March 9, 2021
In March 2022, Queensboro FC (QBFC) will take the pitch as New York City’s newest professional soccer team based in Queens, playing in the United Soccer League (USL). Today, QBFC announced a strategic alliance with Bayamón Fútbol Club (Bayamón FC) in order to give youth in Puerto Rico the opportunity to try out for the QBFC Academy. Founded in October 2020, the QBFC Academy is a development system for U-19 players to train, compete, and hone their skills with an eye toward becoming a professional player for the club’s inaugural senior team. QBFC’s Head Coach and Sporting Director Josep Gombau will be in attendance for the academy’s first ever Puerto Rico tryouts, and extending invitations to select players to join the squad in New York City as part of the club’s QBFC Residency Program. Tryouts take place on March 21st and registration takes place at: www.queensborofc.com/bayamonfc.
Bayamón FC is Puerto Rico’s largest soccer club and in 2016 became the first member of QBFC co-owner David Villa’s DV7 Soccer Academy program. This announcement serves as the first of many partnerships that QBFC plans to form with international clubs around the world.
New York has the largest Puerto Rican population of any city in the world, and QBFC will be a bridge connecting the two communities through the uniting force of soccer. Not only will this partnership provide a “pathway to the pros” for talent to be discovered through the QBFC and Bayamón FC network, and receive a chance to play in New York City, but there will also be reciprocal exchange opportunities for domestic players to experience the game in Puerto Rico as well. In addition, pre-season training and future friendly matches will take place in Puerto Rico, using top facilities such as the Bayamón Soccer Complex and the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, its national stadium.
“Outside of the island itself, the cultural heartbeat of Puerto Rico is right here in New York City, and we are proud to have Bayamón FC as a partner,” says Josep Gombau. “QBFC prides itself in being a community-first sporting organization, and we look forward to strengthening ties with Nuyoricans, and Puerto Ricans at large, by providing opportunities for young aspiring footballers to compete at a professional level.”
“This partnership represents a very important step for Bayamón FC. It has always been a priority for our club to provide the best resources to our players, and this alliance with QBFC will give them real opportunities to play professional soccer in the United States”, says Alberto Santiago, President of Bayamón FC.
“We welcome this alliance with Queensboro FC, which will bring opportunities to young talented players in Puerto Rico and give them the chance to become professional in the United Soccer League of the United States”, says Ramon Luis Rivera Cruz, Mayor of Bayamón. “We are confident that the tryouts will be a success, and that the event will be organized following official guidelines to guarantee the safety of all the participants. Bayamón always supports sporting initiatives that take place in our top facilities.”