San Diego soccer enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement as Major League Soccer (MLS) hints at an upcoming announcement that could bring the prestigious league to the city. Today, the MLS revealed plans for a news conference on Thursday, teasing "a significant announcement about the future of soccer" in San Diego.
Scheduled for 10:45 a.m. at Snapdragon Stadium, the highly anticipated event will be attended by notable figures including Mayor Todd Gloria, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, British-Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour, and Cody Martinez, the Chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.
Speculations have been swirling regarding the potential MLS expansion, with published reports indicating that Mansour, also a senior treasurer for the United Kingdom's Conservative Party, is poised to provide substantial financial backing of $500 million for the team in partnership with the Sycuan tribe.
If all goes according to plan, a new San Diego MLS team could take to the field at Snapdragon Stadium as early as 2025, a year before the United States co-hosts the much-anticipated 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
When questioned about the impending announcement, Dan Courtemanche, MLS Vice President of Communications, refrained from confirming or denying the establishment of a new club, leaving eager fans eagerly awaiting the big reveal.
Meanwhile, amidst the MLS expansion rumors, the ownership of San Diego's existing professional soccer club, SD Loyal of the USL Championship League, made a resolute statement last week assuring fans that the team is here to stay.
"Our unwavering commitment is to the vision of growing soccer in this city, and we want to make that abundantly clear," emphasized Andrew Vassiliadis, Chairman and Owner of SD Loyal. Vassiliadis, along with Landon Donovan, former head coach of the club turned Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations, and the entire San Diego Loyal team, remain dedicated to their mission of fostering the sport and community.
Snapdragon Stadium, already home to the San Diego Wave of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) since 2022, has witnessed the growing popularity of soccer in the city. The Wave made history last September when they set a league single-game attendance record of 32,000 spectators during their match against Angel City FC.
As San Diego braces for the long-awaited announcement, soccer aficionados and the entire community eagerly anticipate the potential arrival of Major League Soccer, a development that would undoubtedly elevate the city's passion for the beautiful game to new heights.
