Columbus United

The 2024 NPSL South Region final went to extra time. Columbus United, playing their first season, beat West Texas FC 4–3 after Hickory FC had already gone out in the earlier round. A few weeks before, they had taken the Gulf Coast Sunshine Conference by beating Jacksonville Armada FC 3–1. The run ended in the national semi-final, where FC Motown beat them. A club that had been announced only in October 2023 had reached the last four in the country.

The people behind it explain the speed. JD Hester, a Columbus native who spent years as an executive at TSYS, and Michael "Hitch" Hitchcock, who had worked in management at D.C. United, Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, formed the ownership group Columbus Soccer Ventures in August 2023. Before launch they asked local people to help choose the name, the logo and the colours: red and blue, with gold trim. The 2025 home shirt has a red pinstripe.

Both the club's name and its programme "Kicks for Kids" point towards the city rather than the league table. Columbus United has no nickname and no local rival. For 2025 it moved up to USL League Two, in the South Central Division. Its opponents there include Birmingham Legion II, Dothan United SC and Montgomery United FC, all from the neighbouring region. Jonah Kanagwa is on the roster as player-coach.

The 2024 season was played at Kinnett Stadium. From 2025 the club moved to A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, which dates from 1925 and is listed at 10,000 seats. The city's sports council gives that figure, though other listings run higher. Columbus United now plays in a ground that was already a century old when they arrived.