San Diego FC
San Diego FC (SDFC) is a professional soccer club in San Diego, California. Awarded an MLSMLSMajor League Soccer (MLS) is a top-flight professional soccer league comprising clubs in the United States and Canada. Play began in 1996, and the league has 30 clubs divided between Eastern and Western Conferences in 2026.Open the full entry expansion franchise in 2023, it began play in 2025 and uses Snapdragon Stadium as its home.
Contents17 sections
Key facts
May 2023MLS awards its 30th franchise
MLS awarded San Diego its 30th franchise on May 18, 2023, for a 2025 debut. Co-owners were Mohamed Mansour and Sycuan, the first Native American tribe to hold an ownership stake in U.S. professional soccer.[1]
October 2023The name and crest are unveiled
On October 20, 2023, the club unveiled the San Diego FC name and identity at Snapdragon Stadium. Eighteen interwoven lines in the crest represent the county’s communities, while an arch-shaped wordmark recalls neighborhood signs. Pupila designed the identity, using Chrome and dark navy Azul as its colors.[2]
June 2024Lozano becomes the first Designated Player
On June 6, 2024, SDFC announced Hirving “Chucky” Lozano as its first Designated Player, with his transfer from PSV Eindhoven effective January 1, 2025. The agreement ran for four years through the 2028 season, with two option years.[3]
September 2024The first head coach is appointed
Mikey Varas was appointed the club’s first head coach on September 16, 2024, his first head-coaching position at club level.[4]
2025Expansion records in the inaugural season
SDFC finished first in the Western Conference in 2025 with a 19–9–6 record and 63 points. Its 19 victories and 63 points set MLS inaugural-season records and earned qualification for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.[4]
February 2025Winning the MLS debut
On February 23, 2025, SDFC won its MLS debut 2–0 away to defending champion 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 in Carson. Anders Dreyer scored both goals, opening the club’s MLS account in the 52nd minute.[5]
March 2025The first home match
On March 1, 2025, the club drew 0–0 with St. Louis CITY SCSt. Louis CITY SCSt. Louis CITY SC is an MLS professional soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. It began play in 2023 and plays its home matches at Energizer Park.Open the full entry in its first home match at Snapdragon Stadium. Attendance of 34,506 set the venue’s sporting-event record at the time.[6]
September 2025The Right to Dream Academy opens
On September 26, 2025, the club opened its Right to Dream Academy on Sycuan tribal land in El Cajon. Residential student-athletes receive full five-year scholarships regardless of football performance. The same campus contains the Sharp HealthCare Performance Center, where the first team trains.[7]
November 2025The season ends in the Western Conference Final
On November 29, 2025, SDFC’s first season ended with a 3–1 loss to Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps FCVancouver Whitecaps FC is an MLS professional soccer club in Vancouver, British Columbia, playing its home matches at BC Place.Open the full entry at Snapdragon Stadium. It was the second MLS expansion club to reach a conference final in its debut season, following Chicago FireChicago Fire FCChicago Fire FC is a professional soccer club in Major League Soccer, with its regular home at Soldier Field in Chicago.Open the full entry in 1998.[8]
January 2026Lozano is left out of sporting plans
On January 9, 2026, sporting director Tyler Heaps said SDFC had informed Lozano and his representatives that he was no longer part of its sporting plans. Heaps cited playing style and the team environment and said ownership and leadership had discussed the decision.[9]
January 2026Varas signs an extension
On January 12, 2026, the club announced a multi-year contract extension for Varas, continuing its inaugural coaching arrangement.[4]
March 2026The first Champions Cup campaign ends
On March 18, 2026, SDFC lost 4–0 at Toluca in the Champions Cup round-of-16 second leg and was eliminated 6–3 on aggregate. It had beaten Pumas UNAM 4–2 on aggregate in the opening round, finishing its first continental campaign with two wins and two losses.[10]
July 2026Bill Miles becomes president
On July 15, 2026, Bill Miles was promoted to president and chief operating officer overseeing business and club operations. Tom Penn remained CEO, Tyler Heaps led football operations, and Jeff Cook headed the academy.[11]
July 2026Elias Achouri joins
On July 24, 2026, SDFC announced the signing of Tunisia international Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen through the 2028–29 season. He became its third Designated Player; the announcement made roster addition conditional on his visa and international transfer certificate.[12]
August 2026Lozano joins the LA Galaxy on loan
On August 7, 2026, the LA Galaxy announced Lozano’s loan from SDFC through December 2026, with an option for a permanent trade.[13]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
San Diego FC: Official website: https://www.sandiegofc.com/ (opens in a new window).[14]
Sources
- Major League Soccer Awards Expansion Team to San Diego | MLSSoccer.com (opens in a new window)
- San Diego FC: MLS expansion team unveil name, crest & brand identity | MLSSoccer.com (opens in a new window)
- San Diego FC Signs Hirving “Chucky” Lozano as First Designated Player in Club History | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- San Diego FC Re-Signs Head Coach Mikey Varas | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- Match Recap: San Diego FC Makes MLS Debut with 2-0 Win Over Defending MLS Champion LA Galaxy | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- Match Recap: San Diego FC Makes MLS Home Debut Before Record-Breaking Attendance at Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- San Diego FC’s Right to Dream Academy Officially Opens, Marking a New Era for Talent Development in North America | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- Match Recap: San Diego FC Concludes Inaugural Season with 3-1 Loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Western Conference Final | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- Inside Training: Updates from Tyler Heaps and Mikey Varas | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- Match Recap: San Diego FC Finishes Participation in the Concacaf Champions Cup after 4-0 Loss Against Deportivo Toluca F.C. in Leg Two of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- San Diego FC Promotes Bill Miles to President & Chief Operating Officer | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- San Diego FC Signs Tunisian Winger Elias Achouri to a Designated Player Contract | San Diego FC (opens in a new window)
- LA Galaxy Acquire Mexican Winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano on Loan from San Diego FC | LA Galaxy (opens in a new window)
- Tickets (opens in a new window)