All signs point towards Minnesota as the next location for Major League Soccer expansion.
The league sent out a release earlier today saying, “MLS, Don Garber and Dr. Bill McGuire will make an important announcement on the future of soccer in Minnesota.”
Dr. Bill McGuire is currently the owner of NASL side Minnesota United.
The press conference and welcome event will be held at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins who recently signed on with Minnesota United to pursue a Major League Soccer spot. It will take place at noon ET and will be streamed live on Major League Soccer’s website.
On Friday, Brian Straus of Sports Illustrated reported that Minnesota was the front runner for the spot, and that the announcement could come this week. Minnesota soccer website Northern Pitch broke the news of the expansion announcement this morning.
Coupled with expansion in Atlanta plus the recreation of the team formerly known as Chivas USA in Los Angeles (at the moment referred to as LAFC), the league would get to 23 teams. Don Garber has stated that he is still trying to get a deal done with Miami, and would be traveling to south Florida in the next few weeks to further a deal that has floundered recently. With the current 20-team format this season, it seems the league is aiming for 24 teams in the near future.
It is unsure when Minnesota would begin play in the league. Atlanta is expected to join in 2017, as is LAFC, while the Miami deal is up in the air.