Austin FC

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Lore & Background

Austin FC is the first top-division major professional sports team in the Austin area. The club's crest was designed by local brand studio The Butler Bros, featuring the color 'Bright Verde', intertwined oaks, and four roots representing the compass directions of Austin. The club's first head coach was Josh Wolff, hired in July 2019. Claudio Reyna was hired as Sporting Director in November 2019 and resigned in early January 2023, staying as a Technical Advisor; by April 2023 he was no longer listed as a technical advisor on the club website. Rodolfo Borrell took over as Sporting Director in June 2023. In 2022, Austin FC won the Division 1 Copa Tejas, their first trophy, and advanced to the Western Conference Final, losing to LAFC 3-0. In 2025, the club reached its first U.S. Open Cup final, losing 1–2 to Nashville SC; Austin's lone goal was scored by Uzuni. After failing to make the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, Josh Wolff was released on October 6, 2024. Nico Estévez was hired as head coach for the 2025 season. In 2026, after a poor start and elimination from the U.S. Open Cup by USL side Louisville City FC, both Rodolfo Borrell and Nico Estévez were released one game before the 60 day FIFA World Cup break. On June 8, 2026, Austin FC announced Jim Curtin as the club's next head coach following the 2026 season.

In Their Own Story

The inaugural season began on April 17, 2021, with a 0–2 loss to LAFC at Banc of California Stadium. Victory arrived the following week against the Colorado Rapids (3–1), where Diego Fagúndez scored the club's first goal and Designated Player Cecilio Dominguez added two more. The home opener on June 19, 2021, against San Jose Earthquakes ended in a 0-0 draw before the team secured its first home win on July 1 with a 4–1 victory over Portland Timbers; Jon Gallagher scored the first MLS goal at Q2 Stadium. In 2022, Austin FC set an MLS record with 10 goals in their first two matches and claimed their first trophy, the Division 1 Copa Tejas, on July 16. Moussa Djitte scored the first hat trick in club history during a crucial playoff-clinching win against Real Salt Lake. However, the path was not linear: after reaching the Western Conference Final in 2022, they lost to LAFC 3–0. By 2024, the team missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year, leading to Josh Wolff's release on October 6, 2024.

Reader's Guide

Austin FC plays at Q2 Stadium, built at McKalla Place near The Domain. The stadium is owned by the City of Austin and privately financed by Two Oak Ventures. The club's first MLS match was on April 17, 2021, a 0–2 loss to LAFC. Their first victory came the following week against the Colorado Rapids, 3–1. The club's first home opener was on June 19, 2021, a 0–0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes. Their first home victory was on July 1, 2021, defeating the Portland Timbers 4–1. Austin FC qualified for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League based on their 2022 finish, losing 3–2 on aggregate to Violette AC. They also competed in the 2023 Leagues Cup, losing both group matches. In 2025, Austin qualified for the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, being matched against LAFC, and was eliminated after losing both round one playoff games.

Did You Know?

• Austin FC is the first major professional sports league team to play in the Texas capital.
• The club's first Designated Player was Cecilio Dominguez, who scored two goals in the club's first victory.
• Sebastián Driussi became the first player to score 10, 20, and 30 career goals for the club and was named the club's first All-Star in 2022.
• Owen Wolff signed as the club's first homegrown player on September 9, 2021.
• Moussa Djitte scored the first hat trick in club history in a 3-0 home win against Real Salt Lake in 2022.