Austin

Austin FC, commonly known as "Los Verdes" or "The Oaks," is a professional soccer club based in Austin, Texas, competing in Major League Soccer (MLS). Founded in 2021, the club represents the first major professional sports team in the city's history, born from a passionate, community-driven effort to bring top-flight soccer to the state capital. The club's identity is deeply rooted in the local culture, symbolized by its crest featuring a live oak tree, a nod to the "City of the Violet Crown." The team plays its home matches at the state-of-the-art Q2 Stadium, a 20,738-seat venue in North Austin renowned for its intense atmosphere and sustainable design. The stadium's steep stands and canopy roof amplify the noise from the supporters' section, creating one of the most formidable home environments in MLS. As a young franchise, Austin FC's notable achievements are still being written. Their inaugural 2021 season saw them finish 12th in the Western Conference, but they made a dramatic leap in 2022, finishing second in the West and reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time. They also advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. The club's playing style, under head coach Josh Wolff, emphasizes possession-based, attacking football, focusing on building from the back and utilizing dynamic wingers. The squad has featured notable players like Argentine designated player Sebastián Driussi, who became the team's first MLS All-Star and MVP candidate, and Paraguayan forward Cecilio Domínguez. The fan culture, led by the vibrant supporters' group "Los Verdes," is famously passionate and inclusive, with the supporters' section, "The Supporters Stand," being a non-stop wall of green smoke, drums, and coordinated chants. Currently, Austin FC is an established and competitive force in the MLS Western Conference, consistently challenging for playoff positions. Their primary rivalry is with FC Dallas in the "Copa Tejas," a trophy contested between the three Texas-based MLS clubs. An interesting fact is that the club's initial season ticket deposit campaign in 2019 sold out in under 24 hours, signaling the immense latent demand for professional soccer in Austin.