clear a path to becoming league's 30th team". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 Hernandez, Cesar (May 18, 2023). "San Diego awarded 30th MLS team, will debut in 2025". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  39. 1 2 Zeigler, Mark (October 20, 2023). "True colors: MLS expansion club San Diego FC unveils brand identity during Snapdragon Stadium party". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  40. Reineking, Jim (May 18, 2023). "San Diego will be home to MLS expansion team, pushing league to 30 clubs". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  41. Zeigler, Mark (December 13, 2023). "MLS expansion club San Diego FC signs its first-ever player" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  42. "San Diego FC enter partnership with Club Tijuana". MLSsoccer.com. May 17, 2024. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  43. Zeigler, Mark (June 13, 2024). "Though he won't join San Diego FC until January, Chucky Lozano is already expansion club's face, heart". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  44. Zeigler, Mark (December 10, 2024). "San Diego FC has its choice of locals, highly paid players in Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft" . The San Diego Union-Tribune . Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  45. "San Diego FC: 2024 MLS Expansion Draft results". MLSsoccer.com. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  46. 1 2 3 Hernandez, Cesar (October 20, 2023). "San Diego FC: MLS' 30th team reveals name, crest and branding". ESPN. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  47. Yutig, Jayne (October 20, 2023). "San Diego FC: San Diego's new MLS team unveils name, crest at Snapdragon Stadium". CBS 8 News . Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  48. "San Diego FC: MLS expansion team unveil name, crest & brand identity". MLSsoccer.com. October 20, 2023. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  49. "Crest". San Diego FC. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  50. Maurer, Pablo; Bogert, Tom (October 19, 2023). "San Diego FC logo revealed; team to start play in MLS in 2025" . The Athletic. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  51. Zeigler, Mark (October 19, 2023). "Name, crest, colors for San Diego MLS team leak a day early". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  52. Van Grove, Jennifer (November 18, 2023). "San Diego FC sets up retail shop at Mission Valley mall" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  53. Finley, Ryan (July 18, 2024). "San Diego FC announces jersey sponsor ahead of first Major League Soccer season". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  54. Zeigler, Mark (May 6, 2023). "San Diego could be weeks away from getting a Major League Soccer expansion franchise". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  55. Miller, Bryce (March 10, 2024). "United States shakes off storm clouds, stops Brazil to win Concacaf W Gold Cup". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  56. Van Grove, Jennifer (December 13, 2023). "Sit on the pitch: San Diego FC debuts luxury seating option for fans who want their feet on the grass" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  57. McCormick, Bret (October 10, 2024). "San Diego FC unveiling new pitch-side suite offerings". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  58. Zeigler, Mark (October 21, 2023). "Major League Soccer's San Diego FC will have Snapdragon scheduling priority over Wave" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  59. Van Grove, Jennifer (October 1, 2023). "San Diego MLS team leases 28-acre site on Sycuan Reservation for $150M training campus" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  60. Van Grove, Jennifer (November 9, 2023). "It's crunch time for San Diego's MLS team, which just started construction of its $150M training campus" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  61. Van Grove, Jennifer (October 31, 2023). "San Diego MLS team leases space at high-end Little Italy building for corporate headquarters" . The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  62. Ziegler, Martyn (May 15, 2023). "Tory treasurer Mohamed Mansour to buy £400m MLS franchise in San Diego" . The Times . London. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  63. Zeigler, Mark (May 16, 2023). "Major League Soccer expected to announce San Diego expansion team Thursday". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  64. Zeigler, Mark (May 17, 2023). "San Diego's new MLS team will be defined by its unique approach to youth development". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  65. "Major League Soccer awards expansion team to San Diego" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 18, 2023. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  66. Lowe, Sid (November 20, 2024). "Juan Mata hopes 'to build something special' with San Diego FC investment". The Guardian. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  67. Zeigler, Mark (September 16, 2024). "San Diego FC makes it official: Mikey Varas will be club's first head coach". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  68. "San Diego FC Roster". San Diego FC. Retrieved December 11, 2024.