TAMPA, Fla. – USL League Two has announced Virginia Beach United as the eighth expansion side to join the league ahead of the 2019 season, which will begin in May.

The new club will compete in the South Atlantic Division, which currently features six additional teams. Virginia Beach United will play its home matches at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, which features a 6,000-seat permanent seating structure.

Local youth organizations Beach FC and Virginia Rush have partnered in the creation of Virginia Beach United, as the two entities aim to provide players with the opportunity to develop beyond their youth clubs.

“This is a very exciting development in Virginia, and we’re happy to see the final product coming to fruition for the 2019 season,” USL League Two Vice President Joel Nash said. “With two stellar youth organizations in Beach FC and Virginia Rush, we know that we have very invested parties helping to grow the game locally and across USL League Two.”