Report: San Francisco NASL team to be announced in 2016

The North American Soccer League has accepted Ricardo Stanford-Geromel's San Francisco-based expansion bid, and the team is expected to be announced as early as February, according to a report.

The North American Soccer League has accepted Ricardo Stanford-Geromel’s San Francisco-based expansion bid, and the team is expected to be announced as early as February, Evan Ream of Davis Enterprise reports.

According to the report, Stanford-Geromel’s group believes it will be able to secure a downtown stadium in San Francisco. The team will reportedly begin play in 2017.

The NASL will add two clubs in 2016 to bring their total to 13 teams. New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony’s Puerto Rico FC will join the league along with Rayo OKC in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The first scheduled event of the 2016 season is a pre-season match between Jacksonville Armada FC and Philadelphia Union on Feb. 6.