Ex-USMNT star Jozy Altidore joins Russell Westbrook to bring pro soccer back to Oklahoma City

Tom Weber

• Updated: 20 Feb 2026 10:05 CST
• 6 min read

News

Retired former striker Jozy Altidore has teamed up with NBA icon Russell Westbrook to bring professional soccer back to Oklahoma City.

Altidore enjoyed an 18-year professional career that took him from the US to Spain, Turkey, the Netherlands, England and Mexico. Most notably, the former striker played for Sunderland in the Premier League and enjoyed great success in Major League Soccer with Toronto FC.

Altidore was one of the faces of TFC's golden era during the mid and late 2010s, when the Canadian club went from also-rans to the gold standard of MLS thanks to heavy investment in the team.

The New Jersey native scored 79 goals in 173 appearances for Toronto. After seven years in Ontario, he joined the New England Revolution and had a brief spell at Puebla on loan. He retired after his Revs contract was terminated in 2023 with 115 caps for the USMNT to his name.

Instead of going into punditry like many former pros, Altidore decided to spend time with family and invest in sports teams. He acquired a stake in the Buffalo Bills of the NFL as well as NWSL club Bay FC. Co-owning an NFL franchise has felt like "going back to school again" for the 36-year-old, but he has now once again returned to the familiar surroundings of soccer.

Altidore invests in OKC

On Thursday, the OKC for Soccer project announced that Altidore and his long-time business partner Alex Lee had joined the USL Championship expansion club's ownership group, which includes NBA great Russell Westbrook and Christian Kanady, CEO of investment firm Echo.

The group's goal is to bring professional soccer back to Oklahoma City for the 2028 season. It is part of a larger $1 billion investment in an entertainment district in OKC.

Previously, OKC Energy played in the USL between 2014 and 2022. However, the club, which enjoyed solid local support, suspended operations due to an inability to secure a suitable long-term home that met US Soccer regulations.

OKC for Soccer is a continuation of OKC Energy, although it is likely that the club will relaunch under new branding in 2028. They also intend to field a women's team.

The current plan is that OKC will play in the second-tier Championship, which is reflected in the stadium design. The club's newly-built ground will have a capacity of 10,000, which is not enough to meet Division One requirements.

This is worth noting because USL is planning to launch its own top division, the USL Premier, in 2028, with promotion and relegation between the top tier, the Championship and the third-tier League One.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jozy Altidore and Alex Lee to the OKC for Soccer family," Kanady said. "Jozy brings something you cannot manufacture: world-class credibility, a player’s understanding of what it takes to develop talent, and the ability to inspire the next generation from the locker room to the boardroom.

"Alex brings a builder mindset that can translate expertise into repeatable results. Together, they represent the next generation of sports ownership: strategic, technical, and deeply operational."

As part of the partnership, Echo has invested in Sogility, Altidore and Lee's youth development program and their "technology-driven training platform." Sogility will be integrated into OKC for Soccer.

“It’s an honour to join the OKC for Soccer Ownership Group," Altidore said. "Christian and the team are building something truly unique in Oklahoma City and the region.

"It’s rare to see a club and its pathway so deeply rooted in the community from day one. It aligns perfectly with an ambition to create a world-class environment for soccer in OKC at all levels of the game. Alex and I are energised to build a pipeline here that leaves a lasting legacy for the next generation of players."

Lee added: "Strong clubs are built by owners who are present and strategically aligned. What Christian and Echo have built is intentional and forward-looking. The leadership, the city, and the supporters are all moving in the same direction, and that alignment creates incredible momentum and opportunity to unlock an entire soccer ecosystem in OKC."

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