Port St. Lucie will welcome a new professional soccer team as part of USL League One's expansion into South Florida. The announcement comes as the league adds teams in both Port St. Lucie and Fort Lauderdale, bringing third-division professional soccer to the Treasure Coast for the first time.
The move represents a significant addition to the local sports landscape in Port St. Lucie, the largest city in St. Lucie County with a population approaching 200,000 residents. USL League One operates as the third tier of professional soccer in the United States, positioned below Major League Soccer and the USL Championship.
The expansion arrives during a period of heightened soccer interest in Florida, with the state set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The proximity of professional soccer could provide local youth players and fans greater access to the sport at a competitive level, similar to how England's national team recently trained in Palm Beach Gardens ahead of World Cup preparations.
Details about stadium location, team branding, and inaugural season dates for the Port St. Lucie franchise have not yet been announced. The addition of a USL League One team typically involves coordination with city officials on facility agreements and community engagement programs.