Soccer in the New York metropolitan area

Last updated

Sports Illustrated Stadium is New York metropolitan area's first professional soccer-specific stadium in the modern era of American soccer. Redbull arena.jpg
Sports Illustrated Stadium is New York metropolitan area's first professional soccer-specific stadium in the modern era of American soccer.

The sport of soccer has a long history in New York City, beginning in the 1910s with the first iteration of the American Soccer League. In the 1970s, with the rise of the first iteration of the North American Soccer League, the New York Cosmos became one of the most recognizable brands in American soccer.

Contents

Presently, there are four professional soccer clubs in the New York City region, fielding six teams in various leagues. New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls play in the top mens division, Major League Soccer, while their reserve teams New York Red Bulls II and New York City FC II compete in the third tier league MLS Next Pro. There are two first divisions for women in the United States, and both are represented by clubs in the metropolitan area: NJ/NY Gotham FC, a women's team, competes in the National Women's Soccer League while Brooklyn FC, a new soccer club, fields a woman's team in the USL Super League. Brooklyn FC will also field a men's team in the second-division USL Championship in 2025, both playing in Maimonides Park in Coney Island.

The region has also hosted 27 U.S. Open Cup finals at various venues including Starlight Park, Triborough Stadium, Dexter Park, the Metropolitan Oval, the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field. Despite this, a New York City-based club has not won the Open Cup since the 1991 final, where the Brooklyn Italians defeated the Richardson Rockets. The last time a local club reached the final was 2017, where the New York Red Bulls lost to Sporting Kansas City.

Today, major stadiums that host soccer matches include Sports Illustrated Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, and MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup Final. [1] New York City FC is planning to build Etihad Park, the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City which will be located in Queens and opening in 2027. [2]

Professional clubs

ClubStadiumCapacityFoundedNotes
Major League Soccer (2)
New York Red Bulls Sports Illustrated Stadium 25,1891995New York's first MLS franchise. Play in New Jersey. Won the Supporters' Shield in 2013, 2015, and 2018.
New York City FC Yankee Stadium 33,4442013Founded by City Football Group and the New York Yankees in 2013. First match played in 2015. Winner of 2021 MLS Cup
National Women's Soccer League (1)
NJ/NY Gotham FC Sports Illustrated Stadium 25,1892007
USL Super League (1)
Brooklyn FC Maimonides Park 7,0002024
USL Championship (1)
Brooklyn FC Maimonides Park 7,0002023To begin play in the 2025 season
MLS Next Pro (2)
New York Red Bulls II MSU Soccer Park 5,0002015 New York Red Bulls reserve team. Winner of 2016 USL Cup.
New York City FC II Belson Stadium 2,1682021 New York City FC reserve team.

Amateur clubs

ClubStadiumCapacityFoundedNotes
USL League Two (4)
Cedar Stars Rush Fairleigh Dickinson University 2018
F.A. Euro Belson Stadium 2,6002013
FC Motown Ranger Stadium 1,2002012
Long Island Rough Riders Hofstra University Soccer Stadium 1,6001994
Manhattan SC Gaelic Park 2018
Morris Elite SC Rutgers Newark Stadium2016
Westchester Flames City Park Stadium 1,8451999
National Premier Soccer League (4)
FC Motown Ranger Stadium 1,2002012
FC Monmouth Count Basie Park2017
United Premier Soccer League - Premier (4)
EFA MetroLyndhurst, NJ
FSA ProHudson Sports Complex2014
Javier Velasco Soccer AcademyPerth Amboy, NJ
North Jersey Alliance FC Weequahic Park 2012
NY Renegades FCHicksville
NYC Haiti United SCBrooklyn
Oyster Bay United FCOyster Bay
Real New York FCLiberty Park2014
Queensboro FC IIQueens
Union SCUnion, NJ
United Premier Soccer League - Division 1 (4)
Academias Barcelona SCVictory Field, Forest Park
Amigos FC New YorkLong Island2018
Astoria Knights FCAviator Sports & Event Center5,0002018
Atlas FC NYCLong Island
AYSAB Football ClubBrooklyn
East Coast FCLong Island
FC B3astQueens
FSA Pro IIHudson Sports Complex2014
FTFA GunnersElizabeth, NJ
Galo FCLong Island
Ironbound Soccer ClubNewark, NJ
LDUQ-USA Pro FC EliteMontvale, NJ
New Jersey Alliance FC U23Jersey City, NJ
NY Hota Bavarians SCFranklin Square
Rosedale Soccer ClubJamaica
Sons of Queens FCWoodside
UCFSC WarriorsRahway, NJ
Unisamba FCPaterson, NJ
Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division I (5)
Cedar Stars Academy Ramapo College of New Jersey 5,0002013
Doxa FCJoseph F. Fosina Field1,0001962
KidSuper Samba AC Baker Athletics Complex 3,5002017
Lansdowne Yonkers FC Tibbet Brook Park1,0001997
New York Athletic Club Travers Island Soccer Field 2502008Played organized since 2008. NYAC founded in 1868.
New York Greek American Metropolitan Oval 1,5001941
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Belson Stadium 2,5001974
New York Shamrocks SC Roosevelt Island 1501960
Sporting SC Soundview Park 1502002
Zum Schneider FC 03 Randalls Island 1502003
Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division II (6)
Afghan FC NY Randalls Island 150
Beyond FC Laurel Hill Park 3002011
Central Park Rangers FC Central Park 1001999
DeSportiva Sociedad NY Randalls Island 150
FC Japan Randalls Island 1501992
FC UlqiniGreenbelt Recreation Center
Hoboken FC 1912 Laurel Hill Park 3001912
Kelmendi FC NY Randalls Island 1502012
Manhattan Celtic Randalls Island 1501998
Manhattan Kickers Randalls Island 1501973
New York Ukrainians McCarren Park 2001947
NYPD FC Flushing Meadows
Polonia Gwardia NY McCarren Park 200
Real Olé FCRed Wing Park
Richmond County FCCorporal Thompson Park2016
Stal Mielec NY McCarren Park 2002004
Williamsburg International F.C. Bushwick Inlet Park 2011
NCAA Division I (N/A)
Columbia Lions (Ivy) Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium 3,5001906First recorded game in 1870. Fielded varsity team since 1906. [3]
Fordham Rams (Atlantic 10) Coffey Field 7,0001979
Hofstra Pride (CAA)
Iona Gaels (MAAC)
LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (NEC)
Manhattan Jaspers (MAAC)
Marist Red Foxes (MAAC) Leonidoff Field 5,0001981
Monmouth Hawks (MAAC)
NJIT Highlanders (Sun Belt)
Saint Peter's Peacocks (MAAC)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big Ten)
St. Francis Terriers (NEC)
St. John's Red Storm (Big East) Belson Stadium 2,1681979Won NCAA Tournament in 1996.
NCAA Division II (N/A)
Concordia Clippers Clipper Soccer Field
Queens Knights Queens College Track & Soccer Field
NCAA Division III (N/A)
Baruch Bearcats
Brooklyn Bulldogs
CCNY Beavers
Hunter Hawks
John Jay Bloodhounds
Lehman Lightning
Medgar Evers Cougars
Montclair State Red Hawks
NYU Violets
Sarah Lawrence Gryphons
Staten Island Dolphins
St. Joseph's Bears
Yeshiva Maccabees
York Cardinals
CMSV Dolphins

Most successful clubs overall

Teams in italics are no longer active.

Team D1 Regular Season U.S. Open Cup D1
Playoffs
Domestic Total Campeones Cup Leagues Cup CONCACAF Champions League Total
Brookhattan 12150005
Brooklyn Celtic 7351500015
Brooklyn Field Club 11020002
Brooklyn Hispano 32160006
Brooklyn Italians 02020002
S.C. Eintracht 01010001
Elizabeth S.C. 02020002
New York AO Krete 01010001
New York Americans 11130003
New York City FC 00111002
New York Cosmos (original club) 7051200012
New York Greek American 04040004
New York Hakoah 31370007
New York Hungaria 01010001
New York Nationals 01010001
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms 03030003
New York Red Bulls 30030003
Paterson F.C. 11020002
Robins Dry Dock 01010001

New York derbies

There is one current professional New York derby:

New York Red Bulls and New York City FC met for the first time in 2015 at the first inaugural New York derby in MLS [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports Illustrated Stadium</span> Soccer-specific stadium in the United States

Sports Illustrated Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, that is home to the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer and NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League. It opened under its former name, Red Bull Arena, in 2010. Featuring a transparent partial roof, it is located on the waterfront in the Riverbend District of Harrison across the Passaic River from Newark and approximately 7 miles (12 km) west of Lower Manhattan, New York City. With a seating capacity of 25,000, it is the sixth-largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States and in Major League Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wolyniec</span> American soccer player and manager (born 1977)

John Wolyniec is an American professional soccer coach, executive, and former player. He is currently the technical director of the San Jose Earthquakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in the New York metropolitan area</span>

Sports in the New York metropolitan area have a long and distinguished history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Red Bulls</span> American professional soccer club based in New York metropolitan area

The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club was established in October 1994 and began play in the league's inaugural season in 1996 as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 2006, the team was sold to Red Bull GmbH and re-branded as part of the company's global network of soccer clubs.

The 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 95th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from June through early September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sporting Kansas City II</span> Soccer club

Sporting Kansas City II is a MLS Next Pro club affiliated with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer. For the 2022 season they will play their home games at Rock Chalk Park at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, as well as Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri. They were formerly known as the Swope Park Rangers. The club is headquartered alongside Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

<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.

The 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 98th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from June through early October. Seattle Sounders FC, who entered the competition as the two-time defending champions, successfully defended their title again. They became the third team in U.S. Open Cup history to win three straight U.S. Open Cups. As winner of the Open Cup, the Sounders earned a place in the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League Group stage. The farthest advancing USL Pro team was the Richmond Kickers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City FC</span> American professional soccer club based in New York City

New York City Football Club, sometimes shortened as NYCFC, is an American professional soccer club based in New York City. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. New York City FC is co-owned by City Football Group, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi United Group, Yankee Global Enterprises, owners of the New York Yankees, and investor Marcelo Claure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Long (soccer)</span> American soccer player (born 1992)

Aaron Ray Long is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in New Jersey</span>

As of 2024, New Jersey has six teams from major professional sports leagues playing in the state, with only one team identifying themselves as solely being from the state. The other remaining teams identify themselves as being from the New York metropolitan area with the National Women's Soccer League team having a team name that includes both New Jersey and New York. The National Hockey League and National Basketball Association teams representing Philadelphia have their training facilities in South Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisville City FC</span> American professional soccer team

Louisville City Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Louisville, Kentucky. The team plays in the USL Championship, which is currently the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudson River Derby</span> American soccer rivalry

The Hudson River Derby, sometimes earlier called the New York derby, is the name given to the local derby between the two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs based in the New York metropolitan area, New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. First played in 2015, the rivalry between the two started almost as soon as New York City was awarded an expansion club in 2013. The derby is primarily contested for bragging rights of the current MLS regular season; although the two clubs occasionally meet in playoffs or other competitions, only regular-season results are counted towards the season trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Bezecourt</span> French footballer (born 1993)

Vincent Bezecourt is a French footballer who plays as an attacking-midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Geylang International. Known for his finishing, set-piece abilities and long-range efforts, he is regarded as one of the most accomplished midfielders in the Singapore Premier League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field</span> Soccer Park

MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field is a soccer-specific stadium on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Built on the site of a former baseball field, MSU Soccer Park opened in 1998 as the home of the Montclair State Red Hawks men's and women's soccer teams.

The 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 105th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing competition in the United States and was contested by 97 teams from leagues in the U.S. system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FC Cincinnati</span> American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati

Football Club Cincinnati is an American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team was first announced on August 12, 2015 as a United Soccer League (USL) franchise which played from 2016 to 2018. On May 29, 2018, the club's ownership was awarded an MLS franchise, and the team began MLS play on March 2, 2019. The club's ownership group is led by Carl Lindner III with Jeff Berding serving as co-CEO. Currently, the role of general manager is held by Chris Albright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 U.S. Open Cup final</span> 2022 final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

The 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was a soccer match played on September 7, 2022, at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, United States. It was played to determine the winner of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, the 107th edition of the oldest competition in U.S. soccer, which is open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation.

References

  1. Bowman, Emma (February 4, 2024). "The 2026 World Cup final will take place at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium". npr.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  2. Waldstein, David (April 11, 2024). "New York City Is Closer to Getting Its First Soccer Stadium". The New York Times . Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. "All-Time Results". Columbia University Athletics. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  4. "Red Bulls take care of NYCFC in raucous inaugural New York derby". Sports Illustrated. May 11, 2015.