Snohomish United Director of Coaching Anthony Sardon speaks at the press conference Nov. 4, 2024 announcing the new Snohomish USL2 team.
Photo courtesy Snohomish United
SNOHOMISH — Soccer fans in Snohomish County are thrilled after an announcement that a pre-professional club in the USL League Two will call Snohomish home this upcoming season.
Snohomish United announced that its club has joined USL League Two for the 2025 season in a press conference at Haywire Brewing last week. The League is expanding cities.
According to club officials, the team will play their home matches at the club’s Stocker Fields. Snohomish United is bringing in bleachers to create a modular stadium, Snohomish United Representative and Coaching Director Anthony Sardon said.
Snohomish United already operated a youth soccer club with a strong focus on player development and community engagement, and organizes the annual Bigfoot soccer tournament.
This move creates a route for collegiate players and young talent to progress toward the professional level. The transition to USL League Two allows local players to compete at a higher level while offering fans an exciting new way to engage with the team through a community-minded approach to attracting local business partnerships and fans alike. The club plans to engage the community through local partnerships, youth clinics, and fan events to build excitement ahead of the inaugural season.
The new Snohomish club will play in the Northwest Division. The club will face tough regional competition with in-state rivals Ballard FC, West Seattle Junction, Tacoma Stars and FC Olympia.
“The USL has a clear professional pathway,” Sardon said. “There will definitely be players who will become professionals either in the USL or MLS from this team. USL League 2 has a great history of doing that.”
Sardon expects the matchday atmosphere to be electric with participation from Snohomish and region-wide fans, and the team will feature some local players.
“We are extending our reach beyond the city of Snohomish to the entire county. We are going to attract fans from throughout the region. Our players will be mainly from Washington state. We have a connection with the local colleges and players returning home from for the summer. We have a unique scouting advantage as a youth club in the ECNL and being able to identify top local talent,” Sardon said.
Snohomish is becoming a soccer hotbed.
The Snohomish Sky play in the United Premier Soccer League and Western Indoor Soccer League. They gave well wishes.
“We are very excited for Snohomish United and that a USL2 team is coming to our community,” said Snohomish Sky President Jamie French-Bialek. “Snohomish County has been an established soccer hub for decades. In our city, players can start young and potentially play all the way to the pro level. With Snohomish Sky FC having a UPSL men’s team, WISL men and women indoor teams, and now Snohomish United USL2 team, there is no better place to be. We look forward to growing soccer in Snohomish County with them.”
Preparations for the season are already in full swing.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, the club will host an official launch party at Haywire Brewing, where the team’s name and logo will be revealed. In the coming weeks, the club will also announce dates for open tryouts, coaching staff appointments, and other updates.
Attendees at the event included County Councilman Sam Low and Mayor Linda Redmon.
