Cleveland is getting a professional soccer team, and now we know what it'll be called. Forest City Cleveland will kick off in the MLS NEXT Pro league come 2027, and the Cleveland Soccer Group just dropped the brand identity after a full year of design work.
This is a big deal for Cleveland soccer fans. The launch means ticket sales are coming soon, along with merchandise and community events before the team even plays its first match. It's all part of a bigger push to make professional soccer a real thing in Cleveland.
For those wondering about the league itself, MLS NEXT Pro is a third-tier competition that started in 2022. Think of it as a bridge between Major League Soccer and youth academies. It's where young talents develop and prove they're ready for the big leagues.
The Name and That Iconic Crest
The team name pulls from Cleveland's old-school nickname, "The Forest City." More than 3,000 people chipped in through surveys, focus groups, and interviews to help shape the identity. That's some serious community involvement right there.
The crest is pretty cool too. It features the "Die Hard Tree," a 350-year-old sycamore sitting in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Two Cleveland locals handled the branding: Alex Kocher and strategist Mo Fitzgerald, both with solid experience in professional soccer branding.
Now, here's the thing about the name. Many soccer clubs use "FC" (Football Club) in their names, like FC Barcelona. Forest City Cleveland seems to play on that tradition, though the phrasing is a bit unusual compared to traditional naming conventions. Most fans will probably just call them Forest City or create their own nicknames as time goes on.
What This Means Going Forward
Before the 2027 debut, Forest City Cleveland will host watch parties and community events throughout 2026. This gives the club time to build a fanbase and generate buzz. For betting enthusiasts keeping tabs on American soccer's growth, adding another MLS NEXT Pro team expands the betting landscape and gives more opportunities to follow emerging talent who might jump to MLS teams down the line.
The team's arrival also signals Cleveland's growing sports market. Keep an eye on how this develops, especially as merchandise drops and ticket packages roll out over the next couple of years.
