Former England captain David Beckham will unveil his long-sought Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team during a Monday news conference in Miami, bringing a conclusion to a turmoil-filled four-year quest.
MLS announced Friday it will "make a major announcement regarding the future of soccer in Miami" on Monday, inviting ticketed members of the public to what is expected to be the announcement of another league club.
Beckham's plans for Miami were delayed because of ongoing challenges regarding where he could build a stadium for his new team. His group originally wanted a waterfront site, then settled on a plot of land in Miami's Overtown neighborhood — a deal that has faced legal challenges, even after he spent $9 million to purchase a needed piece of land from the county.
There will be 23 MLS clubs this season, and the league is in the midst of trying to grow to 28 teams. Miami has long been considered the provisional 24th franchise, not having official status because of the stadium questions.
Those questions are apparently answered now to MLS' satisfaction.
Just over 11 years after announcing he would leave Real Madrid for the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy in a deal that included the chance to purchase an expansion team at a reduced rate, Beckham will make good on plans he first announced in February 2014.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said last month the Miami franchise project was "the most complicated situation in any market that we've experienced" because of the Miami area political structure and fast-changing real estate environment.
Nashville was recently awarded an expansion franchise, and when that team and Miami commence play it give MLS four franchises in the Southeast portion of the U.S. — with those clubs joining Orlando and Atlanta.
MLS is planning to choose another expansion club in Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento.
Beckham, 42, retired in 2013 after a 20-year career that saw him win league crowns with Manchester United in England, Real Madrid in Spain, the Galaxy in North America and Paris Saint-Germain in his farewell matches.
He also played for England from 1996 to 2009, his mastery of curving free kicks inspiring the movie title "Bend It Like Beckham."
