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 five 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. Also in the third tier is Westchester SC, which plays their matches in Westchester County as a member of the USL League One. 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, with fellow USL club New York Cosmos, the third iteration of the brand, set to join USL League One whilst playing in Paterson, New Jersey.
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 hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. 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.
Professional clubs
Club Stadium Capacity Founded NotesMajor League SoccerNew York Red BullsSports Illustrated Stadium 25,189 1995New York's first MLS franchise. Play in New Jersey. Won the Supporters' Shield in 2013, 2015, and 2018.New York City FCYankee Stadium 33,444 2013Founded by City Football Group and the New York Yankees in 2013. First match played in 2015. Winner of 2021 MLS CupNational Women's Soccer LeagueNJ/NY Gotham FCSports Illustrated Stadium25,1892007USL Super LeagueBrooklyn FCMaimonides Park7,0002024USL ChampionshipBrooklyn FCMaimonides Park7,0002023To begin play in the 2026 seasonMLS Next ProNew York Red Bulls IIMSU Soccer Park 5,000 2015New York Red Bulls reserve team. Winner of 2016 USL Cup.New York City FC IIBelson Stadium 2,168 2021New York City FC reserve team.USL League OneNew York CosmosHinchliffe Stadium7,8002025To begin play in 2026 in New Jersey.Westchester SCThe Stadium at Memorial Field3,9002024Plays in Mount Vernon, New York.
Amateur clubs Club Stadium Capacity Founded NotesUSL League TwoCedar Stars RushFairleigh Dickinson University2018F.A. EuroBelson Stadium2,6002013FC MotownRanger Stadium1,2002012Long Island Rough RidersHofstra University Soccer Stadium1,6001994Manhattan SCGaelic Park2018Morris Elite SCRutgers Newark Stadium2016Westchester FlamesCity Park Stadium1,8451999National Premier Soccer LeagueFC MotownRanger Stadium1,2002012Winner of the 2022 National Premier Soccer League seasonFC MonmouthCount Basie Park2017Osner's FCBelson Stadium2015United Premier Soccer League - PremierEFA MetroLyndhurst, NJFSA ProHudson Sports Complex2014Javier Velasco Soccer AcademyPerth Amboy, NJNorth Jersey Alliance FCWeequahic Park2012NY Renegades FCHicksvilleNYC Haiti United SCBrooklynOyster Bay United FCOyster BayReal New York FCLiberty Park2014Queensboro FC IIQueensOSNER'S FCBrooklyn, NY2015Union SCUnion, NJUnited Premier Soccer League - Division 1Academias Barcelona SCVictory Field, Forest ParkAmigos FC New YorkLong Island2018Astoria Knights FCAviator Sports & Event Center5,0002018Atlas FC NYCLong IslandOsner's FC]Brooklyn, NY2015AYSAB Football ClubBrooklynEast Coast FCLong IslandFC B3astQueensFSA Pro IIHudson Sports Complex2014FTFA GunnersElizabeth, NJGalo FCLong IslandIronbound Soccer ClubNewark, NJLDUQ-USA Pro FC EliteMontvale, NJNew Jersey Alliance FC U23Jersey City, NJNY Hota Bavarians SCFranklin SquareRosedale Soccer ClubJamaicaSons of Queens FCWoodsideUCFSC WarriorsRahway, NJUnisamba FCPaterson, NJCosmopolitan Soccer League Division I Cedar Stars AcademyRamapo College of New Jersey 5,000 2013Doxa FCJoseph F. Fosina Field1,0001962KidSuper Samba ACBaker Athletics Complex3,5002017Lansdowne Yonkers FC Tibbet Brook Park 1,000 1997New York Athletic Club Travers Island Soccer Field 250 2008Played organized since 2008. NYAC founded in 1868. New York Greek American Metropolitan Oval 1,500 1941 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Belson Stadium 2,500 1974New York Shamrocks SCRoosevelt Island1501960Sporting SCSoundview Park1502002Zum Schneider FC 03Randalls Island1502003Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division IIAfghan FC NYRandalls Island150 Beyond FCLaurel Hill Park3002011Central Park Rangers FCCentral Park1001999DeSportiva Sociedad NYRandalls Island150FC JapanRandalls Island1501992FC UlqiniGreenbelt Recreation CenterHoboken FC 1912Laurel Hill Park3001912Kelmendi FC NYRandalls Island1502012Manhattan CelticRandalls Island1501998Manhattan KickersRandalls Island1501973New York Ukrainians McCarren Park 200 1947NYPD FCFlushing Meadows Polonia Gwardia NYMcCarren Park200 Real Olé FCRed Wing ParkRichmond County FCCorporal Thompson Park2016Stal Mielec NYMcCarren Park2002004Williamsburg International F.C.Bushwick Inlet Park2011NCAA Division IColumbia Lions (Ivy)Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium3,5001906First recorded game in 1870. Fielded varsity team since 1906.Fordham Rams (Atlantic 10)Coffey Field7,0001979Hofstra Pride (CAA)Iona Gaels (MAAC)LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (NEC)Manhattan Jaspers (MAAC)Marist Red Foxes (MAAC)Leonidoff Field5,0001981Monmouth Hawks (MAAC)NJIT Highlanders (Sun Belt)Saint Peter's Peacocks (MAAC)Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big Ten)Yurcak Field5,0001994St. Francis Terriers (NEC)St. John's Red Storm (Big East)Belson Stadium2,1681979Won NCAA Tournament in 1996.NCAA Division IIConcordia ClippersClipper Soccer FieldQueens KnightsQueens College Track & Soccer FieldNCAA Division IIIBaruch BearcatsBrooklyn BulldogsCCNY BeaversHunter HawksJohn Jay BloodhoundsLehman LightningMedgar Evers CougarsMontclair State Red HawksMSU Soccer Park5,0001958NYU VioletsSarah Lawrence GryphonsStaten Island DolphinsSt. Joseph's BearsYeshiva MaccabeesYork CardinalsCMSV Dolphins
Most successful clubs overall
Teams in italics are no longer active.
TeamD1 regular seasonU.S. Open CupD1 PlayoffsDomestic TotalCampeones CupLeagues Cup CONCACAF Champions Cup 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"):
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
Attendances
Soccer clubs in the New York metropolitan area with the highest all-time average home league attendance:
# Club Average Season 1 New York Cosmos 47,856 1978 2 New York City FC 29,016 2015 3 Red Bull New York 23,898 1996
See also Soccer in the United States Soccer in Houston Soccer in Los Angeles History of professional soccer in Seattle
References