Des Moines wins interest from Major League Soccer as USL woos city

Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League (USL) have both expressed interest in establishing a professional soccer team in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa Soccer Development Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has been working towards owning a downtown soccer stadium since 2019. In 2022, Kyle Krause, CEO of the Krause Group, secured a franchise for a professional Championship men's soccer team in Des Moines under the United Soccer League.

Later that year, USL announced a franchise agreement to bring a Division I women's team to the city. Chris Klein, president of Hometown Soccer Holdings, indicated that Major League Soccer is also exploring downtown Des Moines as a potential location for a NEXT Pro team. Des Moines and central Iowa are considered a desirable location due to the support for local sports teams such as the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Wolves, and Iowa Wild.

While several delays, including those caused by the pandemic, have prevented the vision of a soccer stadium from becoming a reality, a public meeting is planned for September 24 at the American Equity headquarters to discuss the potential for a Division II professional men's soccer team in Des Moines. The Iowa Soccer Development Foundation aims to share information about the benefits of landing a Division II professional men's soccer team, including economic growth and community engagement.