Minnesota United have been confirmed as the next Major League Soccer team and will join the league from the start of the 2018 season.
MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed United as the league's latest expansion club during a press conference in Minnesota on Wednesday.
"We are proud to welcome Minnesota to Major League Soccer," he said.
"The ownership group's commitment to soccer and the community, the area's growing millennial population and the region's rich tradition of supporting soccer at all levels in Minnesota were key indicators that this was the right market.
"The passionate soccer fans in Minnesota will soon have a world-class, downtown soccer stadium that will serve as the home for the new MLS team and become a destination for marquee international sports events."
The MLS was expanded to 20 teams for the 2015 season, which got under way earlier this month, with New York City FC and Orlando City SC the latest additions to the league.
United, who currently play in the North American Soccer League, will become the league's 23rd team, with Los Angeles FC and an Atlanta team making their debuts in 2017.
In February last year David Beckham, who spent five seasons with Los Angeles Galaxy, outlined his plans to set up an MLS franchise in Miami in the future.
Minnesota will play games at a specifically-constructed stadium in the centre of Minneapolis and the club's owner Dr Bill McGuire described Wednesday's announcement as "a momentous day " for the state.
"I want to thank MLS commissioner Don Garber and the league's owners for helping us bring Major League Soccer to Minnesota," he said.
"As a group of Minnesotans who love this state and have made a commitment to bring this vision to life, this is a momentous day that we've all been waiting for."
Source: PA
