Irvine Zeta FC (known as Irvine Zeta FC, IZFC, and Irvine Zeta) is a professional soccer team based in Irvine, California. The club is established and financially backed by Chinese investors, the first Chinese-founded professional soccer team in the United States. It is the inaugural professional football club bearing the name of the city of Irvine. The club fields a senior team in the National Independent Soccer Association, as well as teams in NISA Nation, the UPSL, and youth leagues.
History Zeta FC was established in September 2022 in Irvine, California by Cary Lyu. The club began play in the United Premier Soccer League in 2023, reaching the 2023 UPSL Spring League Division 1 Tier playoffs.
On March 16, 2023, Zeta FC submitted the application to join the National Independent Soccer Association for the 2024 season. On May 22, Zeta FC received NISA's approval.
NISA Irvine Zeta FC made their U.S. Open Cup debut on March 20, 2024, defeating SC MesoAmerica, winners of the 2023 National Amateur Cup, 1-0. The team would go on to defeat Ventura County FC in the second round, 3-0, before falling to Monterey Bay FC in the third round.
Irvine Zeta FC kicked off its first professional season in April 2024. Irvine finished the 2024 season with a record of 11 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, second-best in the West Conference. Zeta FC defeated the Michigan Stars FC in the semifinal, 3-0 to advance to their first NISA Championship Game. The game ended 1-1, with Irvine losing to Los Angeles Force 3-2 in penalty kicks.
Colors and badge Irvine Zeta's crest prominently features a lower-case orange zeta, with "IRVINE" across the top, and a stylized soccer ball and "FC" on the right side. The team's colors are two different shades of blue, with orange and white as accent colors.
Stadium Zeta FC shares the Championship Soccer Stadium with other teams in Irvine. The stadium is part of the Great Park Sports Complex in Orange County, California. Built in 2017, the stadium has an overall capacity of 5,000, combines with sports infrastructures such as training fields, a box office, concession areas, etc.
Roster +As ofNO. NamePosition1Mitch NorthGK12Matthew EscarenoGK30Jake HansenGK45Braeden HattGK4Aaron KeitaCB2Greg StrattonCB10Edson AlvaradoCM27Miguel PenaLB13Israel EspinozaCB33Alex CulwellCB6Andrew KleszewskiCM27Edgardo ArteroMF14Danny MorenoCM3Joey CiochettoCM8Jonathan EstradaCM11Shinya KadonoFW9Christian Fernandes FeculaFW18Marcel SalcedaFW19George AlmeidaFW
Club staff +2024 SeasonRoleStaffPresidentCary LyuGeneral ManagerIvan TodorovicMarketing ManagerOscar YuPR ManagerMonica LinAcademy DirectorPlatini SoafAdministrationDekel Keinan
Club trophies +YearLeagueTitle20232023 UPSL Spring League Division 1 Tier Champions20232023 Del Real Foods SoCal Regional CupChampions
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