Hartford Athletic is an American professional soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019. For the 2026 season, the club introduced a women's team that competes in the USL W League.
On July 18, 2018, the USL announced that Hartford, Connecticut would have a USL Championship team, beginning play in 2019. A few months later on September 5, Jimmy Nielsen was named the first head coach for the club. In December 2018, Wojciech Wójcik, Jose Angulo and Alex Dixon were announced as the first signings in club history.
Hartford Athletic's first game in club history was a 2âÂÂ0 loss to Atlanta United 2. The club proceeded to lose its next seven games, scoring just four goals. However, Hartford picked up their first point in their inaugural home game, a 1âÂÂ1 draw in front of 11,346 fans at Rentschler Field. The first competitive victory in club history came in the U.S. Open Cup, a 2âÂÂ1 win over New York Cosmos B. The club finished the 2019 season on a three match unbeaten run, putting them at 17th in the Eastern Conference.
In the COVID-19 affected 2020 season, Hartford finished atop Group F, and hosted St. Louis FC in the first round of the playoffs. However, a late goal from St. Louis eliminated Hartford in their first playoff game.
Hartford regressed in 2021, finishing 5th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs by six points.
Hartford finished 10th in the Eastern Conference in 2022, and hosted MLS club New York Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup, losing 2âÂÂ1.
2023 was the worst season in Hartford Athletic's short history, as the club finish dead last in both the Eastern Conference and league as a whole, as they picked up just 18 points, 23 behind the playoff positions.
On December 12, 2023, Brendan Burke was announced as the new head coach and general manager. The offseason saw a large overhaul of the squad, with 23 new signings before the season, including former Sporting CP goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro and 2017 MLS Cup winner Jay Chapman. Hartford began the 2024 season with back-to-back wins, something they hadn't achieved since September 2022. However, a run of poor form between April and July saw the club pick up just nine points in 15 matches and slip down the table. In mid-summer though, a goalless draw vs. Phoenix Rising on July 26 began a great run for Hartford, as they lost just one of their next 11 matches (a 3âÂÂ0 loss away at rivals Rhode Island FC). With two matches left in the season, Hartford essentially controlled their own destiny, as two wins would've gotten them into the playoffs. However, a 2âÂÂ2 draw at Tampa Bay Rowdies and a 3âÂÂ2 loss at Orange County saw Hartford's season come to an end, as they ultimately finished four points out of the playoffs. At the end of the season, it was announced that Danny Barrera, who had been with the club since its inaugural season in 2019, would not return to the club after the expiration of his contract.
Ahead of Brendan Burke's second season in charge, Hartford maintained a strong core of players from the previous season. However, starting goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro had his contract terminated by mutual consent before the season started. Notable pre-season signings included Sebastian Anderson, who played under Burke at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and former Cuban international Adrián Diz. After a 4-0 win at home against New Mexico United, Mamadou Dieng became the top scorer in club history.
Hartford Athletic won their first trophy in club history on October 4, 2025, in the 2025 USL Cup final. After defeating San Antonio FC in the quarterfinals and Greenville Triumph SC in the semifinals, Hartford defeated Sacramento Republic FC 1âÂÂ0 at Heart Health Park in the final thanks to a second-half goal from Samuel Careaga.
Hartford qualified for the playoffs for the second time after a 3-2 win over Sacramento. They were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against eventual USL champions Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a penalty shootout, 4-2, after the match ended in a scoreless draw.
In May of 2025, the team announced that they would add a women's team competing in the USL W League for the 2026 season.
The club plays on the grounds of Trinity Health Stadium, with a capacity of 5,500. The 1935 stadium was renovated and reopened on July 13, 2019, despite the fact the stadium was not completely finished. Lights were completed and first used for the stadium's first night game on September 14, 2019 (Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City).
2024 saw the addition of VIP suites in the south end of the stadium, adding approximately 200 seats.
During the construction of Trinity Health Stadium, Athletic played home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They played their first home game in front of more than 11,000 supporters.
Hartford's first U.S. Open Cup match in 2019, which was also the first win in club history, was played at Al-Marzook Field in West Hartford.
Hartford Athletic's official colors are green and blue, chosen because of their strong association with the sports teams of Hartford. The team's crest and colors were first unveiled in a video on December 6, 2018.