Last Sunday evening, football in San Diego, California, changed. Marking their first ever competitive match in style, San Diego FC made the trip up the I-5 highway and ended reigning MLS champions LA Galaxy’s 494-day unbeaten run at home. A 2–0 victory that meant so much more. Naturally, the away fans exploded at full time, enraptured as all of the stories that have circled the debut of San Diego’s new team played out before their eyes: Chucky Lozano’s North America homecoming, Luca de la Torre returning to the town where it all began, Anders Dreyer the potent crown jewel drawn from the club’s network in Denmark.
The city of San Diego—60 years without a title in any professional sport—has a new team to pour its unique energy into, and in doing so, will earn the title of a real American “soccer city”. San Diego FC, who are partnered with the multi-club academy group Right To Dream, have presented a vision for the present and future of San Diego football. I grew up in this amazing place. It’s strange to have a team arrive in your city claiming firsts when you know what has come before. But when Anders Dreyer raced through on 90+3’ and slammed a shot in off the bar, there was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that can’t be faked. San Diego has a right to dream.
But as the dawn of the “azul y chrome” era began in earnest, I couldn’t help but ask myself: what was San Diego soccer before, and what can it be now?