AV Alta FC

On October 4, 2023, the United Soccer League announced that the city of Lancaster, California, had been awarded a USL League One expansion team which would start play in the 2025 season. John Smelzer, an entrepreneur who worked with the United States Soccer Federation for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, was announced as founder and president.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-10-04 |title=USL Antelope Valley announces plans to bring professional soccer to Lancaster, Calif. |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1286838-usl-antelope-valley-announces-plans-to-bring-professional-soccer-to-lancaster-calif- |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=USL League One |language=en-us}}

On May 16, 2024, Brian Kleiban was announced as the team's inaugural head coach. Kleiban had held coaching roles with FC Barcelona, Los Angeles FC and Chivas USA.{{Cite web |title=USL Antelope Valley Announces Brian Kleiban as the Club's First Head Coach |url=https://www.uslantelopevalley.com/news/2024/05/16/usl-antelope-valley-announces-brian-kleiaban-as-the-clubs-first-head-coach/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=AV Alta FC |language=en-US}}

The club's name — AV Alta FC — and logo were unveiled on May 17, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Caiuch |first=Eduard |date=2024-05-18 |title=AV Alta FC, equipo de tercera división en USL, busca llenar un vacío en Antelope Valley |url=https://www.latimes.com/espanol/deportes/articulo/2024-05-18/av-alta-fc-equipo-de-tercera-division-en-usl-busca-llenar-un-vacio-en-antelope-valley |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Los Angeles Times en Español |language=es-US}} Former U.S. international and Major League Soccer player Miguel Ibarra, who hails from the area, was announced as the club's first player on December 9, 2024.{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=December 9, 2024 |title=Showcasing a homegrown star will be part of AV Alta's ambitious launch plans |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2024-12-09/miguel-ibarra-av-alta-soccer-club |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=December 13, 2024}}

In their first match in club history, the club lost to the South Georgia Tormenta FC 2–0 away.{{Cite web |last=Savannah Tribune |first= |date=2025-03-19 |title=Match Recap: Tormenta FC Downs AV Alta FC 2-0 - The Savannah Tribune |url=https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/match-recap-tormenta-fc-downs-av-alta-fc-2-0/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |language=en-US}} However, in their inaugural match in both the U.S. Open Cup and at the Lancaster Municipal Stadium, AV Alta won 3–1 over the Ventura County Fusion, with Jerry Desdunes scoring the first goal in club history.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=2025 US Open Cup Round 1: AV ALTA FC beat Ventura County Fusion in club’s inaugural match |url=https://thecup.us/2025/03/20/2025-us-open-cup-round-1-av-alta-fc-beat-ventura-county-fusion-in-clubs-inaugural-match/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=thecup.us |language=en-US}}

The club's official name, crest and colors were unveiled in front of thousands of fans in Lancaster on May 17, 2024.https://www.avaltafc.com/news/2024/06/20/av-alta-fc-hosts-thousands-in-downtown-block-party-as-it-revealed-its-crest-and-name/ "AV" is a common local nickname for the Antelope Valley, while "Alta" is meant to allude to the region's location in the high desert, its ties to the aerospace industry, and to Alta California, the region's name prior to California statehood.

The club's official colors are referred to as Joshua Green and Desert Sand, the former in reference to the abundant Joshua trees in the area. The shape of the crest is meant to resemble a California poppy, while the angled font of the "AV" at the center of the crest was inspired by angular shape of the B2 stealth bomber.

The team play at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as "The Hangar", a former minor league ballpark that was home to the Lancaster JetHawks until 2020.{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=October 1, 2023 |title=How a pro soccer team hopes to create a new identity in the Antelope Valley |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2023-10-01/lancaster-pro-soccer-team-antelope-valley-new-identity |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=December 13, 2024}} The stadium was reconfigured for soccer use by adding seating in the former outfield at a cost of $17 million, and has a total of 5,300 seats, including a safe standing supporters' terrace on the north side.

{{updated|May 10, 2025|}}

{{fs start|nonumber=|bg=183F36|color=C6BEB1|border=14322B}}

{{Fs player|no=2 |nat=USA|name=Christian Ortiz|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=3 |nat=USA|name=Elijah Martin|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=4 |nat=ITA|name=Luca Mastrantonio|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=5 |nat=BEN|name=Maboumou Alassane|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=6 |nat=PAN|name=Osvaldo Lay|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=7 |nat=HAI|name=Jerry Desdunes|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=8 |nat=NGR|name=Emmanuel Alaribe|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=9 |nat=USA|name=Joaquin Acuna|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=10|nat=USA|name=Miguel Ibarra|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=11|nat=SLV|name=Alexis Cerritos|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=14|nat=HAI|name=Ashkanov Apollon|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=16|nat=USA|name=Erick Gonzalez|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=17|nat=PHI|name=Javier Mariona|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=18|nat=FRA|name=Adam Aoumaich|pos=FW}}

{{fs mid|nonumber=|bg=183F36|color=C6BEB1|border=14322B}}

{{Fs player|no=19|nat=USA|name=Sebastian Cruz|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=21|nat=USA|name=Jimmie Villalobos|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=22|nat=TRI|name=Denzil Smith|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=25|nat=MEX|name=Carlos Avilez|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=26|nat=COL|name=Miguel Pajaro|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=27|nat=USA|name=Djibril Doumbia|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=30|nat=USA|name=Eduardo Blancas|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=31|nat=USA|name=Adrian Villafranco|pos=FW|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=34|nat=USA|name=Aaron Huerta|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=35|nat=USA|name=Harrison Robledo|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=41|nat=USA|name=Erik Hernandez|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=44|nat=BUL|name=Kaloyan Pehlivanov|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=80|nat=SLV|name=Walmer Martinez|pos=DF}}

{{fs end|nonumber=|bg=183F36|color=C6BEB1|border=14322B}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.avaltafc.com/}}

{{USL League One}}

{{Soccer in Los Angeles}}

{{Greater Los Angeles Area Sports}}

{{California sports}}

{{Lancaster, California}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 2023

Category:2023 establishments in California

Category:USL League One teams

Category:Lancaster, California

Category:Soccer clubs in Los Angeles County, California

Category:AV Alta FC