Charlotte

Brandt Bronico has started more matches for Charlotte FC than anyone else, 163 and counting, and it is against Charlotte Independence, the club's neighbours in USL League One, that those appearances carry the most weight — a fixture supporters call the Charlotte Derby. A newer rivalry has grown up alongside it, against Atlanta United along Interstate 85, known as the Royal Rumble and, less formally, the I-85 Derby.

MLS awarded the franchise in December 2019, and Charlotte FC did not take the field for a competitive match until the 2022 season. Its crest carries a crown, and the nickname that followed, The Crown, plays on Charlotte's older nickname, Queen City. Black, silver and white run through the kit alongside Carolina blue, a shade picked with half an eye on the Carolina Panthers, whose stadium the club shares.

Bank of America Stadium seats close to 75,000 for the Panthers on NFL Sundays, but for MLS nights only the lower bowl and club level open, holding the crowd to 38,000.

Karol Świderski has outscored every player in the club's short history, 32 goals, and arrived as Charlotte's first Designated Player. Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina has missed almost nothing since, 157 appearances, second only to Bronico. Christian Fuchs wore the captain's armband through that first season; Ashley Westwood has carried it since 2023. Allan Saint-Maximin and Liel Abada joined more recently, and Tim Ream brought a long run of US caps to the back line.

No major trophy has reached Charlotte yet — MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield, US Open Cup and Leagues Cup all remain unclaimed. The closest the club has come was a playoff run in 2024, still the mark to beat.