Memphis sports enthusiasts can look forward to the return of professional soccer with the introduction of the Memphis Football Club set to join USL League Two in 2026. This development comes on the heels of Memphis 901 FC's departure to California last year due to unfulfilled stadium plans in the Bluff City, as reported by Action News 5.
Owned by former professional player Carey Talley and his brother Clark, Memphis FC aims to provide a local and domestic talent pipeline and will play at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, which has previously hosted the Memphis Tigers and offers a capacity of 2,500 seats that could be expanded, as mentioned by The Commercial Appeal.
It is a change of pace from Memphis 901 FC's previous setup, which played at Autozone Park in the higher-tier USL Championship division; Memphis FC will instead focus on development during a two-month summer season, targeting at providing opportunities for college athletes and aspiring professionals, according to WREG.
Carey Talley emphasized the club's commitment, "As we launch Memphis Football Club into USL League Two in 2026, we recognize the incredible moment this represents for both our city and our country," he said, “Our club is committed to creating real opportunities for local and domestic talent; giving players from Memphis and the Mid-South a pathway to develop, compete, and be seen on a national stage. Memphis has a proud soccer legacy, and joining USL League Two allows us to honor that history while building a future where the next generation can achieve their goals through the pathway to pro system,” according to the report by Action News 5.
The new team is an answer to the vacuum left by Memphis 901 FC, which had been actively seeking a soccer-specific stadium before its relocation, engagement with multiple proposals over the years including plans for a new venue at the site of the closed Mid-South Coliseum but none of them taking root due to funding constraints, which was a factor noted across several reports and a significant touchpoint in the narrative of professional soccer in Memphis.
