18 May 2023 , 17:54
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Major League Soccer will welcome another new franchise at the start of the 2025 season, as San Diego have been awarded an expansion by the league on Thursday.
Reports emerged this week that British-Egyptian billionaire and Tory treasurer Mohamed Mansour had reached the final stages of negotiation with MLS to purchase a new franchise, with 2025 the date set for their inaugural season. And Mansour has been awarded the expansion, alongside the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.
A familiar face within the San Diego area will also be on board, as Padres baseball star Manny Machado is also also part of ownership group. The new team will play home games at Snapdragon Stadium - a 35,000-seat venue that is currently used by college football side San Diego State Aztecs.
San Diego will become the 30th team in MLS as the league continues to grow, with expansions occurring every season since 2016. St Louis City SC were inducted this season, and have made a flying start to life in MLS with six wins in 11 games.
"We are thrilled to welcome San Diego to Major League Soccer as our 30th team," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "For many years we have believed San Diego would be a terrific MLS market due to its youthful energy, great diversity, and the fact that soccer is an essential part of everyday life for so many people.
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"Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Tribe have an incredible vision for building a club that will inspire and unite soccer fans throughout the city and region." The Sycuan Tribe become the first ever Native American tribe to hold an ownership stake in professional soccer, and Mansour is delighted to have them on board.
San Diego will play MLS matches at the Snapdragon Stadium (Justin Fine/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Sycuan Tribe to bring Major League Soccer to such a deserving community and legion of San Diego soccer fans," Mansour said. "This is a real opportunity to create a powerful and lasting legacy for the city and region."
Mansour already has ties to soccer, as the businessman is the founder and chairman of the London-based investment management firm Man Capital. The firm owns Right to Dream (RTD), a global soccer community of world-class academies, clubs and partners with an innovative approach to identifying and nurturing talent.
Their stadium has a capacity of 35,000 and is the current home of the Aztecs (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"We look forward to introducing Right to Dream’s unique developmental approach and unparalleled soccer expertise to San Diego and MLS by delivering tangible benefits to the community as we look to open doors and identify and nurture talent from across the county and beyond," Mansour added. Padres star Machado is also looking forward to the project ahead, and the six-time MLB All-Star will be a popular figure amongst the new fans.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the San Diego MLS ownership group," Machado said. "I continue to plant roots in this amazing community that means so much to me and build upon my connection with the incredible fans. I’m further encouraged by the club’s commitment and experience that it brings, through Right to Dream, in developing young athletes personally, academically and athletically, and excited to support the growth of soccer in San Diego."