FC New York set to join USL-1 for 2010 season

The United Soccer Leagues have announced a new franchise to start play in their first division. The New York-based team, known as FC New York, will expand the league to 13 teams for the 2010 season.

With the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps leaving the USL's top division for Major League Soccer in 2011, the league was in need of expansion and it seems as if New York City was the ideal location.

"We are thrilled to welcome FC New York as the newest addition to the USL First Division," said USL executive vice president and COO Tim Holt in a press release. "Their ownership group's impressive and ambitious plans to develop a complete soccer club with a strong international partner and privately-financed future stadium will boost the profile of our league in one of the world's largest and most diverse markets. The conditions are right for FC New York to excite the soccer community, which has a history of support for top-level professional soccer."

FC New York will not be the only new team in USL-1 over the next few seasons. Joining the league will be the Austin Aztex and Cleveland City Stars for 2009 and the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2010.