USL Long Island, LLC has been awarded a United Soccer League franchise that will see a professional men’s team compete in USL League One beginning in 2028, marking a new chapter for soccer on Long Island.
A New Era for Long Island Soccer
The club will call James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island, its home ground, a venue that seats nearly 13,000 fans and offers easy access from across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Ownership of the new franchise is anchored by a trio of seasoned executives: Paul McDonough, who serves as President and CEO of the USL and previously held leadership roles at the league; Glenn Schneider, a former chief executive of US Nutrition and founder of SUSA FC, the region’s largest youth soccer academy; and Sara Whalen Hess, a 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic silver‑medalist who grew up playing soccer on Long Island.
Their shared vision emphasizes community integration, with plans to involve local fans in shaping the club’s name, crest and colors through a series of listening sessions, interviews and online polls.
The move also places the franchise among a growing constellation of teams in the third tier of U.S. soccer, joining existing clubs such as Westchester SC and the New York Cosmos, while the league itself is expanding to 17 teams this year and adding more in 2027.
Beyond the on‑field ambition, the ownership group highlights Long Island’s rich soccer heritage and aims to create a sustainable professional pathway for young athletes, leveraging the island’s strong athletic traditions and geographic reach.