USL to Portland to welcome Maine’s first professional soccer club with 2025 kickoff

On a rainy November 2017 day, the Maine Sports Commission welcomed USL executives to the city of Portland, marking the beginning of an incredible journey. They saw Portland as an ideal market for a pro soccer franchise. From that day, we kept in touch with the USL, meeting at trade shows over the next few years; they clearly kept their lens focused optimistically on our state.

Over coffee in March 2019, MSC had a game-changing conversation with Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, a Maine native with a successful collegiate and professional soccer career who had recently returned to his home state. We shared a vision: a professional soccer team for Maine. Gabe took the initiative and ran with it, tirelessly building his foundership group, meeting with the City of Portland and USL, and persevering.

In September 2019, on a picture-perfect day, the USL and Gabe gathered for a press conference overlooking Casco Bay, reaffirming their belief in Portland as a future USL city–a belief born two years prior.

We’re thrilled to announce that the dream has become a reality and is set to begin in 2025. Thanks to the dedication, passion, and hard work of Gabe and many others who have supported his vision along the way, Portland is getting its own men’s pro soccer team.

Get ready, Portland! The beautiful game is coming to Portland in 2025, and we can’t wait to cheer for our very own team!

Read more about the announcement and press conference here.