Several years ago, when officials from the City of Hattiesburg and Visit Hattiesburg adopted a strategic plan regarding the next steps in making Hattiesburg a premier city in the Gulf South, they were presented with a list of specific strategies for that measure – with one of the areas of focus in that plan honing in on youth and adult sports teams.
Perhaps the biggest step toward that specific feature was accomplished on January 23, when officials took to Hattiesburg City Hall to announce that Hattiesburg has been selected as the newest city in the United States to join the nation’s leading professional soccer league. As such, the pre-professional Hattiesburg Futbol Club Thunder team will begin the 2024 soccer season as a member of the United Soccer League Two, a program designed to develop professional soccer players domestically and internationally.
“Hattiesburg continues to elevate its position as a sports tourism destination,” Mayor Toby Barker said. “Today’s announcement … stands as a testament to the Hattiesburg Futbol Club’s bold vision and willingness to do the hard work in growing the soccer culture in our city.
“It serves as a reminder that our sights should always be set high, (along with) our determination to always go after big things. I believe the arrival of this expansion team can serve as a catalyst for greater things.”
HFC Thunder will be part of the Mid-South division of USL2, and will primarily play against teams based out of Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. Competitive play begins in May at Tatum Park on Parkway Boulevard in Hattiesburg, off of Veterans Memorial Drive.
The team will begin play on the road before playing a total of six home matches at the park.
“Hattiesburg has long enjoyed a rich soccer culture, which has been led largely by what we know as Hattiesburg Futbol Club, established in 1980, said Rory Lynch, director of athletic operations for the club. “This program has fostered generations of soccer players in the Hattiesburg metro area.
“We are pleased today to add a fourth tier to Hattiesburg Futbol Club, one that will set this city and this region apart. This pre-professional league will land Hattiesburg among cities like Dallas, Baton Rouge, Little Rock and Shreveport. We believe that Hattiesburg is a sleeping giant in terms of our soccer community, and grassroots is – and always will be – our foundation.”
The debut of a USL2 team in Hattiesburg will allow Hub City fans the opportunity to watch soccer players from across the world train and compete at the highest level.
“The importance of sports tourism is highlighted by the fact that it has increased by more than 10 million visitors, just in this area, in the last five years,” said Marlo Dorsey, executive director of Visit Hattiesburg. “Locally, that equates to more than $55 million to our local economy each and every year.
“We’ve been named a consecutive host for the Mississippi high school football championship, softball state championship, and we’ve also hosted many regional and super-regional baseball tournaments at USM in the past few years – the first for any city in the state of Mississippi. Let’s take that momentum and add it to the great staff and leadership (in our city).”
HFC Thunder is currently in the process of scouting players and preparing to welcome fans to Hattiesburg this summer. Games will be open to the public, with the opportunity for fans to meet the team, get autographs, and share in the enthusiasm of the season.
To keep up with the team and league, visit hattiesburgfc.com and uslleaguetwo.com.
