Charlotte FC

MLS awarded Charlotte an expansion club led by David Tepper on December 17, 2019. It planned to begin play in 2021 at Bank of America Stadium.⁠[1]

The club unveiled its Charlotte Football Club name and blue, black, and white circular crest on July 22, 2020. The design references local minting history, while its four-point crown evokes the Queen City and Uptown’s four historic wards.⁠[2]

The club began play in 2022. In its first league match on February 26, Charlotte lost 3–0 to D.C. UnitedD.C. UnitedD.C. United is a professional soccer club in Washington, D.C., competing in MLS at Audi Field. An original member of the league in 1996, it won MLS Cup in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004.Open the full entry at Audi Field.⁠[3][2]

Charlotte hosted the LA GalaxyLA GalaxyLA Galaxy are a Major League Soccer club that began playing in 1996 and won their sixth MLS Cup in 2024. Their home is in Carson, California.Open the full entry at Bank of America Stadium on March 5, 2022, drawing 74,479 spectators and setting the MLS standalone-match attendance record at the time.⁠[4]

A 1–0 Decision Day victory over Inter Miami secured Charlotte’s first MLS playoff berth in 2023, entering the Wild Card round as the Eastern Conference’s ninth seed.⁠[5]

The club appointed Dean Smith head coach on December 12, 2023, on a multi-year contract to lead it into 2024. The announcement noted that his appointment was subject to visa approval.⁠[6]

Charlotte finished fourth in the East with 59 points in 2025. Its 19 wins, 13 home wins, and 55 goals were club records at the time. It subsequently exited the playoffs in its first-round series against New York City FC.⁠[7][8]

The 2026 campaign was Charlotte’s fifth MLS season and Smith’s third in charge. The club retained much of its core while adding players including Luca de la Torre and Henry Kessler.⁠[9]

Charlotte FC: Official website: https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[10]