FC Dallas announces branding for USL side North Texas SC

FC Dallas have revealed the branding for their newly founded USL League One side: North Texas SC.

Long one of the top academy systems in MLS, FCD have been at the forefront of the academy-to-MLS path and the USL team will only aid that process. North Texas SC will play regular-season games at Toyota Stadium, with some matches likely taking place at an additional location in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

“North Texas Soccer Club represents the bridge between our outstanding Academy system and FC Dallas,” said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt in a statement. “It will give our players who wouldn’t normally receive First Team minutes an opportunity to earn valuable playing time.”

The club have also announced their first signing, 15-year-old Ricardo Pepi, pending league and U.S. Soccer Federation approval. Pepi joined the FCD academy in 2017 and scored 19 goals in eight appearances for FCD's U-17 side last season. 

"It’s exciting that Ricardo Pepi is our first signing for North Texas SC,” Hunt said. “This is a player with an incredible nose for the goal and someone who does the right things, loves this club and was willing and able to commit his future to us. One day we want to see him scoring goals for the first team at FC Dallas but hopefully along the way here he scores a lot of goals for North Texas SC.”

The USL League One regular season is scheduled to begin the weekend of March 29-31 and conclude the weekend of October 4-6. The 2019 USL League One Playoffs will consist of four teams and begin the weekend of Oct. 11-13. The final match of the postseason will take place from Oct. 17-21.