What is the mission of your club?
To build a professional soccer club that unites Long Island through belonging, opportunity, and excellence, and creating a culture where everyone matters and where “we before me” drives everything we do.
USL Long Island will use soccer as the vehicle to bring ALL communities together. Being a part of USL LI means being a part of something much bigger than a soccer team. We intend to be an anchor for Long Island and to give back to a region that has given us so much. We are driven by a One Club. One Community. One Connection mindset.
Why is Long Island an ideal location for professional soccer?
Long Island is one of the most passionate soccer communities in the United States with a perfect mix of grit and pride. Long Islanders are tough, honest and extremely loyal. We are confident the local community will rally around our club as long as we do right by them…which is why we want them to help us build it from the ground up.
Additionally, thousands of youth players participate in the sport every year, yet Long Island has never had a community-focused professional soccer club that truly represents the region.
Long Island offers:
- A population of nearly 3 million residents
- One of the largest youth soccer participation bases in the country
- A rich history of developing elite players
- Deep cultural diversity and strong soccer traditions
- Easy access to Nassau, Suffolk, New York City, and surrounding communities
- Civic-minded people who want to contribute to something greater than themselves.
Professional soccer provides an opportunity to unite these communities under one club that reflects the identity, pride, and aspirations of Long Island.
What level of soccer will USL bring to Long Island?
USL Long Island plans to kick off in USL League One, a growing professional men’s league in the third tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid.
The club will feature professional players, coaches, and staff competing for league titles against clubs from across the United States.
What will be the name of the club?
The club’s official name, crest, and visual identity will be announced following a community engagement process.
We believe Long Island deserves a club that is built with the community, not simply for the community. Supporters, families, youth players, and local stakeholders will have opportunities to provide feedback and help shape the club’s identity.
When will tickets be available?
Season ticket deposits will be announced in the near future. To be among the first to receive information about securing your place in club history or other ticket opportunities, be sure to sign up for the newsletter here:
When will the team(s) play its first season?
The club plans to launch its inaugural professional season in 2028, pending final league and federation sanctioning approval.
Who is behind the club and effort to bring professional soccer to Long Island?
The founding ownership group brings strong local ties to the Suffolk County and Nassau County communities as well as deep soccer experience. These combined specialties deliver an owner-operator group that is passionate about growing the sport and building a community-rooted club on Long Island.
Glenn Schneider: Principal Owner, Co-Founder
Glenn is the former CEO of US Nutrition at Nature’s Bounty, a leading vitamin and supplement company. He is also the founder and current CEO of SUSA Academy, which serves 5,000+ players and operates Long Island’s largest academy soccer club and privately-owned facility. SUSA is one of the most respected youth soccer organizations in the country. Glenn has spent over a decade building opportunities for young athletes and is committed to creating a sustainable professional soccer pathway on Long Island.
Sara Whalen Hess: President, Co-Founder
Sara is a former U.S. Women’s National Team player, 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, Olympic Silver Medalist, and licensed clinical psychologist. Sara will lead community engagement, club culture, strategic initiatives, and stakeholder development. She epitomizes the championship mentality that will help define and shape the club’s identity. Sara was raised on Long Island in Greenlawn and played varsity soccer at Harborfields High School. After college, she played for the Long Island Lady Riders and then New York Power. In 2001, Sara was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame.
Where will the club play its home games?
The club has entered into a lease agreement with Hofstra University, which will serve as its home venue.
Partnering with Hofstra will provide a professional matchday experience that is accessible to supporters throughout Long Island while creating a true home-field atmosphere.
Will the team have a training facility and where will it be located?
Yes. The club plans to establish a dedicated training environment that supports professional player development while connecting the professional team to the broader Long Island soccer community. Additional information about the training facility will be released at a later time.
Will the team have a youth or academy club?
The professional team is interested in developing affiliations with local youth clubs across the Long Island community. The club will strategically position our connection to all interested affiliates in the following ways:
- Create a deep bond within the Long Island soccer community
- Create a player pathway into the professional team
- Squad sustainability through the Academy Contract Program – which circles back to creating a bond within the community
- Bringing local players into the USL Long Island ecosystem.
Developing local talent is a core part of the club’s vision with a goal to provide aspiring players with a clear pathway from youth soccer to the professional game.
What is the anticipated economic impact of professional soccer coming to the Long Island community?
As part of our vision to build a club deeply rooted in the community, supporting local Long Island businesses will be a primary focus of the club.
In addition to supporting local businesses, professional soccer will create meaningful economic impact through:
- Job creation
- Tourism and visitor spending
- Local business partnerships
- Youth sports programming
- Community events
- Facility utilization
What is the role of local government in this effort to bring professional soccer to Long Island?
The club seeks to be a positive community partner.
Local governments can play an important role by supporting community development initiatives, economic growth opportunities, infrastructure planning, and public-private partnerships that benefit residents.
The club’s goal is to work collaboratively with local leaders to maximize positive community impact.
Why was the partnership with HOFSTRA University attractive?
Hofstra represents many of the values that align with our vision.
The university has a strong reputation, a centrally located campus, excellent facilities, and a long history of serving the Long Island community.
Its accessibility and existing infrastructure make it an attractive potential partner as we work to bring professional soccer to the region.
What benefits will playing at HOFSTRA bring to the club and to the university?
Hofstra is an elite athletic venue with turnkey benefits for an expansion USL League One club. Hofstra provides a central Long Island location that is easily accessible for supporters and fans and delivers a strong game-day environment. It also provides professional stadium infrastructure equipped with the necessary facilities and technology upgrades to handle the complete USL League One Pre/Regular and Post season demands.
The University will benefit from increased soccer activity on campus, providing additional exposure, community engagement and student engagement opportunities to Hofstra, while also benefiting from a long term, multi-year tenant and partner. Having a professional club playing on campus will also provide benefits to students, such as internship and experiential learning opportunities.
