San Diego has been officially designated as the home of the latest Major League Soccer (MLS) club, marking the league's 30th team. The city prevailed over Las Vegas and will commence play at the 35,000-capacity Snapdragon Stadium in 2025.

The club will be owned by British-Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a Native American tribe from California.

Right to Dream Academy (RTD), founded by English coach Tom Vernon and owned by Mansour's Man Capital investment firm in London, has forged an ambitious partnership with the Sycuan Tribe.

The collaboration aims to make substantial investments in scouting, recruitment, and academy football in the United States.

Originating as a Ghana-based academy 23 years ago, RTD has successfully nurtured underprivileged children, including those who were living on the streets. Many graduates have gone on to pursue careers in American football and represent the Ghanaian national team.

Vernon introduced the RTD model to Europe in 2015 through Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjaelland, which currently stands as the youngest top-division side worldwide and currently ranks second in the league table.

"While in Europe, we are confident that there are no 12-year-olds with the potential to play in the Champions League that everyone is unaware of," explains Vernon. "However, in the United States, it is different. With the 'pay-to-play' soccer model, many talented children are excluded from reputable clubs due to financial constraints. We felt there was a genuine need for our model. Establishing it in San Diego, close to the Mexican border, makes sense."

Tom Penn, formerly of Los Angeles FC, has been appointed by the Sycuan Tribe to develop the new club and will serve as its Chief Executive Officer. Penn has visited RTD academies in Ghana, Denmark, and Egypt, allowing him to grasp the entire vision and put an American imprint on the project.

The immediate connection between RTD's ethos and the Sycuan Tribe's history, which spans over 12,000 years of overcoming adversity and discovering untapped talent, solidified their partnership.

Furthermore, six-time Major League Baseball All-Star Manny Machado, a current member of the San Diego Padres, has joined the investor group. Throughout his career, Machado and his wife Yainee have actively engaged with and supported underserved children in their community.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the San Diego MLS ownership group," says Machado. "I am continuing to establish roots in this incredible community that means so much to me. I am further encouraged by the club's commitment and experience, particularly through Right to Dream, in developing young athletes both personally and athletically. I am excited to contribute to the growth of soccer in San Diego."

RTD has developed numerous players who have gone on to participate in the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup. In Denmark, FC Nordsjaelland's players under the age of 21 have scored a remarkable 40 goals this season, surpassing the previous record of 15 held by Dutch side Feyenoord. Vernon believes that his new San Diego team will soon challenge the status quo in American soccer.

"The majority of those goals were scored by graduates of our academies in Ghana and Denmark," states Vernon. "FCN is dominated by graduates of the two academies. The fans understand that six or seven players will move on each year, allowing us to maintain competitiveness by replenishing the team. There is always a question of why the US national team hasn't produced more stars. We believe it's an issue of scouting, as it's a challenging