Soccer-MLS awards expansion franchise to Sacramento

Major League Soccer is heading for Sacramento after California's capital city was revealed as its latest expansion club on Monday. The city was named the league's 29th franchise by MLS Commissioner Don Garber during a news conference with local officials in downtown Sacramento.

Led by an ownership group that includes billionaire Ron Burkle, who co-owns the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, and Hollywood film producer Matt Alvarez, the new club joins the NBA's Sacramento Kings as the city's major sports teams. With the addition of the team in Sacramento, 19 clubs have now joined MLS since 2005, fulfilling a vision for strategic expansion that has transformed the landscape of professional soccer across North America.

FC Cincinnati joined MLS as the 24th team this season. Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF will debut in 2020 followed by Austin FC in 2021 and St. Louis and Sacramento in 2022.

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