EDGEWATER CASTLE FC ANNOUNCES 2026 ENTRY INTO USL LEAGUE TWO AND USL W LEAGUE
- Ryan Bailey
- Nov 10
- 4 min read
CHICAGO, IL — Edgewater Castle Football Club is proud to announce that it will join USL League Two and the USL W League for the 2026 season.
This marks a historic step forward for the ambitious, community-driven, and community-owned club from Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, furthering its goal of delivering high-quality, accessible soccer while staying true to its local roots.
ECFC now offers men’s and women’s pre-professional soccer within the city of Chicago, and is the only USL club representing the northern lakefront communities of Chicago.
Founded in 2017, Edgewater Castle FC was built to serve Chicago’s most diverse and underrepresented communities through soccer, offering programs from grassroots youth level, through to its first teams.
In its first eight years, the club and its 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Edgewater Castle Football Foundation, have provided free soccer experiences to over 3,000 young people through camps, clinics, and pick-up games, in partnership with the Chicago Park District.
“We are thrilled to be joining the United Soccer League, and for our men’s and women’s teams to make this highly significant step up in the U.S. soccer pyramid,” said Andrew Swanson, President & General Manager of Edgewater Castle FC. “Our mission is to bring inclusive, accessible, community-first soccer to Chicago’s North Side.
“From youth programming with local schools and parks, to local charitable initiatives, we’re committed to elevating the entire community, and to providing a pathway to professional soccer that is truly open to all.”
ECFC was created to address the pay-to-play model prevalent in American soccer, which often creates financial barriers for talented players. The club’s Free-to-Play model ensures that no youth player will ever be required to pay to participate, creating opportunities for all aspiring players regardless of financial background.
The community-backed club is supported by more than 50 owners, including former United States Men’s National Team midfielder Kellyn Acosta.
"It has been so exciting to watch the club grow and achieve its goals in 2025, and we are even more excited about joining USL League Two and the USL W League in 2026,” said minority owner Acosta. “This shift will allow us to provide our players with a higher platform, and our community with new and amazing gameday experiences."
The club has already produced talent that has gone on to compete professionally in England, Italy, Dubai, and Major League Soccer.
Duygu Erdoğan, Head Coach of the USL League Two men’s team, said: "As a team, we’ve completed an incredible journey of discovery in 2025. Competing in USL League Two next year will be a huge milestone for both us and our club.
“Ahead lies a new level to explore and new goals to reach, and the best part is we have players who dream big, work hard, and truly believe in what we’re building. Helping them become more visible and showcasing their potential to a wider audience will be the most exciting part of this path.
“We achieved this together — and together, we keep growing!"
The USL W League team will be led by Head Coach Emma Woodley, who led the team to a United Women's Soccer League championship in 2025, while securing a National Championship at the helm of the North Park University women’s soccer program.
"What we've built with the Women's Program at Edgewater Castle speaks for itself,” said Woodley. “A 9-0-0 record in the UWS and a national title didn't happen by luck: it's the result of a committed group, a player-focused environment, and a high-performance standard.
“We've proven that we can compete with top sides, and we're becoming stronger every day. Our players are prepared, our staff is ready, and we're eager to take the next step in the USL W League."
In 2026, the club will move to a new primary Home Field in Winnemac Stadium, a 4,500-seat brick stadium located in the picturesque Winnemac Park in the Ravenswood community. The club's alternate stadium for the 2026 season will be North Park University's Holmgren Athletic Complex.
Joel Nash, USL SVP of Youth and Pre-Professional Properties, welcomed ECFC to the league: ‘In a short period of time, Edgewater Castle has become an integral part of Chicago’s
soccer scene. We’re excited to have them join League Two and W League because, while we know they have high aspirations for their performance on the pitch, their aspirations off the pitch are even higher.”
Edgewater Castle FC’s home field at Winnemac Stadium is easily accessible by public transportation and embedded in a diverse community. The club also has strong financial projections, reinforcing its long-term sustainability and community impact.
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About Edgewater Castle FC
Edgewater Castle Football Club (ECFC) is a community soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2017 by James Kitia and Andrew Swanson, the club's core mission is to provide accessible and high-quality soccer experiences, primarily for low-income, immigrant, and refugee communities in the Ravenswood, Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park neighborhoods. The club and its 501(c)(3) non-profit organization are committed to delivering Free-to-Play youth programs, fostering professional pathways, and elevating the local community through sport. In 2026, ECFC’s men’s and women’s teams will join USL League Two and the USL W League, respectively.
