Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, and Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Gotham FC, the reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions, will play their home games at Etihad Park in Willets Point, starting in 2028.

Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, and Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Gotham FC, the reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions, will play their home games at Etihad Park in Willets Point, starting in 2028.

What an incredible time this is to be a sports fan here in The World’s Borough! This week, it was announced that yet another professional team is moving to Queens, as the reigning Na­tional Women’s Soccer League champions Gotham FC will play their home games at Etihad Park in Willets Point, starting in 2028.

Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said: “Not only do we have Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club moving into its 25,000-seat, state-of-the-art new home at Etihad Park next year. Not only will that stadium host nine soccer matches during the 2028 Summer Olympics. But now, World Cup winner Rose Lavelle, Olympic gold medalist Tierna Davidson, Brazilian superstar Bruninha, and the best women’s soccer team in the country will call Queens home in short order, cementing our borough’s rapid rise as an international sports and entertainment hub.

“What a tremendous moment this is for young girls across Queens and generations of young girls to come. They will have heroes to idolize right in their own backyard and even more of a reason to fall in love with the beautiful game. Soccer has always been the borough’s favorite sport. But with excitement around the World Cup at a fever pitch and the news of Gotham FC’s relocation to Queens, we hope young people in every neighbor­hood are inspired to pick up a soccer ball and chase their dreams of playing on the Etihad Park pitch.

“It’s also a tremendous moment for our economy and our status as a capital of culture. There has truly been no better time to invest in or call Queens home. Just ask NYCFC or Gotham FC. This week, we scored yet another incredible goal for The World’s Borough, as we become a global hub for the World’s Game.”

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said earlier in the week, “From Sam Kerr’s legendary four-goal comeback to Midge Purce’s championship- clinching heroics, Gotham FC has given us some of the greatest moments in women’s soccer. Now the next elec­trifying chapter of that story will be written in New York City,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Bringing Gotham FC to Queens means that the young girl kicking a ball around Jackson Heights, Jamaica, or the South Bronx will be able to take the train and watch some of the best players in the world in her own city.”

“New York State is home to some the world’s greatest sports teams, and we couldn’t be more excited to officially add the reigning NWSL Champi­ons, Gotham FC, to our ranks,” said Governor Hochul. “Now residents and visitors alike will be able to experience our premier women’s soccer team right here in New York City at our first-ever soccer specific stadium — giving play­ers and fans the world-class experience they deserve.”

Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce added: “As we continue building on the mo­mentum of the World Cup, this announcement reinforces what we’ve been saying all along: the world’s game belongs in the World’s Borough. We thank Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, and New York City FC for their vision and commitment to making Etihad Park a reality and creating a home for both of New York’s professional soccer clubs. From the FIFA World Cup to Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League, Queens is the epicenter of soccer in America, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Gotham FC to their new home.”