A season of speculation ended when St Louis City FC became the 29th official MLS franchise for 2023. They will play as an expansion team from the start of the new term and be based in the Western Conference.
We’ve already seen the details of the St Louis logo. Their primary badge is a red and blue shield, with lines depicting the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. While 2023 is yet to get underway, much speculation exists about who will join St Louis in 2024 and beyond. What potential teams, and their logos, will appear as part of the 30th MLS franchise?
San Antonio FC
To become an expansion team, a soccer side would need to be successful and have a solid fan base. Current USL champions San Antonio would seem to fit that bill.
Having formed in 2016, the roster became USL runners-up the following year before securing their first championship last term. Their logo is striking against a black background, featuring exploding stars and diagonal lines in white, gray, and red.
San Antonio has rarely been mentioned as a potential expansion team, but that could all change if they were to repeat their USL triumph in 2023. Early signs are positive in this respect, as early USL markets from Sports Betting Online put San Antonio up among the favorites.
This is an excellent site to follow the fortunes of any team on this list.
It’s one of the ways to follow the USL, but who are the teams looking to join San Antonio in the hunt for Major League Soccer Recognition?
Phoenix Rising
We can probably guess the logo of any sports team that has the word ‘Phoenix’ in its name. In the case of Phoenix Rising, the mythical bird takes center stage while the flames engulf a soccer ball.
It’s a fairly plain design with the Phoenix in red on a black background. The shield has a fringe of yellow, but will we see this logo in MLS in the future?
Phoenix Rising was among several teams tipped to be accepted into the expansion program before St Louis City’s progression. They were USL Champions in 2019, but their performance last season was poor, as the team finished in tenth place in the Western Conference.
The crucial factor in Phoenix’s favor is the infrastructure. The team has solid backing and is supported by former Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba. Plans to build a new stadium in Tempe, Arizona, may also prove crucial.
Sacramento Republic
If it hadn’t been for the financial constraints caused by external factors over the last two years, Sacramento Republic might already have played in the MLS. Plans have been in place to promote the team to the top division, but they’ve had to withdraw.
When finances stabilize, Sacramento will likely be back on MLS’s radar. Their logo is a timeless classic: a large red star on a beige background, accompanied by a prowling grizzly.
In the 2022 USL season, Sacramento Republic finished in a creditable fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Colorado Springs Switchbacks ultimately ended their playoff run in the Conference semi-finals.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Followers of North American soccer would love to have the Tampa Bay Rowdies back in the top division. The team was an active member of the NASL and featured star players such as Rodney Marsh and Roy Wegerle.
The logo is basic, featuring Tampa Bay Rowdies in green and two yellow stars above. It’s all about the classic green and yellow with this historic team.
Tampa Bay already has a competitive team, and they should have a capable roster if they take the next step. In 2022, the Rowdies finished in third place in the Eastern Conference before losing to Louisville FC by a solitary goal in the Conference Finals.
Of course, like all prospective expansion teams, Tampa Bay would look to enhance its roster with new arrivals if it were to make it into the top flight.
Other USL teams will feel they are under the MLS’s radar, but these four look to be the leading contenders for 2024 and beyond.