MLS expands to 23 teams with the addition of Minnesota United: Report

Minnesota United will soon be confirmed as Major League Soccer’s 23rd team, Sports Illustrated reported on Friday.

Currently an NASL franchise, Minnesota United has backing from the owners of the NBA’s Timberwolves and MLB’s Twins. They could begin MLS play in a new downtown soccer stadium by 2018, according to SI’s Brian Straus.

MLS, which set a target of 24 teams by 2020, has stated that an expansion announcement is coming in the next 30-45 days.

The league is at 20 teams for 2015, with Atlanta set to join in 2017 and a second team returning to L.A., perhaps by 2017 or ’18, depending on how stadium plans move ahead.

If Minnesota lands the 23rd spot, the race for the 24th franchise is widely considered to be down to David Beckham’s Miami bid, which has been held up by stadium issues, and Sacramento Republic, the 2014 USL Pro champions who’ve set attendance records in that league and have investment promises from the NFL’s 49ers and NBA’s Kings.

Beckham has a clause from his playing days that allows him to buy in for just $20 million. New York City FC and Orlando City — this year’s expansion teams — paid fees of $100 million and $70 million, respectively.

The Whitecaps paid a reported $35 million to join MLS in 2011.