Major League Soccer has announced that Manchester City and New York Yankees have partnered together to launch New York City Football Club, MLS’s 20th team that is expected to begin play in 2015.

Manchester City will be the majority owner of the new Club. As an investor, the Yankees will be an active member of the ownership group.

“New York is a legendary sports town, as well as a thriving global city with a rapidly expanding soccer fan-base,” said Ferran Soriano, CEO of Manchester City Football Club, who will oversee the process of filling top New York City FC leadership positions in the weeks to come. “We are thrilled to contribute to the energy and growth of New York City Soccer. In the Yankees, we have found the absolute best partner for developing a world-class sports organization and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride.”

“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country. The New York area is home to more than 19 million people­, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.”

While the news about Manchester City being the majority owner of the club is positive, there’s still a lot of doubt in terms of where the team will play. According to Major League Soccer, the new team is arranging to play in an interim home beginning in its inaugural MLS season in 2015. Over the past year, MLS began discussions with the City of New York and other stakeholders about the possibility of constructing a new stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park (FMCP) in Queens. The Club’s new management will continue these discussions with local government officials, community residents and businesses, soccer leagues, and MLS. The Club will continue to review other potential sites as well.

“New York City FC will have a permanent home in the City in the great traditions of New York sports and world soccer — a home that must be a sports, commercial and civic success,” Soriano said.  “But in considering any stadium site, we will listen first. This is what we have always done in Manchester and what we will do in New York.  Only in this way, can the Club truly represent the City whose name it will carry.”

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