San Diego FC was announced as an expansion team on May 18, 2023, under the ownership of Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a local indigenous tribe.

[5] The club plans to use players from the international Right to Dream academy system and other teams owned by Mansour, including FC Nordsjælland.

[8] The first training sessions for San Diego FC opened on January 13, 2025, two days after the start of the preseason camp.

Sister club San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League will also travel to California to play in the tournament's NWSL matches.

For transfers in, dates listed are when San Diego FC officially signed the player to the roster.

For transfers out, dates listed are when San Diego FC officially removed the players from its roster, not when they signed with another club.