The 2025 season was the first season for San Diego FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional club soccer in the United States. San Diego FC was announced as an expansion team on May 18, 2023, under the ownership of Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a local indigenous tribe. The team played their home matches at Snapdragon Stadium, which it shares with San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the San Diego State Aztecs football team.
Former FC Dallas and United States men's national team assistant coach Mikey Varas was hired as the club's first head coach on September 16, 2024. The 2024 MLS expansion draft took place on December 11, 2024, and allowed San Diego FC to select players from other MLS teams based on eligibility requirements. The team also received the first pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, which took place on December 20, 2024.
The first San Diego FC players, including Designated Player and Mexican forward Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, were sent on loan until they joined the club in January 2025. The club used players from the international Right to Dream academy system and other teams owned by Mansour, including FC Nordsjælland. The first regular season match for San Diego FC was played on February 23 against the LA Galaxy; the team's first home match was March 1 against St. Louis City SC.
Summary
Preseason
The first training sessions for San Diego FC opened on January 13, 2025, two days after the start of the preseason camp. The team practiced at their new training facility, the Sharp HealthCare Performance Center, with most of their expected 2025 roster.
The club's first preseason matches were played behind closed doors against Phoenix Rising FC and Sacramento Republic FC, both from the second-division USL Championship. San Diego FC played in the 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational in February at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, and was joined by sister club San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League. The team lost 3–1 to New York City FC in their first public exhibition match with an opening goal by Paddy McNair and three unanswered from NYCFC. San Diego FC then lost 3–0 to the Portland Timbers but defeated the New York Red Bulls 6–0 in their final preseason match, which was played with their full starting roster. Members of the team's supporters groups traveled to Indio for the matches.
Regular season
On February 21, San Diego FC played their inaugural match on the road against the LA Galaxy, the defending MLS Cup champions, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. They won 2–0 in an upset against the Galaxy with two goals scored by Anders Dreyer; the crowd included an estimated 1,000 San Diego FC supporters who had traveled for the match. The team made their debut at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1 and hosted St. Louis City SC in front of a stadium-record crowd of 34,506. The match finished in a 0–0 draw and was marred by the use of a homophobic chant that was condemned by the club and coach Mikey Varas; midfielder Hirving Lozano left early in the first half with a hamstring injury.
Preseason results
Competitions
Major League Soccer
Standings
Results summary
Regular season
The MLS regular season schedule was released on December 19, 2024. Every team will play 34 matches, of which 17 are at home; this includes a full home-and-away series against the fourteen other teams in the Western Conference and six matches against opponents from the Eastern Conference. Unlike previous seasons, play will not be paused for the Leagues Cup in August.
MLS Cup Playoffs
Round One
Conference Semifinals
Conference Finals
Leagues Cup
San Diego FC was awarded a berth in the 2025 Leagues Cup that had been forfeited by Vancouver Whitecaps FC due to their participation in the 2025 Canadian Championship and the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Friendlies
On January 3, 2025, San Diego FC and Liga MX club Club América announced an agreement to play friendlies at Snapdragon Stadium in 2025 and 2027. The friendly against Club América was moved from June 21 to 7 due to a potential scheduling conflict with the FIFA Club World Cup if América were to qualify.
Players
For the 2025 season, San Diego FC were permitted a maximum of 30 signed players on the first team, of which 10 roster positions were designated for supplemental and reserve players. Additional homegrown players are eligible to be signed to off-roster slots and are able to appear in MLS matches through short-term agreements. The senior players in the first 20 roster positions count towards a base salary cap of $5.95 million with exceptions for certain categories, including up to three Designated Players who counted for a set amount in the cap.
Roster
+ San Diego FC first team rosterNo.NameNationalityPositionAgePrevious clubNotes 1 2 International 3 4 5 International 6 International 7 8 International 9 U-22, International 10 , International 11 13 14 15 17 International 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 International 27 29 33 70 77 90 97
Coaching staff
+Technical staff Position Name Nationality Head coach Mikey Varas Assistant coach Frank Hjortebjerg Assistant coach Kelvin Jones Assistant coach Luciano Fusco Goalkeeper coach Jason Grubb
Transfers
For transfers in, dates listed are when San Diego FC officially signed the player to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired are not listed. For transfers out, dates listed are when San Diego FC officially removed the players from its roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with another club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed here remains the one when he was officially removed from the San Diego FC roster.
In + Incoming transfers for San Diego FC Player Previous team Notes Date 18 GK Loaned to FC Nordsjælland until end of 2024–25 Danish Superliga 6 MF Loaned to FC Nordsjælland until January 2025 7 FW Loaned to FC Nordsjælland until January 2025 17 DF Loaned to West Bromwich Albion F.C. until January 2025 11 FW Designated Player; loaned to PSV Eindhoven until January 1, 2025 77 MF Loaned to FC Nordsjælland until January 2025; discovery rights acquired from Nashville SC for $50,000 in general allocation money 9 FW Traded for $200,000 in general allocation money and a second-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft 1 GK Traded for $100,000 in general allocation money 97 DF Traded for $50,000 in general allocation money with an additional $50,000 based on performance 16 DF Acquired in MLS Expansion Draft 5 DF Acquired in MLS Expansion Draft 19 MF Acquired in MLS Expansion Draft 4 DF Traded for $800,000 in general allocation money 98 GK Selected in 2024 MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 1 20 MF Free agent 26 MF MLS SuperDraft 13 GK Free 29 FW Homegrown player 24 MF Trade 22 DF Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 8 MF Loan 70 MF Transfer 14 MF Loan 10 FW Designated Player; Transfer MF Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 25 DF 2025 MLS SuperDraft 2 DF Transfer 27 DF Loan 32 FW Loan 33 DF Loan 23 DF Loan 15 MF Transfer 19 MF Loan 21 FW Trade 3 DF Loan 90 FW Trade
Expansion draft picks
In the 2024 MLS expansion draft, San Diego FC made five selections from a list of eligible players signed with other MLS teams. The club traded away two of their players on the same day as the draft.
+ 2024 MLS Expansion Draft picks Player Nationality Previous team Notes MF MF DF MF Traded to Toronto FC for first-round 2025 MLS SuperDraft pick and $250,000 in conditional general allocation money MF Traded to D.C. United for $400,000 in general allocation money
Out + Outgoing transfers for San Diego FC Player New team Notes Date GK Loaned until June 30, 2025 MF Trade 16 MF Loan 32 FW Loan Return 19 DF Free 98 GK Trade
Other transactions
On December 12, 2024, San Diego FC acquired two international roster slots from Seattle Sounders FC for $250,000 in general allocation money
Player awards
MLS Player of the Matchday Week Player Position Opponent1FWLA Galaxy11FWFC Dallas20FWVancouver Whitecaps
MLS Player of the Month Month Player Stats Ref.June Anders Dreyer3 matches played, 3 goals, 6 assists
MLS Team of the Matchday Week Player(s) Opponent(s)1XI: Anders DreyerCoach: Mikey VarasLA Galaxy2Bench: Jeppe TverskovSt. Louis City SC3XI: Anders Dreyer (2)Real Salt Lake4XI: Onni ValakariColumbus Crew6XI: Christopher McVeyBench: Onni ValakariCoach: Mikey Varas (2)Los Angeles FC7XI: Hirving LozanoBench: Jeppe TverskovSeattle Sounders FC11XI: Hirving Lozano (2)Anders Dreyer (3)FC Dallas12Bench: Anders DreyerSt. Louis City SC13XI: Anders Dreyer (4)Bench: CJ dos SantosChristopher McVeyColorado Rapids15XI: Hirving Lozano (3)LA Galaxy17Bench: Luca de la TorreAustin FC19XI: Anders Dreyer (5)Milan IloskiBench: Jeppe TverskovMinnesota United FC20XI: Anders Dreyer (6)Milan Iloski (2)Coach: Mikey Varas (3)Vancouver Whitecaps21XI: Anders Dreyer (7)FC Dallas22Bench: Onni ValakariHouston Dynamo FC24XI: Luca BombinoAnders Dreyer (8)Bench: Hirving LozanoChicago Fire FC26Bench: Ian PilcherVancouver Whitecaps27XI: Manu DuahBench: Pablo SisniegaNashville SC28XI: Anders Dreyer (9)Bench: CJ dos SantosSporting Kansas City29XI: Marcus IngvartsenCoach: Mikey VarasSan Jose Earthquakes
References