CHICAGO & TAMPA, Fla. - The United Soccer League announced today that Edgewater Castle FC will join USL League Two and W League for the 2026 season.

Founded in 2017, Edgewater Castle was established with a commitment to bring high-quality, equitable access to soccer opportunities and experiences to the Far-North Lakefront communities of Chicago. Across its budding history, Edgewater Castle’s men’s and women’s first teams established a standard of performance and success that has earned the club five regional and one national trophies. The club made history as the first club to win both the men’s and women’s Illinois State Soccer Association Open Cup in 2025.

“Joining the United Soccer League ecosystem with both our men’s and women’s programs is an enormous milestone for Edgewater Castle,” said Andrew Swanson, Edgewater Castle President and General Manager. “We have worked tirelessly for many years to provide our players, coaches, and fans with the best possible experiences and opportunities on and off the field, and starting in 2026, we will have the honor of representing our community in League Two and the W League.”

Edgewater Castle strives to be its neighborhood’s local club through multiple community events throughout the year. The club collaborates with the Chicago Park District to provide free youth programming to children year-round, teaching the fundamentals, techniques, and rules of soccer. Providing organized and accessible experiences to low-income, immigrant, and refugee communities in Chicago is part of the club’s mission and key values.

“In a short period of time, Edgewater Castle has become an integral part of Chicago’s soccer scene,” said Joel Nash, USL SVP of Youth and Pre-Professional Properties. “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.”

The community-backed club is supported by over 50 owners, including current Chicago Fire FC midfielder Kellyn Acosta who has made 58 appearances for the United States Men’s National Team.

“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 USL W League in 2026,” said Acosta. “This shift will allow us to provide our players with a higher platform, and our community with new and amazing gameday experiences.”

Edgewater Castle will be a member of the Central Conference’s Heartland Division in both League Two and W League.

To learn more about Edgewater Castle FC, visit the club’s website, Instagram, and Facebook.