Major League Soccer Explored Des Moines Expansion

Officials have eyed a move for a NEXT Pro team to occupy a new downtown soccer stadium.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Soccer

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a soccer player in navy and white mid-stride against a soft-focus city skyline silhouette. — Major League Soccer is evaluating a plan to bring a NEXT Pro team to Des Moines, potentially relocating Sporting Kansas City II to a new stadium development. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Major League Soccer has expressed interest in bringing a NEXT Pro team to Des Moines, potentially involving the relocation of Sporting Kansas City II. This development follows years of planning for a downtown stadium near the Raccoon River.

Why it matters

The move is designed to leverage Iowa's existing sports fan base to grow the regional reach of Sporting Kansas City. Expanding the footprint of the NEXT Pro league could deepen professional talent development pipelines in the Midwest.

MLS NEXT Pro currently operates with 30 teams and has facilitated the movement of 200 players to MLS first teams. Local interest is underpinned by 5,500 total youth players in Iowa currently affiliated with the Sporting Kansas City system.

The players

Kyle Krause

He is the CEO of the Krause Group and previously secured a United Soccer League franchise.

Iowa Soccer Development Foundation

This organization intends to own the proposed downtown stadium and is hosting upcoming public informational meetings.

Sporting Kansas City II

This professional soccer team plays in MLS NEXT Pro and is the subject of potential relocation plans.

Hometown Soccer Holdings

The group is managing the planning efforts for the potential relocation of a professional soccer team to the city.

The details

Hometown Soccer Holdings is behind the plan to potentially rebrand and move an existing team to a site near the Raccoon River and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. While the City Council previously approved a $7 million tax increment financing deal in 2025, the city ended its formal connection to the stadium district development in August 2026.

The USL Pro Iowa campaign was first announced in 2019.
Kyle Krause secured a USL franchise in 2022.
The City Council approved $7 million in financing in late 2025.
Des Moines cut ties with the stadium project in August 2026.
A public meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2026.

The Big Picture

The stadium project is currently defined by its departure from the 2025 City Council tax increment financing deal. This shift in local government support complicates the trajectory of professional sports infrastructure development in the city.

The city's move to cut ties with the stadium district in August 2026 casts doubt on the $7 million tax increment financing deal approved by the council. Residents attending the September meeting will likely learn if the project can proceed without municipal participation.

The takeaway

The uncertainty surrounding the stadium site suggests that professional soccer's arrival in the city remains dependent on resolving land development issues at the former DICO factory. Stakeholders must now navigate the loss of city backing for the previously proposed infrastructure plans.

What happens next

The Iowa Soccer Development Foundation is scheduled to host a public information meeting on September 24, 2026, to engage residents on the status of the stadium project.