Austin
Austin FC is an American professional soccer club based in Austin, Texas, founded in 2018 and beginning play in the 2021 season. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference and plays their home matches at Q2 Stadium in north Austin. Austin FC holds the distinction of being the first major professional sports league team to play in Texas' capital, which prior to 2021 was the largest city in the United States without such a team. Their most notable achievement to date is reaching the 2025 U.S. Open Cup final, though they finished as runners-up after losing 1-2 to Nashville SC.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Austin FC represents a historic milestone as the first top-division major professional sports team in the Austin area, filling a void in a market that had been previously overlooked by major professional sports leagues. The city's soccer heritage includes the original Austin Aztex founded in 2008, which later relocated to Orlando and became Orlando City SC, a 2011 reincarnation of the Austin Aztex that went on hiatus following the 2015 Memorial Day floods, and Austin Bold, which played in the second-division USL Championship from 2019 to 2021.
Most recent season and achievements
In preparation for the 2025 season, Austin FC announced the hiring of Nico Estévez as their new head coach after Josh Wolff was released from his position in October 2024. Under Estévez's leadership, Austin advanced to the 2025 U.S. Open Cup final, marking the first tournament final in club history. The club hosted the final at Q2 Stadium but lost 1-2 to Nashville SC, with Austin's lone goal scored by Uzuni at the close of the first half.
History
Early years
In October 2017, Columbus Crew operator Precourt Sports Ventures announced their intention to move the group's MLS franchise rights to Austin for the 2019 MLS season. After several sessions, the Austin City Council granted the City Manager authority to negotiate a stadium lease with Precourt Sports Ventures by a 7-4 vote on August 15, 2018. On August 22, 2018, the group unveiled the name and badge for the club at the North Door on Austin's east side, with the crest designed by local Austin brand studio The Butler Bros.
Successful period
Austin FC was officially announced as an MLS club with a 2021 start date on January 15, 2019. The club hired Josh Wolff as their first head coach in July 2019 and Claudio Reyna as Sporting Director in November. Austin FC played their first MLS match against LAFC on April 17, 2021, losing 0-2, but secured their first victory the following week against the Colorado Rapids, winning 3-1. In 2022, Austin FC started the season with an MLS record 10 goals in their first two matches and won the Division 1 Copa Tejas, their first trophy in franchise history.
Crisis and recovery
In early January 2023, Claudio Reyna resigned as Sporting Director following controversy related to the release of personal information about Gregg Berhalter. Josh Wolff was given additional responsibilities for running the sporting department. In June 2023, Rodolfo Borrell was announced as the new Sporting Director. After failing to qualify for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Austin FC made front office changes, with Borrell overseeing scouting and player personnel and hiring five new scouts in Europe and South America.
Current period
On October 6, 2024, Austin FC announced that Josh Wolff had been released from his head coach position after the team failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The club hired Nico Estévez as the new head coach for the 2025 season, who joined after the November 2024 FIFA window and led the team to their first tournament final in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Austin FC won the Division 1 Copa Tejas in both 2022 and 2023, marking their first trophies in franchise history. The club reached the 2025 U.S. Open Cup final, finishing as runners-up after losing 1-2 to Nashville SC at Q2 Stadium.
Continental and global competitions
Based on their 2022 finish, Austin FC qualified for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, their first continental competition, where they played Violette AC from Haiti and lost 3-2 on aggregate. The club also competed in the 2023 Leagues Cup, losing their first game 3-1 against Mazatlán and subsequently to FC Juárez 3-1, failing to advance to the round of 16.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club's crest was designed by local Austin brand studio The Butler Bros and unveiled on August 22, 2018. The badge includes the signature color "Bright Verde" to project the vibrancy and creative energy of Austin, intertwined oaks that stand for the bond between Club and City, and four roots uniting all compass directions of Austin: North, East, South, and West.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The club colors are bright green, stylized by the club as "verde" (the Spanish word for green), and black. The team's color scheme has been frequently highlighted in team promotions and at Q2 Stadium, with green lights flashing after each Austin goal. In February 2024, Austin FC added an armadillo jocktag to the team's uniform after striking a deal with Eddie Wilson, the keeper of the Armadillo World Headquarters cultural flame.
Traditional Rivals
FC Dallas
Austin FC competes with FC Dallas in the Copa Tejas, an intrastate rivalry that also includes the Houston Dynamo. The clubs have faced each other in MLS regular season play and Austin advanced past FC Dallas in the 2022 MLS playoffs.
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo is another participant in the Copa Tejas rivalry, representing one of the other major Texas-based MLS clubs that Austin FC competes against in regional competition.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Austin FC added an armadillo jocktag to their uniform in February 2024 after striking a deal with Eddie Wilson. The relaunch of the Armadillo was celebrated at the Austin FC jersey launch party with Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson.
Nicknames
The club is commonly referred to by their colors, with supporters and the organization frequently using "Verde" to reference the team's bright green primary color.
Ownership and finances
Austin FC is owned by Two Oak Ventures, formerly known as Precourt Sports Ventures, which is led by CEO Anthony Precourt. Other investing partners include actor Matthew McConaughey, local entrepreneur Eduardo Margain, former Dell executive Marius Haas, energy entrepreneur Bryan Sheffield, and real estate businessman David Kahn.
Traditions and culture
Austin FC has several supporters' groups including Austin Anthem, Los Verdes, the La Murga de Austin band, Fighting Leslies DC, and Oak Army New Braunfels. The club has sold out all 54 home games since their debut at Q2 Stadium, which is currently the longest active streak in MLS. English-language radio rights are held by Alt 97.5 FM with Lincoln Rose on the call, while KLQB serves as the Spanish radio flagship station.
Stadium
Austin FC operates Q2 Stadium at McKalla Place near The Domain shopping center complex. The stadium, built on public land and owned by the City of Austin, was privately financed by Two Oak Ventures with the lease signed on December 19, 2018. The stadium seats 20,738 and hosted its first Austin FC game on June 19, 2021. The club also operates the St. David's Performance Center, a $45 million privately funded training facility in northeast Austin featuring four full-size soccer fields and a 30,000 square foot indoor facility.