FORT WAYNE SOCCER HISTORY, PART IV

After the Fort Wayne Fever’s departure in 2009, the city experienced a decade-long absence of a comparable pre-professional or professional soccer team. The silence was broken in 2019 with the announcement of Fort Wayne FC, a club with a new level of ambition and a direct link to the city's greatest soccer legacy. Co-founded by DaMarcus Beasley, the new club was a conscious effort to blend local roots with national aspirations and to give back to the community that shaped his career.

Fort Wayne FC planned to debut in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2020 but that plan was thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, Fort Wayne FC did make their debut in 2021 in USL League Two. This move placed the team squarely in the established U.S. Soccer development pyramid, providing a clear path for local talent to develop and get exposure to professional scouts. The team's first season in the league was a landmark year. On May 23, 2021, they played their inaugural home game in front of more than 2,700 fans at Shields Field, a powerful statement of the city's appetite for the sport. The club continued to build momentum in its second year, with a third place finish in the Valley Division.

The hard work paid off in 2023, which became a defining season for the young club. Fort Wayne FC dominated their division, finishing with a remarkable record of 10-0-2, remaining unbeaten in league play and capturing what would become their first of three straight Valley Division titles. While their playoff run ended in a heartbreaking overtime loss, the season cemented the club’s position as a top contender and validated the vision of its founders. With plans for a new stadium and a commitment to nurturing local talent, Fort Wayne FC represents the culmination of nearly a century of soccer history in the city, merging the passion of the past with a professional, ambitious future.

As soccer fans in Fort Wayne look towards that future, we have our eyes set on a new stadium, set to open in March of 2026, where Fort Wayne FC will start the next chapter of soccer in our area as they kick off their time in USL League One. Let’s make soccer history together next season!