Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Partners with Major League Soccer May 22, 2023 If you’re a soccer fan in San Diego, you’ll be excited to know that the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation has joined the ownership group of San Diego’s new Major League Soccer team! This means big things for both parties involved. San Diego’s Major League Soccer (MLS) club will be owned by Mohamed Mansour, a distinguished entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with deep, global ties in the sport and by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. This partnership marks only second time in our nation’s history that a Native American tribe will have an ownership stake in a major league sports franchise. Mr. Mohamed Mansour, left, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber “We are thrilled to welcome San Diego to Major League Soccer as our 30th team,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “For many years we have believed San Diego would be a terrific MLS market due to its youthful energy, great diversity, and the fact that soccer is an essential part of everyday life for so many people. Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Tribe have an incredible vision for building a club that will inspire and unite soccer fans throughout the city and region.” Mr. Mohamed Mansour “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Sycuan Tribe to bring Major League Soccer to such a deserving community and legion of San Diego soccer fans. This is a real opportunity to create a powerful and lasting legacy for the city and region,” said Mr. Mansour. “We look forward to introducing Right to Dream’s unique developmental approach and unparalleled soccer expertise to San Diego and MLS by delivering tangible benefits to the community as we look to open doors and identify and nurture talent from across the county and beyond.” Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez “What a proud moment this is for the city and the Sycuan Tribe to bring MLS to San Diego,” said Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez. “Sycuan has deep roots to the San Diego community and found an incredible partner in Mohamed Mansour and the soccer expertise that he brings with Right to Dream. Sycuan continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to the San Diego region and our MLS team will provide us with a great opportunity to bring together many different segments of the community through their passion for the game.” The club, currently known as San Diego FC, will begin play in 2025 at Snapdragon Stadium. The Mansour Family and Sycuan Tribe are joined by founding partners Manny Machado, Brad Termini, Tom Vernon (Right to Dream Founder), Tom Penn (CEO), and Dan Dickinson. To learn more about San Diego FC, Right to Dream and Major League Soccer, visit: https://www.sandiegofc.com/ https://www.righttodream.com/ https://www.mlssoccer.com/