St. Louis City
St. Louis City SC is an American professional soccer club founded in 2019 and based in St. Louis, Missouri. The club plays at CityPark and competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top tier of American soccer. In their inaugural 2023 season, St. Louis City SC made history by becoming the first expansion team to win their conference, finishing first in the Western Conference with 56 points and earning the most wins by an expansion team in MLS history.
History
Overview
General information about the club
St. Louis City SC represents the return of top-tier professional soccer to the Greater St. Louis area after a 46-year absence. The club was established as an MLS expansion franchise and began play in the 2023 season. The team is based in St. Louis, Missouri, and plays their home matches at CityPark.
Most recent season and achievements
The 2023 season marked the club's inaugural campaign in Major League Soccer. Under head coach Bradley Carnell, who used 32 different starting lineups during the regular season's 34 matches, the team achieved remarkable success. They became the first expansion team to win their conference, finishing first in the Western Conference with 56 points - the second-highest point total ever achieved by an expansion team, falling just one point short of Los Angeles FC's 2018 record of 57 points. The team also set a new record with 17 wins, the most ever by an expansion team in MLS history.
History
Early years
St. Louis City SC was founded in 2019 as part of MLS expansion efforts. The club's inaugural season in 2023 marked the first time since 1977 that a top division club from Greater St. Louis played in the first tier of U.S. soccer. The last team to do so was the St. Louis Stars, who played in the North American Soccer League from 1968 until 1977 and in the old National Professional Soccer League in 1967.
Successful period
The club's inaugural 2023 season was marked by unprecedented success for an expansion team. St. Louis City SC started the season with a historic 5-0-0 record, setting a new standard for expansion franchises. Key early victories included a 3-2 comeback win at Austin FC in their first-ever match, where Tim Parker scored the first goal in franchise history. The team continued their remarkable start with victories over Charlotte FC, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, and Real Salt Lake.
Notable achievements during this period included goalkeeper Roman Bürki recording multiple clean sheets, with the team achieving their first shutout in a 3-0 victory over San Jose Earthquakes. The club's attacking prowess was demonstrated in matches like their 5-1 victory over FC Cincinnati and a remarkable 6-3 win against Austin FC, which featured the most goals scored by the team in a single game across all competitions.
Crisis and recovery
Following their strong start, St. Louis City SC faced their first challenges in April 2023. The team suffered their first loss to Minnesota United 1-0, followed by a 3-0 defeat at Seattle Sounders FC. Key injuries also impacted the team, with Njabulo Blom missing time due to a groin injury and João Klauss suffering a quad injury that sidelined him for 17 weeks and 14 games.
The team showed resilience by bouncing back with significant victories, including a 5-1 win over FC Cincinnati that moved them back into first place in the Supporters' Shield race. Despite facing scheduling challenges and weather-related postponements, the club maintained their competitive edge throughout the season.
Current period
The latter part of the 2023 season saw St. Louis City SC secure their playoff berth, becoming the sixth expansion team in MLS history to qualify for the playoffs in their inaugural season. They clinched the #1 seed in the Western Conference, becoming the first expansion team ever to accomplish this feat. However, their playoff run was brief, as they were eliminated by Sporting Kansas City in the First Round of MLS Cup playoffs, losing 4-1 and 2-1 in the best-of-three series.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
In their inaugural 2023 season, St. Louis City SC achieved several historic milestones in Major League Soccer. The club finished first in the Western Conference, becoming the first expansion team ever to win their conference. They accumulated 56 points, which represents the second-highest point total ever achieved by an expansion team in MLS history, falling just one point short of the record set by Los Angeles FC in 2018.
The team set a new record for most wins by an expansion team with 17 victories during the regular season. They also became the fastest expansion team to score 50 goals in a season, reaching this milestone in just 25 games. Additionally, St. Louis City SC qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs, becoming only the sixth expansion team in league history to reach the postseason in their inaugural campaign.
Continental and global competitions
During their first season, St. Louis City SC participated in the U.S. Open Cup, where they advanced to the Round of 32 before being eliminated by Chicago Fire with a 2-1 defeat. The club also competed in the 2023 Leagues Cup, though they were eliminated in the group stage after losses to Columbus Crew (2-1) and Club América (4-0).
Symbols and Colors
Traditional home and away kits colors
St. Louis City SC's traditional colors reflect the city's identity and heritage. The club primarily wears red as their main color, which connects to St. Louis's sporting traditions and civic identity.
Traditional Rivals
Sporting Kansas City
The rivalry with Sporting Kansas City developed quickly during St. Louis City SC's inaugural season, with the teams meeting five times across all competitions in 2023. The geographic proximity between St. Louis and Kansas City, combined with competitive matches, established this as the club's primary rivalry. St. Louis City SC achieved notable victories over Sporting KC during the regular season, including 4-0 wins at CityPark, but Sporting KC ultimately eliminated them from the MLS Cup playoffs in the First Round.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
The club is commonly referred to as "City SC" or simply "CITY" in official communications and media coverage.
Stadium
St. Louis City SC plays their home matches at CityPark, which opened in 2023 specifically for the club's inaugural season. The stadium hosted its first match on March 4, 2023, when Charlotte FC visited for the club's first home game in franchise history. CityPark has witnessed several historic moments, including the club's first home victory (3-1 over Charlotte FC) and record-setting attendances.
The venue has proven to be a fortress for the team, with notable victories including the 5-1 defeat of FC Cincinnati and multiple shutout victories. The stadium also set attendance records, including a U.S. Open Cup Third Round record of 22,423 fans for the match against Union Omaha.