April 1, 2015: Major League Soccer is pleased to announce Texarkana United Soccer Association as the 25th MLS franchise! Texarkana will join the Western Conference and begin play in 2018.  Play will begin at the soccer specific stadium at Texas A&M-Texarkana.

“I want to thank MLS Commissioner Don Garber and the league’s owners for helping us bring Major League Soccer to Texarkana,” Club President Gene Joyce said in the statement. “As a group of Texarkanans who love this game and have made a commitment to bring this vision to life, this is a momentous day that we’ve all been waiting for.”

“Their location at the confluence of four states sets Texarkana apart from other MLS franchises.” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.  “The passionate soccer fans in Texarkana will soon have a world-class home for the new MLS team; and Texarkana will become a destination for marquee international sports events.”

World Cup winning manager Joachim Low has been announced as the first head coach of Texarkana United and US National Team captain Clint Dempsey was announced as the team’s first ever signing.  “As a native Texan, I am glad to return home to help grow soccer in East Texas,” Dempsey said at a press conference.

The expansion to the soccer specific stadium will no doubt catch the eye of FIFA as it begins to plan the 2022 World Cup based solely in the state of Texas.