Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati is an American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 2015 and beginning play in 2016 in the United Soccer League, the club was awarded an MLS franchise in 2018 and began MLS play in 2019. The team plays at TQL Stadium, a 26,000-seat soccer-specific venue that opened in 2021. FC Cincinnati achieved their greatest success in 2023 by winning the MLS Supporters' Shield, marking their first major trophy in the MLS era.
History
Overview
General information about the club
FC Cincinnati was first announced on August 12, 2015 as a United Soccer League franchise. The club's ownership group is led by Carl Lindner III with Jeff Berding serving as co-CEO. Currently, the role of general manager is held by Chris Albright. The team transitioned from USL to Major League Soccer in 2019, becoming an expansion franchise after three successful seasons in the lower division.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2024 season, FC Cincinnati started strongly, topping the MLS table into late summer until an injury to reigning MVP Lucho Acosta threatened to derail the season. The team regrouped to finish 3rd in the Eastern Conference. In the MLS Cup playoffs, they defeated New York City FC 1-0 at home before falling on the road 3-1, setting up a decisive game 3 at TQL Stadium. On November 7th, FCC fell on penalties 6-5 to end their 2024 season.
History
Early years
In May 2015, rumors of a new USL club in Cincinnati were reported by the media. The Lindner family of American Financial Group was reported as the owner of the new team with Carl Lindner III representing the owners at the press conference. On August 12, 2015, FC Cincinnati announced that John Harkes would coach the new club and that the club would play in Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati.
Successful period
FC Cincinnati quickly established itself as a dominant force in USL attendance records. On April 16, 2016, the club broke the USL attendance record with 20,497 in attendance for the rivalry game against Louisville City FC. The team continued to break its own records throughout 2016 and 2017, culminating in 25,308 for a game against Orlando City B on August 5, 2017. The club's success extended to cup competitions, notably defeating MLS teams Columbus Crew 1-0 and Chicago Fire 3-1 on penalties during the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run.
Crisis and recovery
FC Cincinnati's early MLS years were marked by struggles on the field. The club fired head coach Alan Koch after a 2-7-2 start to the 2019 season. Ron Jans was hired as head coach but resigned in February 2020 amidst an investigation into his alleged use of a racial slur. The club went through several coaching changes, including the departure of general manager Gerard Nijkamp and head coach Jaap Stam in 2021.
Current period
The hiring of Chris Albright as general manager and Pat Noonan as head coach in late 2021 marked a turning point for the club. Under the Albright-Noonan regime, FC Cincinnati qualified for their first post-season in 2022 with 49 points. The 2023 season proved to be the best in the club's MLS history, culminating in winning the MLS Supporters' Shield on September 30, 2023, after beating Toronto FC away 3-2. Lucho Acosta was named 2023 MLS Most Valuable Player, becoming the club's first MVP in the MLS era.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
FC Cincinnati has won the MLS Supporters' Shield once, in 2023, which awards the regular season's top-finishing club across both conferences. During their USL era, the club won the Regular Season Championship in 2018. The team has also reached the MLS Cup Playoffs multiple times, with their best performance being a Conference Finals appearance in 2023.
Continental and global competitions
In 2024, FC Cincinnati made their debut in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, defeating Cavalier FC of Jamaica 6-0 on aggregate before falling to CF Monterrey of Mexico 3-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16. The club has also had notable runs in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, reaching the semifinals twice - once in 2017 during their USL era and again in 2023 as an MLS club.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The original crest, used during the team's USL era, was a simple shield with a crown and the winged lion of Saint Mark the Evangelist holding a sword and a soccer ball. The colors and crests originated with the Dayton Dutch Lions, the team's launch partner. An updated crest was designed after FC Cincinnati were accepted as an expansion team to Major League Soccer, maintaining the same orange and blue color scheme while updating the winged lion and relative sizing of the text displaying the club's name.
Traditional home and away kits colors
FC Cincinnati's primary colors are orange and blue, which is also used as a nickname for the team. The secondary colors are gray, dark blue, and white. These colors have remained consistent throughout the club's history from the USL era through their current MLS tenure.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not contain information about a traditional club anthem.
Traditional Rivals
Columbus Crew
Cincinnati has an in-state rival in Columbus Crew. The idea of the Ohio soccer rivalry first gained popularity ahead of a 2017 U.S. Open Cup match between FC Cincinnati and the Crew. The rivalry was dubbed the "Hell Is Real Derby," after a billboard on Interstate 71, the highway between Columbus and Cincinnati. The clubs faced each other in their first league matches in 2019, and their first playoff meeting occurred in the 2023 MLS Eastern Conference Finals, with Columbus winning 3-2 in extra time.
Louisville City FC
During FC Cincinnati's USL tenure, its main league and regional rival was Louisville City FC, located a mere 100 miles southwest of Cincinnati along the Ohio River. The two clubs competed annually for the River Cities Cup in what was known to locals as "The Dirty River Derby." The rivalry became one of the best-attended and most hotly-contested matchups in lower division US soccer. Louisville City retained the trophy in 2018, and the teams most recently met in the Third Round of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup with FC Cincinnati winning 1-0.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
During the team's USL era, FC Cincinnati formed a potential rivalry with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The contention developed from the rivalry between the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The first-ever meeting between the two clubs on May 14, 2016 at Nippert Stadium set a then-USL attendance record of 23,375.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
FC Cincinnati reached a multiyear deal with First Financial Bank to serve as the club's exclusive banking and financial services partner. As part of an extended sponsorship, First Financial Bank was announced as FC Cincinnati's sleeve sponsor, along with Cintas. The club also has a naming rights deal with TQL for their stadium.
Nicknames
The club's most common nicknames are "The Orange and Blue" and "The Garys." Some supporters colloquially refer to the club as "The FC" or simply "FC," a habit that emerged when the club played in USL and donned its first crest, which visually emphasized the large letters "FC" over the more diminutive "Cincinnati."
Ownership and finances
The CEO and majority owner of the team is Carl Lindner III, CEO of American Financial Group, with Scott Farmer also a leading owner. Former Cincinnati Bengals executive Jeff Berding serves as co-CEO. In November 2019, Meg Whitman purchased a minority stake in the club and serves as the club's Alternate Governor on the MLS Board of Governors.
Traditions and culture
The club recognizes several supporters' groups organized under 'The Incline Collective': Auxilia One, the Briogáid, The 5th Line, Die Innenstadt, Hangar 937, Knights of the Bailey, Norden, The Pride, and Queen City Mafia. The march is one of the longest-running traditions, beginning with the club's USL debut as a pre-match celebration involving fans in an organized march to the stadium. The club's mascot, introduced in 2019, is "Gary the Knifey Lion," an embodiment of the winged lion featured on the team crest.
Stadium
From 2016 through 2020, FC Cincinnati played home matches at Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. The stadium was designed for American football and underwent minor renovations to accommodate soccer. Construction of TQL Stadium began in 2019 and finished in 2021, with the new 26,000-seat soccer-specific venue hosting its first match on May 16, 2021, a 2-3 loss to Inter Miami CF. The club also built a $30 million training complex in Milford, Ohio, occupying approximately 23.6 acres and serving as the base for soccer operations.