Fort Wayne Football Club was a focal part of the St. Patrick’s Day People’s Parade, an annual event in Fort Wayne. In conjunction with Deer Park Irish Pub, Fort Wayne FC’s DaMarcus Beasley and Mike Avery were the Grand Marshals of the parade on Tuesday.

Beasley, Fort Wayne FC’s Co-owner and Director of Football Operations, and Avery, the club’s head coach, addressed the crowd who braved the cold temperatures and then took part in the parade itself.

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About Fort Wayne Football Club

Fort Wayne Football Club, founded in 2019, is a professional soccer club playing its first season in USL League One in 2026. The club is building a state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium, Fort Wayne FC Park, that will open at Bass Road and I-69 in 2026. In pre-professional USL League Two, Fort Wayne Football Club won division titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. For more information, visit FortWayneFC.com.

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

It wasn’t just a big weekend for Fort Wayne Football Club, which made its debut in professional soccer.

Members of the club stopped by Turnstone’s Plassman Athletic Center this weekend to take in some of the action at the Hoosier Thaw Power Soccer tournament, an annual event that brings teams from across the Midwest and beyond to Fort Wayne. This year’s tournament featured 11 teams from six states, including Fort Wayne’s own Turnstone Flyers and Turnstone Furious Flyers, competing in a fast-paced and highly skilled version of the sport.

Power soccer is an adaptive sport played by athletes using power wheelchairs. Two teams of four players compete on a gym floor using a large soccer ball, maneuvering specialized chairs equipped with protective guards to pass, defend and shoot. The sport emphasizes positioning, teamwork and precision, and has become one of the most widely played wheelchair team sports in the world.

Turnstone has been a leader in adaptive sports programming in Fort Wayne for years and has offered power soccer programs since 2006, helping athletes with disabilities compete at high levels while building confidence, friendships and community.

Watching the tournament was a reminder that the spirit of soccer extends far beyond traditional fields and stadiums. The intensity of the matches, the strategy involved and the passion of the athletes made it clear why power soccer continues to grow around the world.

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Turnstone Flyers match

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Turnstone Furious Flyers match

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Video highlights

Fort Wayne Football Club was pleased to have a presence at Culture Fest, an event Saturday hosted by Welcoming Fort Wayne, an initiative of Amani Family Services.

Culture Fest celebrates Allen County’s diverse communities with live music and dance, an artisan and entrepreneur market, resource fair, food truck, and children’s activities.

The club’s director of merchandise, Christy Pinkley, led Fort Wayne FC’s presence at Culture Fest by educating fans on the move to USL League One and the construction of Fort Wayne FC Park, the state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium being built at Bass Road and I-69. Prizes were also given away to fans, young and old, on site.

About Fort Wayne Football Club

Fort Wayne Football Club, founded in 2019, is moving to the professional ranks of USL League One in 2026. The club is building a new state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium, Fort Wayne FC Park, that will open at Bass Road and I-69 in 2026. In pre-professional USL League Two, Fort Wayne Football Club won Valley Division championships in 2023, 2024 and 2025.  

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

Fun was had by all, from local kids to Fort Wayne FC players and staff, at the club’s second annual Open Futsal event at Packard Park’s Beasley Courts on Wednesday.

The event, held in conjunction with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, and with the support of Meijer, ProFed Credit Union and PUMA, was open to kids 8 and older.

Among those teaching futsal and playing matches with the kids were Fort Wayne FC’s Director of Football Operations and Co-Owner, DaMarcus Beasley; head coach Mike Avery; players Tavio D’Ameida, Hubert Deragon, Tiago Dias and Reid Sproat; and several other members of the club, including sports performance coach Eliana Sommer of OPS, athletic trainer Tyler VanCamp of OPS, and merchandising manager Christy Pinkley.

Music, food, beverages and other games were on hand to support the free event.

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Futsal is a smaller-sided game of soccer played on a hard surface.

“This is special. We always say at our club that it’s about people; people make the dream come true. I love being part of this club and I love being part of this community,” said Beasley, who grew up minutes from Packard Park. “You see the results. At our club, it’s not just about the result on the weekend (playing matches), it’s about how we inspire the next generation and we want to do that through the game of soccer or through the game of futsal.”

The Beasley Futsal Courts, named after the four-time member of the U.S. World Cup team, opened in 2018 through a partnership with Homestead High School, Indiana Soccer and the City of Fort Wayne.

“Futsal is a great sport. Similar to soccer, but it’s a lot about the technique, the speed, quick thought when you’re playing,” Beasley said. “This event is about the kids coming out here and just having fun.”

Despite a disappointing end to the club’s final USL League Two season, a 2-0 overtime loss to the Flint City Bucks on Sunday in the Central Conference Semifinals, Fort Wayne FC has been active in the community this week.

On Monday, the club donated 175 backpacks, through a partnership with Puma, to the Salvation Army of Allen County for its “Stuff the Bus” event. The Salvation Army will distribute the school supplies and backpacks to 800 children. Fort Wayne FC’s fans and its supporters group, the Three Rivers Regiment, filled up two barrels worth of school supplies and donated an additional 10 backpacks to support the cause.

Fort Wayne FC is preparing for its move to the professional ranks of USL League One. The club will begin play in that league in 2026 at Fort Wayne FC Park, the new state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium being built at Bass Road and I-69.

Fort Wayne FC is accepting deposits on 2026 season tickets and fans are encouraged to place them early to reserve their spot for what will be one of the premier venues in the country.

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About Fort Wayne FC

Fort Wayne FC, founded in 2019, is currently a pre-professional club in USL League Two’s Valley Division in the Central Conference. The club won Valley Division championships in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Fort Wayne FC is moving to the professional ranks of USL League One in 2026 at a new state-of-the-art stadium. www.fortwaynefc.com 

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

Fort Wayne FC donated 175 backpacks, through the club’s partnership with Puma, to the Salvation Army of Allen County for its “Stuff the Bus” event on Monday. The Salvation Army will distribute the school supplies and backpacks to 800 children.

Fort Wayne FC’s fans and its supporters group, the Three Rivers Regiment, filled up two barrels worth of school supplies and donated an additional 10 backpacks to support this important cause.

About Fort Wayne FC

Fort Wayne FC, founded in 2019, is currently a pre-professional club in USL League Two’s Valley Division in the Central Conference. The club won Valley Division championships in 2023 and 2024. Fort Wayne FC is moving to the professional ranks of USL League One in 2026 at a new state-of-the-art stadium. www.fortwaynefc.com 

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

Fort Wayne FC players Caio Oliveira, Hideto Gondo, Reid Sproat and Nathan Ntalu had a blast Monday at Wholesome Roots Cooking’s International Adventures Summer Camp.

The players had the opportunity to speak about, and cook, food from their various homelands along with the campers and staff members.

Wholesome Roots Cooking, 14411 Lima Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana, believes you can influence your children to live a healthy lifestyle by getting them involved. They make learning fun and give kids and families the space to be creative and learn wholesome eating habits.

While Wholesome Roots Cooking knows that eating healthy and meal planning can be intimidating, they’re willing to help. Make sure to check out their website.

Make sure to check out the Fort Wayne FC “In the Community” page to see all the big things the club has been doing away from Bishop D’Arcy Stadium to grow the game of soccer and work toward the betterment of Northeast Indiana.

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Also on Monday, Fort Wayne FC coach Mike Avery spoke with kids at the Blackhawk Christian School Summer Soccer Camp.

Fort Wayne FC is committed to growing the sport of soccer and influencing young people throughout Northeast Indiana in positive ways, and the club will continue to do so throughout the 2025 season and well beyond it.

About Fort Wayne FC

Fort Wayne FC, founded in 2019, is currently a pre-professional club in USL League Two’s Valley Division in the Central Conference. The club won Valley Division championships in 2023 and 2024. Fort Wayne FC is moving to the professional ranks of USL League One in 2026 at a new state-of-the-art stadium. www.fortwaynefc.com 

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

It was a great day at Foster Park on Tuesday as three Fort Wayne FC players, Amari Fowlkes, Rood Schnaider Beaubrun and Aboubacar Traore, worked with kids on the beautiful game of soccer at a Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne clinic. Fort Wayne FC’s Director of Football Operations, DaMarcus Beasley, was one of the instructors and other members of the club’s staff assisted.

The kids took part in soccer-specific drills and participated in a scrimmage.

Fort Wayne FC is committed to growing the sport of soccer and influencing young people throughout Northeast Indiana in positive ways, and the club will continue to do so throughout the 2025 season and well beyond it.

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About Fort Wayne FC

Fort Wayne FC, founded in 2019, is currently a pre-professional club in USL League Two’s Valley Division in the Central Conference. The club won Valley Division championships in 2023 and 2024. Fort Wayne FC is moving to the professional ranks of USL League One in 2026 at a new state-of-the-art stadium. www.fortwaynefc.com 

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

Fort Wayne FC players Tavio D’Almeida, Gaku Nishimura, David Anderson and Hubert Deragon instructed youths Tuesday night on the sport of soccer at the Jorgensen YMCA, as part of a YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne Clinic. Also on hand representing Fort Wayne FC was assistant coach Max Rose.

Fort Wayne FC worked with the kids on passing, shooting and dribbling, and also took time to sign autographs and answer any questions about the club and playing soccer at the highest levels.

Fort Wayne FC is committed to growing the sport of soccer and influencing young people throughout Northeast Indiana in positive ways, and the club will continue to do so throughout the 2025 season and well beyond it.

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About Fort Wayne FC

Fort Wayne FC, founded in 2019, is currently a pre-professional club in USL League Two’s Valley Division in the Central Conference. The club won Valley Division championships in 2023 and 2024. Fort Wayne FC is moving to the professional ranks of USL League One in 2026 at a new state-of-the-art stadium. www.fortwaynefc.com 

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

Fort Wayne FC’s sports data analyst, Lucca Motta, a former professional soccer player, spoke to the boys soccer team from Columbia City High School before Saturday’s match at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium.

Motta’s “Tiki Talks” are an opportunity for young soccer players to get a taste of the club’s strategies heading into a match. Fort Wayne FC wound up defeating the Dayton Dutch Lions 4-2 that night. It completed a busy day for the club; earlier, staff was at St. Joe soccer meeting with youth players and parents and inviting them to attend a Fort Wayne FC match at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium.

Fort Wayne FC is invested in growing soccer in Northeast Indiana and also honoring people who have made an impact in other walks of life.

During Saturday night’s match, the club and the Hoosier Lottery honored Ewelina Connolly as the “Hero of the Match.” Connolly is the CEO of Amani Family Services, a nonprofit devoted to serving refugee and immigrant families and individuals. Amani Family Services services more than 1,800 families and individuals annually.

Also during Saturday’s match, Fort Wayne FC honored the Leo High School girls soccer team as its “Team of the Match,” presented by Team Green Law.

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About Fort Wayne FC

Fort Wayne FC, founded in 2019, is currently a pre-professional club in USL League Two’s Valley Division in the Central Conference. The club won Valley Division championships in 2023 and 2024. Fort Wayne FC is moving to the professional ranks of USL League One in 2026 at a new state-of-the-art stadium. www.fortwaynefc.com 

About United Soccer League 

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.