Soccer <\/p>\n
It\u2019s go time for San Diego FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Major League Soccer\u2019s 30th club officially begins play in the league\u2019s 30th season, starting with Sunday\u2019s visit to current champions LA Galaxy<\/a> (7 pm ET | MLS Season Pass<\/a>).<\/p>\n Before their 2025 debut, here\u2019s everything you need to know about the expansion team.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Head coach: Mikey Varas<\/strong><\/p>\n The former FC Dallas<\/a> and US men\u2019s national team<\/a> assistant gets his first club head coaching job after briefly serving as USMNT interim manager last year. Varas also led the US U-20s to a quarterfinal finish at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.<\/p>\n Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium<\/strong><\/p>\n The 35,000-capacity stadium is the largest soccer-specific venue in the United States. It sits on San Diego State University’s campus and is also home to NWSL side San Diego Wave FC.<\/p>\n Academy: Right to Dream<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded 26 years ago in Ghana, with additional outposts in Egypt and Denmark, Right to Dream is now establishing roots in San Diego. MLS\u2019s 30th club has access to the growing network\u2019s global reach, with the ultimate goal of forming local talent from San Diego, Mexico and beyond at their 125,000-square-foot campus in El Cajon on the Sycuan Reservation.<\/p>\n CEO: Tom Penn<\/strong><\/p>\n A former NBA executive who co-founded LAFC<\/a> and helped usher in the Black & Gold’s historic entrance into the league in 2018, Penn is overseeing his second MLS expansion project as chief executive officer of San Diego FC.<\/p>\n Sporting director: Tyler Heaps<\/strong><\/p>\n Heaps brings over 10 years of top-level global soccer experience from his roles at Right to Dream, AS Monaco and the U.S. Soccer Federation. At 33, he is the youngest sporting director in MLS.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Like fellow Mexican superstar Carlos Vela before him at LAFC, Hirving \u201cChucky\u201d Lozano<\/a> has the hopes of a California-based expansion club on his shoulders \u2013 in his case as the centerpiece of San Diego\u2019s roster build.<\/p>\n Vela led the Black & Gold to MLS Cup glory in 2022 and two Supporters\u2019 Shield titles. Can Lozano reach similar heights in MLS after winning four major trophies during seven years in Europe with PSV Eindhoven and Napoli?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cI want to win championships.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/30ZBWfPmAc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) June 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n The San Diego native and USMNT<\/a> regular will play for his new hometown club over a decade after departing for Europe.<\/p>\n De la Torre<\/a> provides playmaking skills honed in the English Premier League (Fulham), Eredivisie (Heracles Almelo) and LaLiga (Celta de Vigo), joining SDFC on a season-long loan from Celta with a purchase option.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201c???? ????????????\u2019???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/H4PHJXo75M<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) January 21, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n San Diego\u2019s second Designated Player signing to complement marquee DP Lozano, Dreyer<\/a> is a right winger acquired from Belgian Pro League powerhouse Anderlecht.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old Denmark international enters the prime of his career at San Diego after building his reputation in some of Europe\u2019s top leagues.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n “???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ????????????????????, ???????????????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????.” pic.twitter.com\/jU8u5FU5e1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) January 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n An MLS-proven defender with nearly 100 regular-season appearances between stops at Inter Miami CF<\/a> and New York Red Bulls<\/a>, Reyes<\/a> projects as a foundational piece of San Diego\u2019s backline alongside Paddy McNair<\/a>. The Colombian center back was a key figure in RBNY\u2019s run to MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) December 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Primary jersey: State of Flow<\/strong><\/p>\n Featuring the club\u2019s signature chrome and azul colors, the State of Flow jersey embodies San Diego’s diversity and the city’s sunny, reflective landscape.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????????????. pic.twitter.com\/2J9gMdqPaW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Secondary jersey: Woven Into One Kit<\/strong><\/p>\n Inspired by the club’s mantra \u2013 \u201cWoven Into One\u201d \u2013 SDFC’s first-ever secondary kit provides a blank canvas for the people of San Diego to come together and imagine the future of the club.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n 18 Communities ???? 1 Heart pic.twitter.com\/3YeDkL6MxE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n British-Egyptian entrepreneur Mohamed Mansour is a founding partner and chairman of San Diego FC, spearheading a diverse and collaborative ownership group that also includes the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation \u2013 a tribe with over 12,000 years in the region of Southern California and Mexico.<\/p>\n The worlds of sports, music and culture are also well-represented in SDFC’s partnership team:<\/p>\n\n
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