Monday, February 17, 2025

San Diego FC Building a Legacy of Soccer Excellence and Community Empowerment

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For decades, San Diego has been a hotspot for youth soccer talent. The region boasts some of the highest participation levels in the nation and regularly produces talent for youth and senior national teams for the United States and Mexico. The newest team in Major League Soccer is the San Diego Football Club, or San Diego FC. The club will celebrate its inaugural home match on Saturday, March 1 by hosting St. Louis CITY SC at Snapdragon Stadium.

San Diego FC became a reality in 2023, and in 2025 the club is officially kicking off its inaugural season in MLS as the league’s 30th franchise in the league’s 30th anniversary. Led by Mexican international star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, SDFC is set to make an immediate impact both on and off the field.

Jointly owned by Sir Mohamed Mansour, a distinguished entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist with global ties in the sport, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the first Native American tribe with a significant ownership stake in a men’s professional team across all major sports leagues, SDFC is looking to leave its mark in MLS as a proud member of the Right to Dream community – a group of youth academies and professional football clubs around  the world.

Sycuan’s status as a force for good in the San Diego region needs no introduction. The tribe has established a reputation as a powerful supporter of community-based economic development, hospitality, and nonprofit organizations providing direct services to residents of the region. Sycuan also has a commitment to cultural preservation and a history of supporting educational initiatives that promote self-determination, empower youth, and support the San Diego region at large.

Meanwhile, the Right to Dream Academy has also built a reputation in world soccer for being a global leader in holistic talent development. Founded in Ghana in 1999, the Right to Dream Academy has since grown to include campuses in Denmark, Egypt and now San Diego. The SDFC Right to Dream Academy is located on Sycuan tribal land and is the prefect site for young San Diegans to develop into professionals.

The day after the club was announced, SDFC launched a crowd-funding campaign – collecting $18 deposits for season tickets that doubled as donations to the San Diego Foundation, the largest community fund in the region. The club aggregated over 18,000 deposits, generating a fund that surpassed $300,000 that in turn will seed several of the community initiatives that will be put into action in 2025.

Inspired by the Right to Dream philosophy, the club promotes holistic youth development through programs that encourage physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and career exploration. The Parks & Pitches Initiative transforms underutilized spaces into safe, vibrant hubs for soccer, recreation, and social connection, while the Coaching Education Initiative provides curriculum and training for grassroots coaches and players.

San Diego Football Club’s commitment to community is best celebrated on matchday when over 35,000 fans will come together at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley to cheer on the city’s newest professional sports team, starting with the Home Opener on March 1, 2025.

www.sycuan.com

Danitza Villanueva
Danitza Villanueva
Danitza Villanueva was born in San Diego but spent her youth with her family in Tijuana and grew up on both sides of the border. She has transferred her unique insight of cross-border culture, trends and philanthropy to her business and community interests. Danitza is the first woman from her family to graduate from college. She has two degrees, one from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Fashion Marketing, and a second from San Diego Christian College in Communications. After starting GB Magazine with Esteban Villanueva in 2007, she has gone on to win awards and recognition from the community for her support of helping raise millions of dollars for non-profit organizations. Currently she resides in East County in San Diego where she and her husband Esteban run DAESVI Publishing, home to GB Magazine, among several other publications.

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