No one in Hollywood epitomizes the spirit of Texas more than Matthew McConaughey, and on Friday the Oscar-winning actor announced that he’s backing the state’s newest sports franchise, MLS expansion team Austin FC.
“Austin FC is more than a quality investment FOR Austin, it’s a quality investment IN Austin,” McConaughey said in a statement. “The most diverse and borderless game in the world is now coming to one of the most multi-cultural, creative and diverse cities in the world. Austin FC is a healthy investment in our city’s culture and future.”
McConaughey joins fellow Austinites Eddie Margain, Marius Haas and Bryan Sheffield (pictured below) in the Austin FC ownership group.
The “Dallas Buyers Club” star is the latest in a growing number of famous MLS team owners making an investment in the future of soccer.
Last month, Ciara and her NFL quarterback husband Russell Wilson were named co-owners of the upcoming Seattle Sounders. “It’s an honor to join the Sounders team and have the unique opportunity to represent female ownership within major league sports,” Ciara said following the announcement.
Will Ferrell, Mia Hamm and Magic Johnson are among the co-owners of L.A.’s latest hot sports team, LAFC. Meanwhile, NBA All-Star James Harden has joined the ownership group of the Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash and BBVA Stadium, it was announced last month.
As for McConaughey, he grew up in Longview, Texas, and studied Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). His first credited speaking role was on a TV for the Austin American-Statesman newspaper, in which he said: “How else am I gonna keep up with my ‘Horns?” referring to his beloved Texas Longhorns college football team.
McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, moved their family back to Austin from Los Angeles eight years ago, with the actor recently describing his hometown as a place “nobody’s too good and everybody’s good enough.”
“It is my privilege to welcome my new partners to Austin FC,” Anthony Precourt, majority partner and CEO of Austin FC and Two Oak Ventures, said in Friday’s announcement. “This group knows and loves the city of Austin and the beautiful game. I can’t think of anyone better to help us realize our ambitions as a soccer club for this entire community.”
“It’s been so fun to bring together this group of friends to invest in an amazing organization that will impact so many of our fellow Austinites,” Margain, who will be appointed alternate governor of Austin FC within Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors, continued. “Austin FC is going to bring the best of professional soccer to our city, and my hope is that we inspire more Austin kids to play and enjoy this beautiful sport.”
Austin FC will be officially welcomed into the league as its 27th franchise in the 2021 season. The team is expected to break ground on the state-of-the-art, multi-purpose stadium and soccer park on Sept. 5.
Watch video of Ciara and Wilson on their Seattle Sounders co-ownership below.