Soccer is once again expanding to Long Island as the United Soccer League announced on Wednesday, Aug. 19, that a new professional men’s franchise, based in the region, will participate in USL League One beginning in 2028.
The team is pending league and federation sanctioning approval, but would join The Island F.C. of the Major League Soccer Next Pro as the newest addition to Long Island’s professional soccer teams. The Island F.C. was announced last October and is slated to begin play in 2027.
The club will play its home matches at James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University in Hempstead, which can seat nearly 13,000 people and currently serves as the home of Hofstra lacrosse and the host site for a wide assortment of championship events and professional, college and high school sports competitions.
The new team will be led by a former U.S. Women’s National Team champion, Sara Whalen Hess, the co-founder and president who helped the country win the tournament in 1999, along with principal owner Glenn Schneider, the CEO of SUSA FC, the Central Islip-based soccer academy.
“Our vision is to build a club that every Long Islander can proudly call their own,” Schneider said at a press conference on Wednesday. “The strongest sports organizations don’t simply play in a community but rather they become part of their identity. Long Island has spent generations producing exceptional players, coaches and passionate supporters. Now it’s time to unite that passion behind a professional club that reflects our region, inspires the next generation and becomes a lasting source of pride for Long Islanders.”
“Long Island is where I fell in love with soccer, and after everything the game has given me, bringing a professional soccer club home is a real full circle moment for me,” Whalen said.
USL Long Island’s name, crest, and colors will be unveiled in the coming months, shaped by fan input and reflecting the people, places and culture that make Long Island special, the team said. A series of listening sessions, interviews, and online polls will invite the community to help define the team’s identity.
The announcement comes on the heels of the United States hosting the men’s FIFA World Cup Tournament, with the final match being played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Paul McDonough, the president and CEO of the USL, said the league is thrilled to expand to Long Island, where the sport has deep roots.
“Long Island has a rich soccer history and the club’s leadership team is dedicated to growing the game locally, building a community-rooted club, and creating a professional pathway for aspiring young players,” he said.
League One is the third division of professional soccer in the county and has grown to 17 clubs since launching seven years ago. The new Long Island franchise is expected to become rivals of nearby Westchester SC and the New York Cosmos.
