A new soccer franchise is putting down roots in Queens. The Queensboro Football Club is set to make its debut in the city’s most diverse borough in 2021.
Founding Partner Jonathan Krane, the CEO of an asset management firm, says many Queens residents have roots in soccer-loving nations across the globe and making the borough the perfect location for the team.
“We believe Queens is the number one soccer market in the United States,” Krane said. “2.2 million people, the demographics are represented by 200 countries, many languages spoken."
Queensboro FC will be an expansion team in the USL, the United Soccer League, which is a tier below Major League Soccer.
Krane says Queens will be the largest market in the USL league, which has about 38 teams currently.
“Queensboro FC, we believe will unify Queens,” said Krane.
David Villa, a former professional soccer player who helped Spain win the World Cup in 2010, is also a part owner.
“We want soccer fans in Queens who might follow say Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia to also identify with a club from their own neighborhood,” said Villa.
The metropolitan area is already home to two professional soccer teams — the New York City Football Club, also known as NYCFC, and the Red Bulls. Krane says the team Queensboro FC is building will represent the diversity of the borough.
“We really want this team to be accessible for the people of Queens and also Greater New York,” Krane said.
Krane says there are plans to build a stadium near York College, but he could not elaborate on the specifics. It's hoped the team can play some of its matches at CitiField when the Mets are not in town.
There are also plans to expand Villa’s DV7 soccer academy, a youth program which is already operating in Queens.