USA UPSL 06/02 23:25 - Jacksonville FC v GOSA Spurs D 0-0
USA UPSL 05/30 13:50 - Orlando Rovers FC v Jacksonville FC D 1-1
USA UPSL 05/15 19:00 - Orlando City U23 v Jacksonville United FC D 0-0
USA NPSL 07/14 23:09 - Miami FC II v Jacksonville Armada L 3-1
USA NPSL 07/11 23:02 - Jacksonville Armada v Miami United FC W 4-1
USA NPSL 07/07 23:37 - Jacksonville Armada v Naples United FC W 2-0
USA NPSL 06/14 23:37 - Miami United FC v Jacksonville Armada D 1-1
USA NPSL 06/06 23:06 - Jacksonville Armada v Miami FC II W 1-0
USA NPSL 06/03 00:20 - Jacksonville Armada v Storm FC W 1-0
USA US Open Cup 05/23 23:00 9 Jacksonville Armada v Miami United FC L 0-2
USA US Open Cup 05/17 00:30 8 Jacksonville Armada v Tampa Bay Rowdies W 1-0
USA US Open Cup 05/09 23:04 - SIMA Aguilas v Jacksonville Armada W 0-2
USA US Open Cup 05/06 23:05 - Jacksonville Armada v The Villages W 2-1
World Club Friendlies 02/21 22:00 1 DC United v Jacksonville Armada L 2-1
USA NASL 10/29 00:00 1 [2] San Francisco Deltas v Jacksonville Armada [5] W 0-2
USA NASL 10/22 20:00 1 [5] Jacksonville Armada v New York Cosmos [4] D 4-4
USA NASL 10/18 23:00 1 [5] Jacksonville Armada v FC Edmonton [6] D 1-1
USA NASL 10/13 23:30 1 [5] Jacksonville Armada v North Carolina FC [3] D 1-1
USA NASL 10/07 01:00 1 [4] FC Edmonton v Jacksonville Armada [8] W 0-1
USA NASL 10/01 22:00 1 [1] Miami FC v Jacksonville Armada [6] L 1-0
USA NASL 09/28 00:00 - Jacksonville Armada v Indy Eleven D 0-0
USA NASL 09/24 20:00 1 [6] Jacksonville Armada v Miami FC [1] L 0-3
USA NASL 09/17 21:00 1 [7] New York Cosmos v Jacksonville Armada [6] D 3-3
USA NASL 09/03 23:30 1 [6] New York Cosmos v Jacksonville Armada [7] W 0-2
USA NASL 08/26 23:30 1 [7] Indy Eleven v Jacksonville Armada [8] W 2-3
USA NASL 08/20 22:00 1 [8] Jacksonville Armada v Miami FC [3] L 0-1
USA NASL 08/16 23:00 1 [8] Jacksonville Armada v Puerto Rico FC [3] L 1-2
USA NASL 08/12 23:30 1 North Carolina FC v Jacksonville Armada D 2-2
USA NASL 08/05 23:30 1 [5] Puerto Rico FC v Jacksonville Armada [3] L 1-0
USA NASL 07/30 22:00 1 [4] Jacksonville Armada v San Francisco Deltas [4] D 1-1

Jacksonville Armada FC is an American professional soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were founded in 2013 as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of American soccer, and played until the league folded in 2018. Armada FC then moved to the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid, during the 2018 season before going on hiatus. They are set to resume play in MLS Next Pro in 2025.

History

Launch in North American Soccer League

In May 2013, Jacksonville businessman Mark Frisch and former Major League Soccer player Darío Sala formed Sunshine Soccer Group with the intention of bringing professional soccer to Jacksonville. The effort was bolstered by several successful soccer matches held at TIAA Bank Field, including two national team games that set records for international friendlies. The North American Soccer League invited the group to present a bid for a 2015 expansion team at their July 25, 2013, board meeting. The bid was accepted, and the NASL announced that Jacksonville and Oklahoma City FC would receive franchises for the 2015 season.

The organization has announced that Sala would serve as general manager, and former NFL Europe and Jacksonville Jaguars executive Steve Livingstone will serve as President. On February 18, 2014, the team announced its name would be Jacksonville Armada FC, and that its colors would be navy blue, royal blue, gold, and white. On June 11, 2014, the team announced it had hired former Argentine player José Luis Villarreal as its first head coach.

The team began playing in the 2015 NASL Spring season. After a few pre-season games in February and March, the club played its first league game, at home, on April 4, 2015, defeating FC Edmonton, 3–1. On September 21, 2015, the club announced the dismissal of head coach Guillermo Hoyos, general manager Dario Sala and assistant coaches Edison Ibarra, Sebastian Fabres and Rafael Perez Nino. The Armada stood 11th and last in the North American Soccer League. The decision came just three months after the team had extended Hoyos' contract through the end of 2019. "Following an in-depth analysis of the team and operations, I am confident that a new direction is needed to turn around our team", Armada owner Mark Frisch said in a statement. Director of player development Eric Dade took over through the end of the 2015 NASL season.

On November 24, 2015, the Armada announced U.S. Soccer player Tony Meola as the team's new head coach. After nine months on the job, Meola was fired on August 7, 2016, with Mark Lowry taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2016 Fall Season.

After the 2016 season ended, the NASL lost two teams to the then Div. III United Soccer League. At the time the USL had submitted to be promoted to Div. II with the NASL. Several NASL teams were then rumored to be shutting down or switching leagues as well as the possibility of the league losing its Div. II status. In December 2016, there were several reports stating the Armada were about to fold and had released all their players due to mounting financial losses. The reports turned out to be false but the team did release five of their highest price players. In January 2017, the NASL was approved to keep its Div. II status but Armada owner Frisch confirmed that he was looking to sell the team and that the league would likely be taking over the club.

In July 2017, local entrepreneur Robert Palmer of RP Funding purchased the Armada.

Fall to amateur and hiatus

After recording its best season to date in professional soccer during the 2017 season, finishing fifth overall in the NASL while just falling short of a playoff berth, the league lost its Division II sanctioning for the upcoming 2018 season. While the league entered into legal proceeding against the United States Soccer Federation, Armada announced it would field a team in the National Premier Soccer League, an amateur league commonly referred to as part of fourth tier of American soccer, while still retaining membership in the NASL. This team retains the Armada name and replaced the organization's Under-23 team in the NPSL, while merging both sides' rosters.

The Armada clinched its first ever playoff appearance by finishing second overall in the Sunshine Conference, and won its first playoff game against Miami United FC, 4–1, on July 11, 2018. The team later fell to fellow NASL side Miami FC 2 in the conference final, 3–1.

On October 31, 2018, club president Nathan Walter announced that Jacksonville Armada would play in the NPSL in 2019. However on December 10, Walter announced that the team's U-23 side would compete in the 2019 NPSL season as the organization's focus shifted to player development. In the meantime the first team would continue to explore options for a return to competition in 2020.

In November 2019, the organization announced that it proposed an agreement to take over land in downtown Jacksonville for a new stadium. The first team will remain off the field for 2020 while the U-23 side announced a move to the brand new "Gulf Coast Conference" in the NPSL.

Move to MLS Next Pro

On November 2, 2023, the club announced that they would move to MLS Next Pro, the reserve and development league for Major League Soccer, and begin playing again in the 2025 season. A new stadium is set to be constructed in time for the 2025 season with 2,500 to 3,000 seats in its initial configuration. Jacksonville will remain an independent team in the league, which is composed mostly of reserve teams for MLS clubs.

League and cup history

Season League Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Overall Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Top goalscorer Avg. attendance
Name League
2015 NASL Spring 6th 10 3 3 4 15 18 12 11th did not qualify Third Round Alhassane Keita 7 7,927 (3rd)
Fall 11th 20 5 4 11 18 31 19
2016 Spring 10th 10 1 4 5 5 11 7 11th Fourth Round Charles Eloundou
Alhassane Keita
6 3,499 (9th)
Fall 11th 22 5 8 9 25 35 23
2017 Spring 4th 16 6 6 4 17 16 24 5th Fourth Round Jack Blake 9 3,035 (7th)
Fall 5th 16 4 7 5 21 22 19
2018 NPSL Sunshine Conference 2nd 12 7 3 2 24 10 24 28th Conference finals Third Round Ciarán Kilduff 6 N/A
On Hiatus from 2019–2024
2025 MLSNP TBA
Jacksonville FC is a professional soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida, representing the city in various national and international competitions. The team is known for its passionate fan base and competitive spirit on the field. With a roster of talented players from diverse backgrounds, Jacksonville FC is a force to be reckoned with in the world of soccer. The team's colors are blue and white, and their logo features a fierce lion symbolizing strength and determination. Whether playing at home in front of their loyal supporters or on the road, Jacksonville FC always gives their all and strives for victory in every match.