:Soccer in the New York metropolitan area
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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Location map+ |USA New York City |width=250|float=right| caption=Location map of professional soccer clubs in New York City
|places=
{{Location map~ |USA New York City |lat=40.829167 |long=-73.926389 |label={{nowrap|New York City FC}} |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |USA New York City |lat=40.736667 |long=-74.150278 |label={{nowrap|New York Red Bulls}} |position=top}}
{{Location map~ |USA New York City |lat=40.736667 |long=-74.150278 |label={{nowrap|NJ/NY Gotham}} |position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |USA New York City |lat=40.574444 |long=-73.984167 |label={{nowrap|Brooklyn FC}} |position=bottom}}
}}
File:Redbull arena.jpg is New York metropolitan area's first professional soccer-specific stadium in the modern era of American soccer.]]
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 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 2026, 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 FIFA World Cup final.{{cite web |last1=Bowman |first1=Emma |title=The 2026 World Cup final will take place at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/04/1229073496/2026-world-cup-final-nyc-nj-metlife-stadium |website=npr.org |publisher=National Public Radio |access-date=19 April 2024 |date=4 February 2024}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Waldstein |first1=David |title=New York City Is Closer to Getting Its First Soccer Stadium |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/nyregion/nyc-football-club-soccer-stadium.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=19 April 2024 |date=11 April 2024}}
Professional clubs
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#efefef;"
!width=160px | Club !! width=150px | Stadium !! width=80px | Capacity !! width=80px | Founded !! Notes |
| colspan=5|Major League Soccer |
|---|
| New York Red Bulls
| align=center | 25,189 | align=center | 1995 |style="font-size: 80%"|New York's first MLS franchise. Play in New Jersey. Won the Supporters' Shield in 2013, 2015, and 2018. |
| New York City FC
| align=center | 33,444 | align=center | 2013 |style="font-size: 80%"|Founded by City Football Group and the New York Yankees in 2013. First match played in 2015. Winner of 2021 MLS Cup |
| colspan="5" |National Women's Soccer League |
| NJ/NY Gotham FC
| align=center |25,189 | align=center |2007 | |
| colspan="5" |USL Super League |
| Brooklyn FC
| align=center |7,000 | align=center |2024 |style="font-size: 80%"| |
| colspan="5" |USL Championship |
| Brooklyn FC
| align=center |7,000 | align=center |2023 |style="font-size: 80%"|To begin play in the 2026 season |
| colspan="5" |MLS Next Pro |
| New York Red Bulls II
| align=center | 5,000 | align=center | 2015 |style="font-size: 80%"|New York Red Bulls reserve team. Winner of 2016 USL Cup. |
| New York City FC II
| align=center | 2,168 | align=center | 2021 |style="font-size: 80%"|New York City FC reserve team. |
Amateur clubs
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#efefef;"
!Club !! Stadium !! Capacity !! Founded !! Notes |
| colspan="5" |USL League Two |
|---|
| Cedar Stars Rush
|Fairleigh Dickinson University | |2018 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| F.A. Euro
|2,600 |2013 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| FC Motown
|1,200 |2012 | |
| Long Island Rough Riders
|Hofstra University Soccer Stadium |1,600 |1994 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| Manhattan SC
| |2018 | |
| Morris Elite SC
|Rutgers Newark Stadium | |2016 | |
| Westchester Flames
|1,845 |1999 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| colspan=5|National Premier Soccer League |
| FC Motown
|1,200 |2012 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| FC Monmouth
|Count Basie Park | |2017 |style="font-size: 80%"| |
| colspan="5" |United Premier Soccer League - Premier |
| EFA Metro
|Lyndhurst, NJ | | | |
| FSA Pro
|Hudson Sports Complex | |2014 | |
| Javier Velasco Soccer Academy
|Perth Amboy, NJ | | | |
| North Jersey Alliance FC
| |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 | | | |
| colspan="5" |United Premier Soccer League - Division 1 |
| 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 | | | |
| colspan="5" |Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division I |
| Cedar Stars Academy
| 5,000 | 2013 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| Doxa FC
|Joseph F. Fosina Field |1,000 |1962 | |
| KidSuper Samba AC
|3,500 |2017 | |
| Lansdowne Yonkers FC
| Tibbet Brook Park | 1,000 | 1997 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| New York Athletic Club
| 250 | 2008 |style="font-size: 80%"|Played organized since 2008. NYAC founded in 1868. |
| New York Greek American
| 1,500 | 1941 |style="font-size: 80%"| |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
| 2,500 | 1974 |style="font-size: 80%"| |
| New York Shamrocks SC
|150 |1960 | |
| Sporting SC
|150 |2002 | |
| Zum Schneider FC 03
|150 |2003 | |
| colspan="5" |Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division II |
| Afghan FC NY
|150 | | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| Beyond FC
|300 |2011 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| Central Park Rangers FC
|100 |1999 | |
| DeSportiva Sociedad NY
|150 | | |
| FC Japan
|150 |1992 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| FC Ulqini
|Greenbelt Recreation Center | | | |
| Hoboken FC 1912
|300 |1912 | |
| Kelmendi FC NY
|150 |2012 | |
| Manhattan Celtic
|150 |1998 | |
| Manhattan Kickers
|150 |1973 | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| New York Ukrainians
| 200 | 1947 |style="font-size: 80%"| |
| NYPD FC
| | | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| Polonia Gwardia NY
|200 | | style="font-size: 80%" | |
| Real Olé FC
|Red Wing Park | | | |
| Richmond County FC
|Corporal Thompson Park | |2016 | |
| Stal Mielec NY
|200 |2004 | |
| Williamsburg International F.C.
| |2011 | |
| colspan=5|NCAA Division I |
| Columbia Lions (Ivy)
|Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium |3,500 |1906 |style="font-size: 80%"|First recorded game in 1870. Fielded varsity team since 1906.{{cite web|title=All-Time Results|url=http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&&DB_OEM_ID=9600&ATCLID=204958499|website=Columbia University Athletics|access-date=19 June 2015}} |
| Fordham Rams (Atlantic 10)
|7,000 |1979 |style="font-size: 80%"| |
| Hofstra Pride (CAA)
| | | | |
| Iona Gaels (MAAC)
| | | | |
| LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (NEC)
| | | | |
| Manhattan Jaspers (MAAC)
| | | | |
| Marist Red Foxes (MAAC)
|5,000 |1981 |style="font-size: 80%"| |
| 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)
|2,168 |1979 |style="font-size: 80%"|Won NCAA Tournament in 1996. |
| colspan=5|NCAA Division II |
| Concordia Clippers
|Clipper Soccer Field | | | |
| Queens Knights
|Queens College Track & Soccer Field | | | |
| colspan=5|NCAA Division III |
| 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
Teams in italics are no longer active.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;" | ||||||||
| style="width:16%;" class="sortable"| Team
! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|D1 regular season ! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|U.S. Open Cup ! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|D1 ! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|Domestic Total ! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|Campeones Cup ! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|Leagues Cup ! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|CONCACAF Champions Cup ! style="width:7%;" class="sortable"|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
There is one current professional New York derby:
- New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC ("Hudson River Derby"):
{{Main|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{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/05/11/red-bulls-defeat-nycfc-derby|title=Red Bulls take care of NYCFC in raucous inaugural New York derby|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=11 May 2015}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Association football by city}}
{{Soccer in New York City}}
{{Soccer in the United States}}