Soccer in the New York metropolitan area
The sport of soccer has a long history in New York City, beginning in the 1910s with the first iteration of the American Soccer League. In the 1970s, with the rise of the first iteration of the North American Soccer League, the New York Cosmos became one of the most recognizable brands in American soccer.
Presently, there are four professional soccer clubs in the New York City region, fielding six teams in various leagues. New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls play in the top mens division, Major League Soccer, while their reserve teams New York Red Bulls II and New York City FC II compete in the third tier league MLS Next Pro. There are two first divisions for women in the United States, and both are represented by clubs in the metropolitan area: NJ/NY Gotham FC, a women's team, competes in the National Women's Soccer League while Brooklyn FC, a new soccer club, fields a woman's team in the USL Super League. Brooklyn FC will also field a men's team in the second-division USL Championship in 2025, both playing in Maimonides Park in Coney Island.
The region has also hosted 27 U.S. Open Cup finals at various venues including Starlight Park, Triborough Stadium, Dexter Park, the Metropolitan Oval, the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field. Despite this, a New York City-based club has not won the Open Cup since the 1991 final, where the Brooklyn Italians defeated the Richardson Rockets. The last time a local club reached the final was 2017, where the New York Red Bulls lost to Sporting Kansas City.
Today, major stadiums that host soccer matches include Sports Illustrated Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, and MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup Final.[1] New York City FC is planning to build Etihad Park, the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City which will be located in Queens and opening in 2027.[2]
Professional clubs
[edit]| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major League Soccer (2) | ||||
| New York Red Bulls | Sports Illustrated Stadium | 25,189 | 1995 | New York's first MLS franchise. Play in New Jersey. Won the Supporters' Shield in 2013, 2015, and 2018. |
| New York City FC | Yankee Stadium | 33,444 | 2013 | Founded by City Football Group and the New York Yankees in 2013. First match played in 2015. Winner of 2021 MLS Cup |
| National Women's Soccer League (1) | ||||
| NJ/NY Gotham FC | Sports Illustrated Stadium | 25,189 | 2007 | |
| USL Super League (1) | ||||
| Brooklyn FC | Maimonides Park | 7,000 | 2024 | |
| USL Championship (1) | ||||
| Brooklyn FC | Maimonides Park | 7,000 | 2023 | To begin play in the 2025 season |
| MLS Next Pro (2) | ||||
| New York Red Bulls II | MSU Soccer Park | 5,000 | 2015 | New York Red Bulls reserve team. Winner of 2016 USL Cup. |
| New York City FC II | Belson Stadium | 2,168 | 2021 | New York City FC reserve team. |
Amateur clubs
[edit]| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USL League Two (4) | ||||
| Cedar Stars Rush | Fairleigh Dickinson University | 2018 | ||
| F.A. Euro | Belson Stadium | 2,600 | 2013 | |
| FC Motown | Ranger Stadium | 1,200 | 2012 | |
| Long Island Rough Riders | Hofstra University Soccer Stadium | 1,600 | 1994 | |
| Manhattan SC | Gaelic Park | 2018 | ||
| Morris Elite SC | Rutgers Newark Stadium | 2016 | ||
| Westchester Flames | City Park Stadium | 1,845 | 1999 | |
| National Premier Soccer League (4) | ||||
| FC Motown | Ranger Stadium | 1,200 | 2012 | |
| FC Monmouth | Count Basie Park | 2017 | ||
| United Premier Soccer League - Premier (4) | ||||
| EFA Metro | Lyndhurst, NJ | |||
| FSA Pro | Hudson Sports Complex | 2014 | ||
| Javier Velasco Soccer Academy | Perth Amboy, NJ | |||
| North Jersey Alliance FC | Weequahic Park | 2012 | ||
| NY Renegades FC | Hicksville | |||
| NYC Haiti United SC | Brooklyn | |||
| Oyster Bay United FC | Oyster Bay | |||
| Real New York FC | Liberty Park | 2014 | ||
| Queensboro FC II | Queens | |||
| Union SC | Union, NJ | |||
| United Premier Soccer League - Division 1 (4) | ||||
| Academias Barcelona SC | Victory Field, Forest Park | |||
| Amigos FC New York | Long Island | 2018 | ||
| Astoria Knights FC | Aviator Sports & Event Center | 5,000 | 2018 | |
| Atlas FC NYC | Long Island | |||
| AYSAB Football Club | Brooklyn | |||
| East Coast FC | Long Island | |||
| FC B3ast | Queens | |||
| FSA Pro II | Hudson Sports Complex | 2014 | ||
| FTFA Gunners | Elizabeth, NJ | |||
| Galo FC | Long Island | |||
| Ironbound Soccer Club | Newark, NJ | |||
| LDUQ-USA Pro FC Elite | Montvale, NJ | |||
| New Jersey Alliance FC U23 | Jersey City, NJ | |||
| NY Hota Bavarians SC | Franklin Square | |||
| Rosedale Soccer Club | Jamaica | |||
| Sons of Queens FC | Woodside | |||
| UCFSC Warriors | Rahway, NJ | |||
| Unisamba FC | Paterson, NJ | |||
| Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division I (5) | ||||
| Cedar Stars Academy | Ramapo College of New Jersey | 5,000 | 2013 | |
| Doxa FC | Joseph F. Fosina Field | 1,000 | 1962 | |
| KidSuper Samba AC | Baker Athletics Complex | 3,500 | 2017 | |
| Lansdowne Yonkers FC | Tibbet Brook Park | 1,000 | 1997 | |
| New York Athletic Club | Travers Island Soccer Field | 250 | 2008 | Played organized since 2008. NYAC founded in 1868. |
| New York Greek American | Metropolitan Oval | 1,500 | 1941 | |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | Belson Stadium | 2,500 | 1974 | |
| New York Shamrocks SC | Roosevelt Island | 150 | 1960 | |
| Sporting SC | Soundview Park | 150 | 2002 | |
| Zum Schneider FC 03 | Randalls Island | 150 | 2003 | |
| Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division II (6) | ||||
| Afghan FC NY | Randalls Island | 150 | ||
| Beyond FC | Laurel Hill Park | 300 | 2011 | |
| Central Park Rangers FC | Central Park | 100 | 1999 | |
| DeSportiva Sociedad NY | Randalls Island | 150 | ||
| FC Japan | Randalls Island | 150 | 1992 | |
| FC Ulqini | Greenbelt Recreation Center | |||
| Hoboken FC 1912 | Laurel Hill Park | 300 | 1912 | |
| Kelmendi FC NY | Randalls Island | 150 | 2012 | |
| Manhattan Celtic | Randalls Island | 150 | 1998 | |
| Manhattan Kickers | Randalls Island | 150 | 1973 | |
| New York Ukrainians | McCarren Park | 200 | 1947 | |
| NYPD FC | Flushing Meadows | |||
| Polonia Gwardia NY | McCarren Park | 200 | ||
| Real Olé FC | Red Wing Park | |||
| Richmond County FC | Corporal Thompson Park | 2016 | ||
| Stal Mielec NY | McCarren Park | 200 | 2004 | |
| Williamsburg International F.C. | Bushwick Inlet Park | 2011 | ||
| NCAA Division I (N/A) | ||||
| Columbia Lions (Ivy) | Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium | 3,500 | 1906 | First recorded game in 1870. Fielded varsity team since 1906.[3] |
| Fordham Rams (Atlantic 10) | Coffey Field | 7,000 | 1979 | |
| Hofstra Pride (CAA) | ||||
| Iona Gaels (MAAC) | ||||
| LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (NEC) | ||||
| Manhattan Jaspers (MAAC) | ||||
| Marist Red Foxes (MAAC) | Leonidoff Field | 5,000 | 1981 | |
| Monmouth Hawks (MAAC) | ||||
| NJIT Highlanders (Sun Belt) | ||||
| Saint Peter's Peacocks (MAAC) | ||||
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big Ten) | ||||
| St. Francis Terriers (NEC) | ||||
| St. John's Red Storm (Big East) | Belson Stadium | 2,168 | 1979 | Won NCAA Tournament in 1996. |
| NCAA Division II (N/A) | ||||
| Concordia Clippers | Clipper Soccer Field | |||
| Queens Knights | Queens College Track & Soccer Field | |||
| NCAA Division III (N/A) | ||||
| Baruch Bearcats | ||||
| Brooklyn Bulldogs | ||||
| CCNY Beavers | ||||
| Hunter Hawks | ||||
| John Jay Bloodhounds | ||||
| Lehman Lightning | ||||
| Medgar Evers Cougars | ||||
| Montclair State Red Hawks | ||||
| NYU Violets | ||||
| Sarah Lawrence Gryphons | ||||
| Staten Island Dolphins | ||||
| St. Joseph's Bears | ||||
| Yeshiva Maccabees | ||||
| York Cardinals | ||||
| CMSV Dolphins | ||||
Most successful clubs overall
[edit]Teams in italics are no longer active.
| Team | D1 Regular Season | U.S. Open Cup | D1 Playoffs |
Domestic Total | Campeones Cup | Leagues Cup | CONCACAF Champions League | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookhattan | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Brooklyn Celtic | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Brooklyn Field Club | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Brooklyn Hispano | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Brooklyn Italians | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| S.C. Eintracht | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Elizabeth S.C. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| New York AO Krete | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New York Americans | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| New York City FC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| New York Cosmos (original club) | 7 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| New York Greek American | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| New York Hakoah | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| New York Hungaria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New York Nationals | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| New York Red Bulls | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Paterson F.C. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Robins Dry Dock | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
New York derbies
[edit]There is one current professional New York derby:
- New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC ("Hudson River Derby"):
New York Red Bulls and New York City FC met for the first time in 2015 at the first inaugural New York derby in MLS[4]
See also
[edit]- Soccer in the United States
- Soccer in Houston
- Soccer in Los Angeles
- History of professional soccer in Seattle
References
[edit]- ^ Bowman, Emma (February 4, 2024). "The 2026 World Cup final will take place at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium". npr.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Waldstein, David (April 11, 2024). "New York City Is Closer to Getting Its First Soccer Stadium". The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ "All-Time Results". Columbia University Athletics. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ "Red Bulls take care of NYCFC in raucous inaugural New York derby". Sports Illustrated. May 11, 2015.
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