Columbus NWSL team
| Founded | April 21, 2026; 49 days ago (2026年04月21日) |
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| Stadium | |
| Owner(s) |
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| League | National Women's Soccer League |
| Website | columbusnwsl2028 |
A yet unnamed professional soccer team based in Columbus, Ohio, was announced as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)'s 18th franchise on April 21, 2026, and will begin play in the 2028 season.
History
[edit ]In February 2026, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, the owners of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) and Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS), confirmed their interest in bringing a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchise to Columbus, Ohio.[1] The team would play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, sharing it with the Crew, and have their own training facility.[2] On April 20, 2026, the Columbus City Council narrowly approved a US25ドル million deal to develop a training facility for the team at McCoy Park.[3] The next day, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved the same amount for the development.[4]
The expansion franchise was officially awarded on April 21, 2026, with plans to start play in the 2028 season (alongside Atlanta) as the 18th team in the league.[5] The expansion fee was reported to be a record US205ドル million.[6]
References
[edit ]- ^ "Haslam Sports Group confirms 'conversations' to bring NWSL to Columbus". The Columbus Dispatch . February 27, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ Carlisle, Jeff; Kassouf, Jeff (February 27, 2026). "Browns, Crew ownership group exploring Columbus NWSL expansion". ESPN . Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ Cathey, Libby (April 21, 2026). "Columbus City Council approves NWSL deal amid split vote, dispute over McCoy Park plan". WBNS-TV . Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ Laird, Jordan (April 21, 2026). "Franklin County joins Columbus in supporting NWSL deal, clearing way for bid". The Columbus Dispatch . Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ Kassouf, Jeff (April 21, 2026). "Columbus Crew owners get 18th NWSL franchise for record fee". ESPN . Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ^ Novy-Williams, Eben; Feldman, Jacob (April 21, 2026). "Haslams Pay 205ドルM for NWSL Expansion Team in Columbus". Sportico . Retrieved April 21, 2026.
