The United Soccer League has announced that Brooklyn, N.Y. and North Sixth Group have been awarded a USL League One franchise.

The team will begin competing in 2025.

“With world-renowned arts, food, music and nightlife, a tremendous mix of cultures among more than 2.6 million residents, and immense local pride, Brooklyn is the perfect home for a professional USL club,” USL Deputy CEO Justin Papadakis said in a statement

“Brooklyn is a globally recognized home for what’s cool now and what’s going to be cool next. We believe that Brooklyn’s USL club will become a leading soccer brand not only in the United States but also around the world. We look forward to working together with the club and the passionate soccer fans of Brooklyn as we continue to shape the future of soccer in America.”

North Sixth Group is a New York-based family office operating company that provides strategic services, operating expertise and capital to companies across the globe. The company’s holdings span the financial services, media, professional services, sports and entertainment, technology and wine and spirits sectors.

North Sixth Group and chairman Matt Rizzetta are familiar with soccer and hold investments in a pair of professional Italian clubs in second-division Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC (Serie B) and fourth-division Campobasso Football Club (Serie D). North Sixth Group acquired an ownership interest in Ascoli in 2021 and acquired a controlling interest in Campobasso in 2022 after making its first investment in the club in 2020. Ascoli has competed in Italy’s Serie A or Serie B for more than 40 seasons, while Campobasso won promotion to Serie D in the 2022-23 season.

“We know that Brooklyn will become a transformational market for soccer in the United States,” Rizzetta said in a statement. “I cannot think of a place that better represents the cultural diversity, passion and ambition that has made soccer the world’s most beautiful game.

“We would like to thank the USL for awarding us the rights to bring professional soccer to the world’s borough. We are excited to get to work and to begin building something truly special that will make everyone who identifies with Brooklyn extremely proud.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.