SNOHOMISH—The Snohomish United soccer club announced today the addition of a new USL League 2 Youth Soccer team to its franchise that will build on the organization’s youth program that prepares players for professional careers.
“We’re totally engaged with our community within the city of Snohomish with our tournament and some of the other events we do but we really wanted to expand throughout Snohomish County as well and grow the game in the area,” Anthony Sardon, Coaching Director and Head Coach with Snohomish United, told the Lynnwood Times. “There’s nothing like having a really, really, really talented team that plays in a fun atmosphere, where our location is, and see what we can do for the local community as well.”
The announcement came at Haywire Brewing Company, located at 738 Rainier Street in Snohomish, on Thursday, November 7.
Recruiting and scouting for players begins immediately. When fully recruited, the team will have approximately 28 to 30 players. In the USL 2 league, players are typically around 18 to 23 years of age although some teams use U19 players, high school and junior club members, and former professionals.
The soccer club plans to hold an open try out soon. According to Sardon, it will most likely be when kids are on winter break or early spring.
Snohomish United is in contact with teams such as the Seattle Sounders FC, through its Youth Academy program, and is a great way for players to get exposure for professional scouting opportunities Sardon informed the Lynnwood Times.
As far as coaches go, the club says they are looking at a few right now but that announcement will also come at a later date. Snohomish United plans to announce an official name for its new team on December 4 at Haywire Brewing Company.
To accommodate the new team, the soccer club plans to designate one of their many soccer fields, spanning approximately 50 acres, to be dedicated full time to the USL League 2 team to meet the league’s requirements. This field will be a modular stadium, Sardon said, complete with food tents and a beer garden.
“Snohomish county has a strong soccer heritage,” Council Councilman Low told the Lynnwood Times. With the Club Work Cup and FIFA World Cup coming to the Puget Sound area, this is another thing to put Snohomish County soccer on the map. I am excited to see some of the best amateur soccer players in the world that will be coming to Snohomish County to play on this new team.”
The soccer club has yet to have their conference on scheduling but hopes to have a team ready to go by the 16-game, May through July 2025, season.
Founded in 1989 as a premier-level youth soccer club, Snohomish United is an integral part of the community, with its roots dating back to the mid-1970s through Snohomish Youth Soccer. Now, after decades of local, regional, and national success, the club is expanding its sights to pre-professional soccer by joining USL League 2.
“This exciting move provides a direct pathway for local and best collegiate talent to advance to the higher levels of soccer, such as pre-professional and eventually professional soccer. The USL League 2 team will offer the local community and Snohomish County a fun, attractive, and competitive product and game day experience that is unique to the city of Snohomish and Snohomish County,” the Snohomish United soccer club wrote in a press release published Thursday.
The USL was established in 1995, USL League 2 is the top pre-professional soccer league in the U.S., having over 370 players drafted into the MLS SuperDraft since 2010. In 2024, the league featured over 4,000 players from 135 countries. The USL League 2 Snohomish franchise’s participation in the league marks an exciting new chapter for the club, supporters, and the community, the club said.
