The Island F.C.
Soccer club based in Uniondale, New York
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The Island F.C. is an American professional soccer club based in Uniondale, New York. Majority-owned by Mitchell Rechler, the club plans to commence play in MLS Next Pro, a men's Division 3 league in the United States league system, in the 2027 season. It also plans to field a professional women's team in the future. It will play its home games at a new, soccer-specific stadium to be built at the Mitchel Athletic Complex.
 Interim logo | |
| Founded | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Ground | |
| Owners |
|
| Coach | Felipe Martins |
| League | MLS Next Pro (men's) |
| Website | liprosoccer |
History
The Island F.C. was co-founded in 2025 by Dix Hills native Mitchell Rechler and Glen Cove native Peter Zaratin.[1][2] Rechler is a managing partner at the private equity firm Rechler Equity Partners,[3][4] while Zaratin is the owner of the Long Island Rough Riders and its women's team.[1] Rechler and Zaratin met in 2007,[2] and first teamed up for a failed attempt to gain United Soccer League franchise rights for the Rough Riders in 2016, in which the pair would've invested in a public-private partnership to build a multi-purpose stadium at the Suffolk County Community College's campus in Brentwood.[3][5] The pair would later attempt to forge an affiliation between the Rough Riders and Major League Soccer franchise New York City FC in 2019, which also fell through.[2] Rechler and Zaratin, along with other investors, financed the $25 million launch of The Island F.C. – $20 million of which to be spent on the construction of the club's home ground.[6][7]
The club's foundation was announced at an October 2025 media event held at the Long Island Children's Museum, attended by local business leaders and politicians.[7][8][9] The club plans to commence play in MLS Next Pro, a men's Division 3 league in the United States league system, in the 2027 season.[9] A professional women's team will also be fielded by the club in the future.[4][8]
Organization
The Island F.C. is co-owned by Mitchell Rechler and Peter Zaratin. Rechler is the club's majority owner, and serves as its chairman, while Zaratin serves as its president.[6][8]
Stadium
The Island F.C. will play its home games at a soccer-specific stadium to be built at the Mitchel Athletic Complex, in Uniondale, New York. Its $20 million construction cost will be privately funded.[4][6] The stadium will be opened with a capacity of 2,500, with provisions for a future expansion to 5,000.[7][10]
