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: TBD |
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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 MLS in 2017. They took the place of a team with the same name that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL).
For their first two MLS seasons, the club played home games at TCF Bank Stadium. This stadium is on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In early 2019, Minnesota United FC opened their new home, Allianz Field. This is a special stadium built just for soccer in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood.
The team's main owner is Bill McGuire. He used to be the CEO of UnitedHealth Group. Other owners include families who own other Minnesota sports teams.
Contents
Club History
How the Team Started
In January 2010, the National Sports Center decided to create a new soccer team. This team would replace the Minnesota_Thunder, which was having money problems. After a contest to name the team, they announced the official name would be NSC Minnesota. Their nickname was the Stars.
A few days later, Manny Lagos, a former player for the U.S. Men's National Team, became the first head coach. 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, helping them win 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 FC. The new logo included the state motto, L’Étoile du Nord, which means "The Star of the North."
Joining Major League Soccer
On March 25, 2015, the commissioner of Major League Soccer, Don Garber, announced that Minnesota United would be the league's 23rd team. The team's ownership group, led by Bill McGuire, was chosen. This group included owners of other sports teams in the Twin Cities, like the Minnesota Twins (baseball) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (basketball).
The Twin Cities had other professional soccer teams before. The Minnesota Kicks played in the NASL from 1976 to 1981. Later, the Minnesota Strikers played in 1984.
The league preferred a stadium built just for soccer, with about 20,000 seats and a grass field. Bill McGuire's group wanted to build a new, privately funded stadium.
First MLS Seasons
2017 Season: A New Start
Minnesota United played their 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 MLS game. Christian Ramirez scored the team's first MLS goal.
Their first home game was against another new team, Atlanta United FC. It was played in a snowstorm, with very cold temperatures. Minnesota lost 6–1, setting another record for a new team's biggest home loss. After four games, they had given up 18 goals, which was an MLS record.
The team got its first MLS win on April 1, beating Real Salt Lake 4–2 at home. As the season went on, the team got better. They finished their first MLS season in ninth place in the Western Conference.
2018 Season: New Players
In 2018, Minnesota United lost two important players, Kevin Molino and Ethan Finlay, to knee injuries. But they also signed their first "Designated Player," Darwin Quintero. He joined from a Mexican league team. Even though he joined later in the season, Quintero led the team in goals (11) and assists (15). On July 4, 2018, he scored three goals in one game, which is called a hat trick. This was the first hat trick in Minnesota United's history.
Another "Designated Player," Ángelo Rodríguez, joined the team later. Minnesota United had many fans come to their games, averaging almost 24,000 per match. They won 10 games at home but only one game away.
2019 Season: Moving to Allianz Field
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Before the 2019 season, MNUFC added many new players. This included their third "Designated Player," midfielder Ján Greguš. They also got Ike Opara, who was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2017, and experienced midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.
The team played their first game at the new Allianz Field on April 13, 2019. They tied 3–3 with New York City FC. They had a great record at home, with 10 wins, 6 ties, and 2 losses. Their away game performance also got much better.
The club had a very successful run in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. They reached the final on August 27, playing against Atlanta United. Atlanta won the match 2–1.
MNUFC finished fourth in the Western Conference. This earned them a spot in the 2020 Leagues Cup. They also played in their first MLS playoff game on October 20, but lost 2–1 to the LA Galaxy.
Two players received big awards that season. Ike Opara was named 2019 MLS Defender of the Year for the second time. Vito Mannone, the goalkeeper, was named 2019 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
2020 Season: Pandemic Challenges
After the 2019 season, Minnesota United traded Darwin Quintero. They brought in Tyler Miller (soccer) as the new starting goalkeeper. They also added new players like striker Luis Amarilla.
The team started 2020 with two good wins on the road. However, Major League Soccer then stopped its season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The season restarted in July with the MLS is Back Tournament in Florida. The Loons finished second in their group. In the knockout stage, they won two games before losing to Orlando City SC in the semifinal.
After the tournament, the regular season continued. The Loons added more players, including midfielder Emanuel Reynoso as a "Designated Player."
MNUFC finished fourth in the Western Conference. They won their first playoff game 3–0 against the Colorado Rapids. Then they beat the top-seeded Sporting Kansas City 3–0 away from home. In the Western Conference final, they played against the Sounders. Minnesota was leading 2–0 late in the game, but Seattle scored three quick goals to win and end Minnesota's season.
2021 Season: A Strong Comeback
The 2021 season started with four straight losses, which was disappointing after their strong 2020 run. But in May, the team started to improve quickly. They lost only two of their next seventeen games. Key players returned from injuries, and they signed Argentinian Franco Fragapane and Frenchman Adrien Hunou. They finished the regular season in fifth place, making it to the playoffs. However, their season ended with a 3–1 loss to the Portland Timbers.
2022 Season: All-Stars and Playoffs
The 2022 season saw goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair become a star. He had an amazing game in his third appearance, making 8 saves to keep a shutout. In July, the Loons had a big 4–0 win in a friendly game against the English Premier League team Everton. The team had a good first half of the season.
In the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, Minnesota was upset by USL League One team Union Omaha, losing 2–1. Midfielder Emanuel Reynoso joined St. Clair in the 2022 MLS All-Star Game, which was held at Allianz Field.
The second half of the season was tougher for Minnesota. They had a 6-game streak without a win. But they won a crucial game against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on the final day to get the 6th spot in the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs. This made them the only team in the Western Conference to reach the playoffs four years in a row. They tied 1–1 with FC Dallas after 120 minutes, but lost in a penalty shootout.
Team Colors and Badge
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The team's badge has a stylish loon, which is the official state bird of Minnesota. It has eleven feathers, one for each player on the field. The team 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, the state motto.
Team Sponsors
| Years | Kit Maker | Shirt Sponsor | Sleeve Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2020 | Adidas | Target | — |
| 2020–2022 | Bell Bank | ||
| 2023–present | Allianz |
Club Culture
Minnesota United's mascot is PK, a loon. PK has been the club's mascot since 2014. The two main fan groups are Dark Clouds and True North Elite. There's also a bigger group called "MNWonderwall" that includes other fan groups.
The club also has a youth academy. This academy helps young players in the community grow and gives them a chance to play for the main team. In 2019, the "Wonderwall" fan group started "THUNDERWALL." This is a drumline at Allianz Field that helps lead chants during games.
After every home victory, fans of Minnesota United sing the Oasis song "Wonderwall."
Home Stadium
The team's ownership wanted to build a soccer-specific stadium with about 18,500 seats. They looked at a spot near the Minneapolis Farmers Market. The league wanted a plan for the stadium by July 1, 2015.
The owners planned for the stadium to cost about $250 million. This included money for the MLS expansion fee, buying land, and building the stadium. They asked for some tax help from the state and local governments.
However, the mayor of Minneapolis was against giving tax breaks for a privately owned stadium. The Minnesota Senate also voted against using state money for the stadium.
Later, the mayor of St. Paul, Chris Coleman, suggested building the stadium on a vacant city-owned lot. This lot used to be a bus garage.
On October 23, 2015, it was announced that Minnesota United would build their stadium on the St. Paul bus garage site. The stadium would hold about 20,000 people and be paid for by the team.
The team hired Populous to design the stadium and Mortenson Construction to build it. On February 24, 2016, they showed the design plans for the 21,500-seat stadium.
On July 25, 2017, the stadium's name was announced as Allianz Field. It officially opened in March 2019.
Before Allianz Field was ready, Minnesota United played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium for the 2017 Major League Soccer season and 2018 season.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Players on Loan
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Coaching and Management
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Coaching Staff
Front Office Leaders
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Team Records
Season by Season History
Here's a quick look at how Minnesota United FC has done each season:
| Season | League | Position | Playoffs | USOC | Other Competitions | Average Attendance |
Top Goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
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| Div | League | Games | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff. | Points | Points Per Game | Conf. | Overall | Name(s) | Goals | ||||||
| 2017 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 47 | 70 | –23 | 36 | 1.06 | 9th | 19th | Did Not Qualify | Round 4 | Did Not Qualify | 20,538 |  Christian Ramirez |
14 | |
| 2018 | MLS | 34 | 11 | 20 | 3 | 49 | 71 | –22 | 36 | 1.06 | 10th | 18th | Round of 16 | 23,902 |  Darwin Quintero |
11 | ||||
| 2019 | MLS | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 53 | 1.56 | 4th | 7th | Round 1 | Runner-Up | 19,723 | Darwin Quintero |
16 | |||
| 2020 | MLS | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 34 | 1.62 | 4th | 9th | Semifinals | Not Held | Leagues Cup
MLS is Back Tournament |
Not Held
Semifinals |
N/A |  Kevin Molino |
13 | |
| 2021 | MLS | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 44 | -2 | 49 | 1.44 | 5th | 11th | Round 1 | Not Held | Did Not Qualify | 14,381 |  Robin Lod |
9 | ||
| 2022 | MLS | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 48 | 51 | -3 | 48 | 1.41 | 6th | 11th | Round 1 | Round of 16 | 19,555 |  Emanuel Reynoso |
12 | |||
| 2023 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 46 | 51 | -5 | 41 | 1.21 | 11th | 21st | Did Not Qualify | Round of 16 | Leagues Cup | Quarterfinals | 19,568 |  Bongokuhle Hlongwane |
17 | |
| 2024 | MLS | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 58 | 49 | +9 | 52 | 1.53 | 6th | 10th | Quarterfinals | Did Not Play | Leagues Cup | Group Stage | 19,566 | Bongokuhle Hlongwane |
11 | |
1. Avg. attendance only includes numbers from league games.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league, playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back tournament, and other official matches.
Games Against International Teams
| Date | Competition | Venue | Home Team | Result | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 3, 2017 | Friendly | Kino Sports Complex | Minnesota United FC | 1–1 |  NK Istra 1961 |
| July 15, 2017 | Friendly | TCF Bank Stadium | Minnesota United FC | 1–1 |  Atlas |
| July 11, 2018 | Friendly | TCF Bank Stadium | Minnesota United FC | 1–2 |  Saprissa |
| May 22, 2019 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 0–1 |  Hertha Berlin |
| July 17, 2019 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 0–3 |  Aston Villa |
| September 7, 2019 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 2–2 | C.F. Pachuca |
| February 19, 2022 | Friendly | Providence Park | Minnesota United FC | 2–2 |  Viking FK |
| June 11, 2022 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 4–3 | SC Paderborn 07 |
| July 20, 2022 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 4–0 | Everton F.C. |
| June 28, 2023 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 2–1 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| July 23, 2023 | Leagues Cup | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 4–0 | Club Puebla |
| August 8, 2023 | Leagues Cup | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 2(p)–2 | Deportivo Toluca |
| March 20, 2024 | Friendly | Allianz Field | Minnesota United FC | 1–0 |  St Patrick's Athletic |
Team Achievements
- U.S. Open Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2019 (This means they made it to the final game but didn't win the trophy.)
How to Watch Games
Since 2023, you can watch every Minnesota United game on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app. Before this, games were shown on local TV channels in the Twin Cities.
WFTC showed games in 2017. Then, games moved to Bally Sports North and Bally Sports Wisconsin in 2018. For the 2021 Major League Soccer season, WUCW also showed some games. KSTP is the team's radio partner.
The game commentators include Callum Williams, who does the play-by-play. He has worked for other soccer teams and major broadcasters. He is joined by Kyndra de St. Aubin, who gives extra commentary. She is from Stillwater, Minnesota, and is one of the few female commentators covering Major League Soccer. She has also covered the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
See also
In Spanish: Minnesota United Football Club para niños
