Austin FC Overview
Austin FC is a professional soccer club based in Austin, Texas, competing in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. The club was founded on October 12, 2018, and began play during the 2021 season, becoming the first major professional sports league team in the Texas capital. Austin FC plays its home matches at Q2 Stadium, a 20,738-seat soccer-specific venue in north Austin, and the team is identified by its bright green (Verde) and black colors.
The club is owned by Two Oak Ventures, with Anthony Precourt serving as chairman and CEO. Nico Estévez leads the team as head coach. Austin FC also operates Austin FC II, a reserve team competing in MLS NEXT Pro, and runs a fully funded youth academy. Nicknamed “The Verde and Black,” “Los Verdes,” and “El Tree,” the club has cultivated an engaged supporters’ culture and a strong regional identity since its debut.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Austin FC traces its roots to October 2017, when Columbus Crew operator Precourt Sports Ventures announced plans to relocate its MLS franchise rights to Austin for the 2019 season. After extended negotiations, the Austin City Council voted 7–4 on August 15, 2018, authorizing the city manager to negotiate a stadium lease with Precourt Sports Ventures. One week later, on August 22, 2018, the group publicly unveiled the club’s name and badge at the North Door on Austin’s east side, with the crest designed by local firm The Butler Bros. to reflect the city’s vibrancy through its signature “Bright Verde” color.
In December 2018, an Ohio-based group featuring Jimmy and Dee Haslam and Dr. Pete Edwards reached an agreement to acquire the Columbus Crew and keep the franchise in Ohio. That arrangement opened the door for Austin to enter MLS as an expansion club. On December 19, 2018, Precourt Sports Ventures and the City of Austin finalized a financing agreement for a soccer-specific stadium at McKalla Place. The ownership group was renamed Two Oak Ventures in July 2019 and later expanded to include actor Matthew McConaughey and several Austin-based entrepreneurs.
Growth Into Major League Soccer Competition
On January 15, 2019, Austin FC was officially announced as an MLS expansion club with a 2021 launch date. The organization quickly built its technical foundation, hiring Josh Wolff as the club’s first head coach in July 2019 and appointing Claudio Reyna as Sporting Director in November of the same year. In July 2020, Austin FC signed Rodney Redes as its first player, and the club also unveiled plans for a $45 million privately funded training facility, St. David’s Performance Center, in northeast Austin.
The club launched its youth program ahead of its MLS debut. Austin FC announced the first professional soccer academy in Austin in 2019 at the U–14 level, with Tyson Wahl serving as general manager and Junro Narita as initial coach. The academy became part of MLS NEXT in the fall of 2020 and has since produced homegrown signings such as Owen Wolff, who became the club’s first homegrown player in September 2021. In 2022, Austin FC announced the creation of Austin FC II, a reserve team that began play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2023.
Austin FC Competitive Journey
Since joining MLS in 2021, Austin FC has progressed from an expansion side into a competitive Western Conference club. The team captured its first trophy in 2022 with the Copa Tejas, reached the Western Conference Final that same year, and has continued to build its roster and infrastructure under new leadership as it works toward sustained playoff success.
Early Seasons and Development (2021–2022)
Austin FC played its first MLS match on April 17, 2021, falling 2–0 to Los Angeles FC. The club earned its first victory the following week, defeating the Colorado Rapids 3–1, with Diego Fagúndez scoring the franchise’s first goal. The home opener at Q2 Stadium took place on June 19, 2021, ending in a 0–0 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes, before Austin secured its first home win on July 1, 2021, a 4–1 victory over the Portland Timbers. Mid-season, the club signed Sebastián Driussi from Zenit Saint Petersburg for a reported $7 million transfer fee, and he quickly became a focal point of the attack.
In 2022, Austin FC opened the season with an MLS-record 10 goals across its first two matches. The club won the Copa Tejas on July 16, 2022, claiming its first trophy, and clinched its first playoff berth later that year behind a hat trick from Moussa Djitté. Austin recorded its first MLS playoff win against Real Salt Lake in a penalty shootout and advanced to the Western Conference Final, where it was eliminated 3–0 by Los Angeles FC. The season established the club as an emerging contender in the Western Conference.
Breakthrough in Major League Soccer (2021–2022)
Austin FC’s first two seasons marked the team’s arrival as a competitive MLS side. The 2021 campaign introduced the club’s foundational players, including Cecilio Domínguez, the first Designated Player, and Alexander Ring, the first captain. Q2 Stadium’s debut and the club’s consistent sellout streak, which began on opening day and has continued since, demonstrated strong local demand.
The 2022 season represented Austin FC’s clearest breakthrough. The team set a league record with 10 goals in its first two matches, lifted the Copa Tejas, and pushed into the Western Conference Final. Driussi’s emergence as the club’s first All-Star, alongside the development of homegrown talent and the addition of new attacking pieces, signaled a step forward in competitive maturity. The playoff run validated the front office’s investment in attacking talent and provided a benchmark for future postseason expectations.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2023–Present)
Austin FC entered 2023 with heightened expectations following its Western Conference Final appearance, but the team failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Off the field, Sporting Director Claudio Reyna departed the front office role in early 2023, and Josh Wolff assumed additional sporting responsibilities in addition to coaching. Later that year, Rodolfo Borrell, a former assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, was named Sporting Director and restructured the scouting department with new hires based in Europe and South America. Austin also competed in its first continental tournament, the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, and its first Leagues Cup appearance.
In October 2024, Austin FC parted ways with Josh Wolff after a second consecutive playoff miss. Nico Estévez was hired as head coach following the November 2024 FIFA window. Under Estévez, Austin advanced to the 2025 U.S. Open Cup final, hosting the match at Q2 Stadium but falling 2–1 to Nashville SC. With a retooled front office, a new coaching staff, and continued investment in the St. David’s Performance Center, the club is positioning itself for a sustained return to the MLS postseason.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Austin FC’s identity centers on attacking play, with the club leaning on creative midfielders and goal-scoring forwards to dictate matches. The team’s “Bright Verde” brand reflects the energy of its home city, while the on-field philosophy under Nico Estévez emphasizes organized pressing and quick transitions. A strong sellout streak at Q2 Stadium reinforces a home-pitch advantage that the club consistently looks to leverage.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Among Austin FC’s most notable milestones: the franchise’s first goal by Diego Fagúndez in 2021, the first MLS goal at Q2 Stadium scored by Jon Gallagher, the 2022 Copa Tejas title, the first playoff victory over Real Salt Lake, the Western Conference Final appearance in 2022, and the 2025 U.S. Open Cup final. The club’s uninterrupted sellout streak since opening Q2 Stadium in 2021 also stands as a defining achievement.
Austin FC Achievements and Results
Austin FC’s trophy case centers on its 2022 Copa Tejas title, supported by a Western Conference Final appearance the same year and a U.S. Open Cup final run in 2025. The club has not yet captured an MLS Cup, conference championship, or division title but has built a foundation for future contention.
Major League Soccer Achievements
Austin FC secured its first MLS playoff berth in 2022 and won its first postseason match against Real Salt Lake before advancing to the Western Conference Final. The club has not yet added an MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, or conference championship. Sebastián Driussi’s 2022 All-Star selection marked the franchise’s first individual league honor. Austin continues to chase its first MLS Cup appearance, with the 2025 campaign under Nico Estévez representing the next opportunity.
Conference Achievements
Within the Western Conference, Austin FC’s standout result came in 2022, when the club advanced to the Western Conference Final before losing 3–0 to Los Angeles FC. The playoff run that season remains the club’s deepest conference-level achievement. Austin has yet to win a Western Conference title.
Divisional Achievements
Austin FC has not recorded a formally recognized divisional championship in MLS standings. The club’s competitive focus has been on conference-level results and cup competitions rather than division titles, and verified divisional honors are not currently documented.
Series Achievements
In the 2022 Copa Tejas, Austin FC claimed its first trophy, defeating rivals from across Texas to win the regional series. The 2025 U.S. Open Cup final appearance marked another notable cup run, ending in a 2–1 loss to Nashville SC at Q2 Stadium. These competitions represent the franchise’s primary verified silverware to date.