Will Be the First Chinese-Owned Professional Club in U.S.

IRVINE, Calif. (March 17, 2023) – Today amateur side and Irvine, Calif.-based Irvine Zeta FC (IZFC) submitted to the National Independent Soccer Association an application for membership in the professional league. IZFC, currently playing in the United Premiere Soccer League’s SoCal South Division 1, applied to begin professional play in 2024. If approved, IZFC will be the first Chinese-owned professional soccer club in the United States.

“We are excited to receive the application from Irvine Zeta FC for myriad reasons,” says NISA Executive Vice President Josh Prutch. “Surely, it’s membership would strengthen NISA’s presence on the West Coast. But as NISA strives to make an impact on the diversity of soccer’s front offices, Cary and his leadership team help us make groundbreaking strides.”

IZFC launched as a semi-professional club in September of last year in Irvine, a beautiful coastal city with excellent geographical location, proper urban planning, and perennial ranking as the safest city in the United States.

IZFC will be the first-ever professional soccer club here representing the city. The club will play home games at the Championship Soccer Stadium in the Great Park in Irvine. Moreover, the club's official name aims to bring different ethnic and communities together in Irvine, with "The Real Irviners" as the club's slogan. Since Irvine is located near the Pacific Ocean, the club's primary color will be a stunning blue to tell people that the club comes from Irvine, represents Irvine, and fights for Irvine.

Along with its senior team, IZFC currently runs Zeta Academy, the club’s youth training program, aiming to pass our passion for soccer to the next generation.

“I am very happy and looking forward to all of this,” says Cary Lyu, president of Irvine Zeta FC. “This club is about the love of soccer, our community, and the City of Irvine. We hope that as we join NISA, our club can bring more exciting soccer experiences to Irvine residents, can let more people, especially youth be more passionate about soccer, and can use soccer as a symbol to unite the City of Irvine with different ethnics.”

The NISA Board of Governors will take a vote later this spring.

About Irvine Zeta FC

Irvine Zeta FC is based in Irvine, a beautiful coastal city with excellent geographical location, proper urban planning, and perennial ranking as the safest city in the United States. Irvine Zeta FC is the first-ever professional soccer club here representing the city.

The club will play home games at the Championship Soccer Stadium in the Great Park in Irvine. Moreover, the club's official name aims to bring different ethnic and communities together in Irvine, with "The Real Irviners" as the club's slogan.

Since Irvine is located near the Pacific Ocean, the club's primary color will be a stunning blue to tell people that the club comes from Irvine, represents Irvine, and fights for Irvine!