2025 San Diego FC season
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Overall: 4th
| 2025 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| General manager | Tyler Heaps | ||
| Head coach | Mikey Varas | ||
| Stadium | Snapdragon Stadium | ||
| Major League Soccer | Conference: 1st Overall: 4th | ||
| MLS Cup playoffs | Conference finals | ||
| Leagues Cup | League stage | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Anders Dreyer (19) All: Anders Dreyer (23) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 34,506 vs. St. Louis (Mar. 1)[1] | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 22,361 vs. Colorado (May 14)[1] | ||
| Average home league attendance | 28,064[2] | ||
| Biggest win | 5–0 vs. FC Dallas (May 3)[1] | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–3 at Charlotte FC (Apr. 10)[1] | ||
|
| |||
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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] The club used players from the international Right to Dream academy system and other teams owned by Mansour, including FC Nordsjælland.[8][9] 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.[10]
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.[11][12]
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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18][19]
Preseason results
| January 25 | San Diego FC | v | Phoenix Rising FC | San Diego, California |
| TBD PST | Stadium: Sharp HealthCare Performance Center | |||
| Note: Result not published. | ||||
| February 1 | San Diego FC | v | Sacramento Republic FC | San Diego, California |
| TBD PST | Stadium: Sharp HealthCare Performance Center | |||
| Note: Result not published. | ||||
| February 8 CVI | San Diego FC | 1–3 | New York City FC | Indio, California |
| 12:00 pm PST | Report | Stadium: Empire Polo Club |
| February 12 CVI | Portland Timbers | 3–0 | San Diego FC | Indio, California |
| 1:30 pm PST |
|
Report | Stadium: Empire Polo Club |
| February 15 CVI | San Diego FC | 6–0 | New York Red Bulls | Indio, California |
| 10:00 am PST |
|
Report | Stadium: Empire Polo Club |
Competitions
Major League Soccer
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego FC | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 64 | 41 | +23 | 63 | Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one |
| 2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 66 | 38 | +28 | 63 | Qualification for round one |
| 3 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 65 | 40 | +25 | 60 | |
| 4 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 58 | |
| 5 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 55 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 64 | 41 | +23 | 63 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 17 | +8 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 39 | 24 | +15 |
Last updated: Complete.
Source: MLS
Regular season
The MLS regular season schedule was released on December 19, 2024.[20] 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.[21]
| February 23 1 | LA Galaxy | 0–2 | San Diego FC | Carson, California |
| 4:00 pm PST | Report | Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 25,224 Referee: Allen Chapman |
| March 1 2 | San Diego FC | 0–0 | St. Louis City SC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PST | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 34,506 Referee: Lukasz Szpala |
| March 8 3 | Real Salt Lake | 1–3 | San Diego FC | Sandy, Utah |
| 6:30 pm PST | Report |
|
Stadium: America First Field Attendance: 19,337 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
| March 15 4 | San Diego FC | 1–1 | Columbus Crew | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 30,018 Referee: Victor Rivas |
| March 23 5 | Austin FC | 2–1 | San Diego FC | Austin, Texas |
| 1:00 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Q2 Stadium Attendance: 20,738 Referee: Filip Dujic |
| March 29 6 | San Diego FC | 3–2 | Los Angeles FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 32,502 Referee: Tori Penso |
| April 5 7 | San Diego FC | 3–0 | Seattle Sounders FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 28,228 Referee: Malik Badawi |
| April 12 8 | Colorado Rapids | 3–2 | San Diego FC | Commerce City, Colorado |
| 6:30 pm PDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park Attendance: 15,694 Referee: Sergii Boiko |
| April 19 9 | Charlotte FC | 3–0 | San Diego FC | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 4:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Bank of America Stadium Attendance: 29,653 Referee: Filip Dujic |
| April 26 10 | San Diego FC | 1–3 | Real Salt Lake | San Diego, California |
| 4:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 28,116 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| May 3 11 | San Diego FC | 5–0 | FC Dallas | San Diego, California |
| 6:00 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 27,108 Referee: Joe Dickerson |
| May 10 12 | St. Louis City SC | 1–2 | San Diego FC | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 5:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Energizer Park Attendance: 22,423 Referee: Allen Chapman |
| May 14 13 | San Diego FC | 2–0 | Colorado Rapids | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 22,361 Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez |
| May 17 14 | San Diego FC | 0–0 | Sporting Kansas City | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 25,233 Referee: Victor Rivas |
| May 24 15 | San Diego FC | 2–1 | LA Galaxy | San Diego, California |
| 1:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 30,114 Referee: Jon Freemon |
| May 28 16 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–0 | San Diego FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 5:30 pm PDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Lumen Field Attendance: 30,041 Referee: Ismir Pekmic |
| May 31 17 | San Diego FC | 2–0 | Austin FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 27,133 Referee: Ricardo Montero |
| June 14 18 | Minnesota United FC | 2–4 | San Diego FC | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| 5:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Allianz Field Attendance: 19,661 Referee: Rubiel Vazquez |
| June 25 19 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 3–5 | San Diego FC | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: BC Place Attendance: 20,867 Referee: Ramy Touchan |
| June 28 20 | FC Dallas | 2–3 | San Diego FC | Frisco, Texas |
| 5:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 11,004 Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. |
| July 5 21 | San Diego FC | 3–4 | Houston Dynamo FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 28,321 Referee: Timothy Ford |
| July 12 22 | Chicago Fire FC | 1–2 | San Diego FC | Chicago, Illinois |
| 5:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 27,631 Referee: Victor Rivas |
| July 16 23 | San Diego FC | 0–1 | Toronto FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 23,514 Referee: Alyssa Pennington |
| July 19 24 | San Diego FC | 1–1 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 27,418 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
| July 25 25 | San Diego FC | 1–0 | Nashville SC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 28,114 Referee: Drew Fischer |
| August 9 26 | Sporting Kansas City | 0–2 | San Diego FC | Kansas City, Kansas |
| 5:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 16,579 Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere |
| August 17 27 | San Jose Earthquakes | 1–2 | San Diego FC | San Jose, California |
| 4:00 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: PayPal Park Attendance: 17,546 Referee: Joe Dickerson |
| August 23 28 | San Diego FC | 0–0 | Portland Timbers | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 27,810 Referee: Rosendo Mendoza |
| August 31 29 | Los Angeles FC | 1–2 | San Diego FC | Los Angeles, California |
| 7:45 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: BMO Stadium Attendance: 22,937 Referee: Filip Dujic |
| September 13 30 | San Diego FC | 1–3 | Minnesota United FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 27,158 Referee: Tori Penso |
| September 20 31 | Atlanta United FC | 1–1 | San Diego FC | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1:30 pm PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Attendance: 43,499 Referee: Ricardo Montero |
| September 27 32 | San Diego FC | 0–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | San Diego, California |
| 7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 29,437 Referee: Armando Villarreal |
| October 4 33 | Houston Dynamo FC | 2–4 | San Diego FC | Houston, Texas |
| 5:30 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Shell Energy Stadium Attendance: 20,732 Referee: Drew Fischer |
| October 18 34 | Portland Timbers | 0–4 | San Diego FC | Portland, Oregon |
| 6:00 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 24,920 Referee: Victor Rivas |
MLS Cup Playoffs
Round One
| October 26 Round One | San Diego FC | 2−1 | Portland Timbers | San Diego, California |
| 6:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 32,500 Referee: Chris Penso |
| November 1 Round One | Portland Timbers | 2–2 (3–2 p) | San Diego FC | Portland, Oregon |
| 6:30 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 19,260 Referee: Drew Fischer | |
| Penalties | ||||
| November 9 Round One | San Diego FC | 4–0 | Portland Timbers | San Diego, California |
| 6:00 pm PST |
|
Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 32,500 Referee: Joe Dickerson |
Conference Semifinals
| November 24 Conference Semifinals | San Diego FC | 1–0 | Minnesota United FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 pm PST |
|
Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 32,502 Referee: Rosendo Mendoza |
Conference Finals
| November 29 Conference Finals | San Diego FC | 1–3 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | San Diego, California |
| 6:00 pm PST | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 32,502 Referee: Joe Dickerson |
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.[22]
| July 29 GS | Pachuca  | 3–2 |  San Diego FC | San Diego, California |
| 8:00 pm PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 21,872 Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva |
| August 1 GS | UANL | 2–1 | San Diego FC | San Diego, California |
| 8:00 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 25,915 Referee: César Ramos |
| August 5 GS | Mazatlán | 0–2 | San Diego FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium Attendance: 5,709 Referee: Walter Lopez |
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.[23] 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.[24]
| June 7 Friendly | San Diego FC | 3–0 | América | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 pm PDT | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium | |||
| Note: Originally scheduled for June 21. | ||||
| September 16 Friendly | San Diego FC | 4–2 | Tijuana | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 pm PDT | Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium |
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.[25] 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.[25][26]
Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad includes all players who had first team contracts or appearances during the 2024 season across all competitions. Ages listed for each player is calculated from February 22, 2025, the first matchday of the MLS regular season.
Coaching staff
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Mikey Varas | United States |
| Assistant coach | Frank Hjortebjerg |  Denmark |
| Assistant coach | Kelvin Jones | United States |
| Assistant coach | Luciano Fusco | United States |
| Goalkeeper coach | Jason Grubb | United States |
