Minnesota United FC facts for kids
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| Full name | Minnesota United Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Loons, The Black and Blue | |||
| Short name | MNUFC | |||
| Founded | 2015 | |||
| Stadium | Allianz Field Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Stadium capacity |
19,400 | |||
| Owner | Bill McGuire | |||
| Head coach | Eric Ramsay | |||
| League | Major League Soccer | |||
| 2024 | Western Conference: 6th Overall: 11th Playoffs: Conference semifinals |
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Minnesota United Football Club, often called MNUFC, is a professional soccer team in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. The team started playing in the 2017 season. They were the 22nd team to join the league. They took the place of a team with the same name from the NASL.
For their first two MLS seasons, the club played home games at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. In early 2019, Minnesota United finished building Allianz Field. This is a special soccer-specific stadium in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood.
The team is owned by a group led by Bill McGuire. He used to be the CEO of UnitedHealth Group. Other owners include the Pohlad family, who own the Minnesota Twins. Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is also part of the group.
Contents
Team History
In January 2010, the National Sports Center decided to create a new soccer team. This team would replace the Minnesota Thunder. The Thunder team was having money problems. After a contest to name the team, they announced the name would be NSC Minnesota. Their nickname was the Stars. This was on February 5, 2010.
Just a few days later, Manny Lagos became the team's first head coach. He used to play for the U.S. national team. The team played its first game on April 11, 2010. They lost 2–0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps. In their next game, Daniel Wasson scored the team's first goal ever. They won that game 1–0 against the Carolina RailHawks.
On January 9, 2012, the club changed its name and logo. They dropped "NSC" from the name, becoming the Minnesota Stars. The new logo included the state motto, L’Étoile du Nord. The team kept looking for a new owner. They started the 2012 season with a 0–0 tie against the Carolina RailHawks. Over 8,000 fans watched this game at the Metrodome.
On March 25, 2015, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that Minnesota United would be the league's 23rd team. The team's ownership group is led by Bill McGuire. It also includes Jim Pohlad, who owns the MLB's Minnesota Twins. Glen Taylor, former owner of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, is also an owner.
The Twin Cities had other soccer teams before. These included the Minnesota Kicks from 1976 to 1981. Later, the Minnesota Strikers played in 1984.
First MLS Season: 2017
The team played its first MLS game on March 3, 2017. They lost 5–1 to the Portland Timbers. This was the biggest loss for a new team in their first game. Christian Ramirez scored Minnesota's first MLS goal.
Their first home game was against Atlanta United. It was played in a snowstorm! The temperature was very cold, only 19 °F (−7 °C). They lost that game 6–1. This meant Minnesota United set some unwanted records. They were the only team to give up five or more goals in two games in a row. After four games, they had given up 18 goals.
The team got its first MLS win on April 1. They beat Real Salt Lake 4–2 at home. As the season went on, the team got better. They signed new players like Ethan Finlay. Minnesota United finished their first MLS season in ninth place in the Western Conference.
2018 Season
In 2018, Minnesota United lost two important players, Kevin Molino and Ethan Finlay, to knee injuries. But they signed their first "Designated Player," Darwin Quintero. He joined from a Mexican team called Club América. Even though he joined late, Quintero led the team in goals (11) and assists (15) for 2018. On July 4, 2018, Quintero scored three goals in one game against Toronto FC. This was the first "hat trick" in Minnesota United's history.
Another "Designated Player," Ángelo Rodríguez, joined later. Minnesota United had almost 24,000 fans per game at TCF Bank Stadium. Their last game there had over 52,000 fans! The team won 10 games at home but only one game away.
2019 Season
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Before the 2019 season, MNUFC added many new players. This included their third "Designated Player," Ján Greguš. They also got Ike Opara, who was the 2017 MLS Defender of the Year. Other new players were Osvaldo Alonso, Romain Métanire, and goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
MNUFC started the 2019 season with five away games. Their first game at the new Allianz Field was on April 13. They tied 3–3 with New York City. At home, the team won ten games, tied six, and lost two. Their away game performance was much better in 2019. They won five away games and tied two. This included a big 2-0 win against LAFC on September 1.
The club had a great run in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. On August 27, they played against Atlanta United in the Cup final. This was Minnesota's first final since joining MLS. Atlanta won the match 2–1.
MNUFC finished fourth in the Western Conference. This earned them a spot in the 2020 Leagues Cup. MNUFC played its first MLS playoff game on October 20 against the LA Galaxy. They lost 2–1.
Two players received special awards that season. Ike Opara was named 2019 MLS Defender of the Year. Vito Mannone was named 2019 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He had 11 "cleansheets" (games where he didn't let the other team score).
2020 Season
After the 2019 season, Minnesota United traded Darwin Quintero. They got Marlon Hairston and money in return. When goalkeeper Vito Mannone's loan ended, Minnesota United got Tyler Miller (soccer) to be their new starting goalie. They also added striker Luis Amarilla.
The team started 2020 very well with two wins in March. But then Major League Soccer stopped its season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 season started again in July with the MLS is Back Tournament. This tournament was held in Orlando, Florida. The Loons finished second in their group. In the knockout stage, MNUFC won against the Columbus Crew and the San Jose Earthquakes. They then lost to Orlando City in the tournament semifinal.
After the tournament, the 2020 season went back to normal games. The Loons added more players. Emanuel Reynoso joined as a "Designated Player." Veteran forward Kei Kamara also joined.
MNUFC finished fourth in the MLS Western Conference. They won their second playoff game at home against the Colorado Rapids. Then they beat the top team, Sporting Kansas City, away from home. The Loons then played against the Sounders in the Western Conference final. They were winning 2-0 late in the game, but Seattle scored three quick goals to win. This ended Minnesota's great season.
2021 Season
Even though they were close to the MLS Cup final in 2020, the 2021 season started with four losses. But in May, the Loons started to play much better. They lost only two of their next seventeen games. Key players came back from injuries. They also signed Franco Fragapane and Adrien Hunou. They finished the regular season in fifth place. They played an away playoff game against the Portland Timbers, but lost 3-1.
2022 Season
The 2022 season was a big year for goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. He had an amazing game in his third week, stopping eight shots and not letting the other team score. The Loons had a good first half of the season, winning 8 games, losing 6, and tying 3. In the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, Minnesota lost to a lower-league team, USL League One side Union Omaha, which was a surprise. Midfielder Emanuel Reynoso joined St. Clair in the 2022 MLS All-Star Game. This game was held at Allianz Field.
The second half of the season was harder for Minnesota. They went six games without a win. But they won a very important game against Vancouver Whitecaps on the last day of the season. This win helped them get into the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs for the fourth year in a row! They were the only team in the Western Conference to do this. In the playoffs, they tied 1-1 with FC Dallas after extra time. But they lost in a penalty shootout.
Team Colors and Badge
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The team's badge has a special picture of a loon. The loon is the state bird of Minnesota. It has eleven feathers spread out, one for each player on the field. The team's colors are gray, sky blue, and black, with a touch of red.
The blue line on the logo stands for the Mississippi River. The two sides of the blue represent the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The gray color shows the Iron Range area of Minnesota. The crest pointing upwards and the North Star are inspired by L'Etoile du Nord, which is the state motto.
Team Sponsors
| Years | Kit Maker | Shirt Sponsor | Sleeve Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2020 | Adidas | Target | — |
| 2020–2022 | Bell Bank | ||
| 2023–2024 | Allianz | ||
| 2025–present | NutriSource
Finley's |
Team Culture
Minnesota United's mascot is PK, a loon. PK has been the team mascot since 2014. The two main fan groups for Minnesota United are Dark Clouds and True North Elite. There are also other groups like the Red Loons and Dark Glitterati. The team's academy helps young players in the community. It also gives them a way to join the main team.
In 2019, the fan group "MNWonderwall" started "THUNDERWALL." This is a drumline at Allianz Field that helps with chants during games. Fans of Minnesota United sing the Oasis song "Wonderwall" after every home win.
Stadium Information
The team's owner, Bill McGuire, wanted to build an 18,500-seat outdoor soccer stadium. It would be near the Minneapolis Farmers Market. The league wanted a plan for the stadium by July 1, 2015.
In April 2015, the owners shared their plan. The stadium was expected to cost $250 million. This included money for joining MLS, buying land, and building. The owners asked for some tax help from the state and city.
The mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges, did not support the tax breaks. She said that unlike other stadiums, this one would be privately owned. The Minnesota Senate also voted against using state money for the stadium.
Even though the July 1 deadline passed, Minnesota was still a choice for an expansion team. This was partly because of interest from St. Paul. In August 2015, the team's deal to buy land in Minneapolis ended.
On September 8, 2015, the Ramsey County Board supported building the stadium in St. Paul. It would be on a city-owned lot where a bus barn used to be. The plan was that private money would pay for the design and building.
On October 23, 2015, it was announced that Minnesota United would build their stadium on the 35-acre St. Paul Bus Barn site. The stadium would have about 20,000 seats and be paid for by the team.
The team hired Populous to design the stadium on November 25, 2015. They also hired Mortenson Construction to help build it.
On February 24, 2016, the team showed the design plans for their 21,500-seat soccer stadium. It was planned to be built by 2018 and paid for by the team.
On July 25, 2017, the stadium's name was announced as Allianz Field. It opened in March 2019.
On August 19, 2016, it was announced that Minnesota United would play in the 2017 Major League Soccer season. Their home games would be at TCF Bank Stadium. This stadium was their home for 2017 and 2018 while their new soccer stadium was being built.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Players on Loan
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Team Management
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Team Records
Season by Season
Here's a look at how Minnesota United FC has done each season:
| Season | League | Position | Playoffs | USOC | Continental / Other | Average attendance |
Top Goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div | League | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Conf. | Overall | Name(s) | Goals | ||||||
| 2017 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 47 | 70 | –23 | 36 | 1.06 | 9th | 19th | DNQ | R4 | DNQ | 20,538 |  Christian Ramirez |
14 | |
| 2018 | MLS | 34 | 11 | 20 | 3 | 49 | 71 | –22 | 36 | 1.06 | 10th | 18th | Ro16 | 23,902 |  Darwin Quintero |
11 | ||||
| 2019 | MLS | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 53 | 1.56 | 4th | 7th | R1 | RU | 19,723 | Darwin Quintero |
16 | |||
| 2020 | MLS | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 34 | 1.62 | 4th | 9th | SF | NH | Leagues Cup
MLS is Back Tournament |
NH
SF |
N/A |  Kevin Molino |
13 | |
| 2021 | MLS | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 44 | -2 | 49 | 1.44 | 5th | 11th | R1 | NH | DNQ | 14,381 |  Robin Lod |
9 | ||
| 2022 | MLS | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 48 | 51 | -3 | 48 | 1.41 | 6th | 11th | R1 | Ro16 | 19,555 |  Emanuel Reynoso |
12 | |||
| 2023 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 46 | 51 | -5 | 41 | 1.21 | 11th | 21st | DNQ | Ro16 | Leagues Cup | QF | 19,568 |  Bongokuhle Hlongwane |
17 | |
| 2024 | MLS | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 58 | 49 | +9 | 52 | 1.53 | 6th | 10th | QF | DNP | Leagues Cup | GS | 19,566 | Bongokuhle Hlongwane |
11 | |
| 2025 | MLS | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 40 | 27 | +13 | 41 | 1.71 | 3rd | 8th | TBD | SF | Leagues Cup | LS | 19,077 |  Kelvin Yeboah |
10 | |
1. Avg. attendance means how many people came to league games only.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league, playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other official games.
Games Against International Teams
| Date | Competition | Venue | Home Team | Result | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 3, 2017 | Friendly | Kino Sports Complex | Minnesota United | 1–1 |  Istra |
| July 15, 2017 | Friendly | TCF Bank Stadium | Minnesota United | 1–1 |  Atlas |
| July 11, 2018 | Friendly | TCF Bank Stadium | Minnesota United | 1–2 |  Saprissa |
| May 22, 2019 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 0–1 |  Hertha Berlin |
| July 17, 2019 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 0–3 |  Aston Villa |
| September 7, 2019 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 2–2 | Pachuca |
| February 19, 2022 | Friendly | Providence Park | Minnesota United | 2–2 |  Viking |
| June 11, 2022 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 4–3 | Paderborn 07 |
| July 20, 2022 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 4–0 | Everton |
| June 28, 2023 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 2–1 | Kaiserslautern |
| July 23, 2023 | Leagues Cup | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 4–0 | Puebla |
| August 8, 2023 | Leagues Cup | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 2(p)–2 | Deportivo Toluca |
| March 20, 2024 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 1–0 |  St Patrick's Athletic |
| July 30, 2024 | Leagues Cup | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 1–0 | Club Necaxa |
| July 7, 2025 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United | 0–0 | Holstein Kiel |
Team Achievements
- U.S. Open Cup
- Second Place (1): 2019
How to Watch Games
Since 2023, you can watch every Minnesota United game on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app. Before that, games were shown on local TV channels in the Twin Cities.
From 2017, games were on WFTC. Then they moved to Bally Sports North and Bally Sports Wisconsin in 2018. For the 2021 Major League Soccer season, WUCW also showed 16 games. KSTP is the team's radio partner.
The team's game announcers include Callum Williams, who does the play-by-play. He used to work for Sporting Kansas City. He also worked for the BBC and Sky Sports in the UK. Kyndra de St. Aubin gives extra comments during the game. She is from Stillwater and is the only female announcer covering Major League Soccer. She has covered many soccer games and even the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
See also
In Spanish: Minnesota United Football Club para niños
