Our Story

Sammamish FC was founded in 2024 by the Sidialicherif family. The club was established to provide the city of Sammamish with a dedicated soccer team. Sammamish FC aims to provide a platform for local players to represent their city on a national stage, and provide the community a chance to experience hyperlocal soccer and build connections with their neighbors through sport.

Cherif Sidialicherif immigrated to the United States from Algeria, where a deep cultural passion for soccer helped shape his lifelong love for the game. In 1996, he and his wife Mary settled in Sammamish, where they raised their 3 sons, all of whom competed in Washington's rapidly growing soccer community.

Cherif passed away peacefully in Sammamish in 2023 after a brave battle with cancer. The following year, Sammamish FC was established in his honor, serving as a tribute to his love for soccer and his neighbors.

"My favorite memories growing up in Sammamish were going to Skyline or Eastlake in the summer and kicking the ball around with my friends, or playing with my brothers and my Dad in the backyard. I want to honor these beautiful memories. I want to provide opportunities for future generations to experience the same joys I did, and provide them opportunities to seize their potential and put our city on the map."

— Amin Sidialicherif, President and Manager, Sammamish FC

Sammamish FC vows to always put our community first. Whether through providing affordable access to the sport, creating a welcoming third space for all, or supplying equipment to those in need, we are committed to placing our community at the center of everything we do. This is our city, and this is our club.

Our first initiative as a club was to provide the community with accessible, friendly, and competitive Open Field sessions throughout the summer of 2024.

Sammamish FC Open Fields first took place on July 5, 2024. Over the course of 2024 and 2025, the club hosted weekly sessions for local players. Free to attend and captured on film, these gatherings quickly drew the attention of the Sammamish soccer community and helped lay the foundation for the club's growth. The club set out to build a competitive men's squad for league play by Fall 2025, using the Open Fields as a key platform for identifying local talent for the squad.

In August 2025, Sammamish FC announced their participation in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) for the upcoming Fall 2025 Season. Sammamish FC joined Division 1 in the Washington State Bracket, becoming an inaugural member of the newly established division in our region.

Sammamish FC played their first friendly match against Strangers United GSSL Reserves on August 7th, 2025, running out as 6-3 winners. Preseason started for the UPSL squad in mid-August.

Sammamish FC kicked off their competitive history on September 13th, 2025 with a 4-1 win against United Sports II. In our inaugural campaign, Sammamish FC finished 2nd in the UPSL Washington - Division 1, and made it to the Playoff Semi-Finals.

Throughout the campaign, Sammamish FC saw steadily increasing attendance at home matches, culminating in fantastic turnouts for the final fixtures of the season. A genuine sense of community began to form around the club, with dedicated regulars in attendance and loud cheers celebrating every goal.

Sammamish FC have now begun preparations for their Spring 2026 season, which will consist of participation in the UPSL Division 1 as well as the Washington State Super Cup.

Sammamish FC aims to operate on the academy model, the primary method of developing professional footballers across the world and a structure consistently used in countries known for producing elite talent. While this system is standard across much of the globe, it has not yet become the default pathway in the United States.

Rather than beginning at the youth level, Sammamish FC is establishing its structure from the top down by first building a competitive first team and then expanding the development pathway beneath it. The long-term objective is to support teams at every age group, alongside a reserves squad that serves as a direct bridge to the first team. All teams will operate under shared principles and identities, allowing for seamless transition through the pathway. While the first team will focus on competing at a high regional level, the developmental sides will prioritize long-term player growth on and off the pitch.

Players will be able to enter the system at multiple stages through tryouts, scouting, camps, and community programs. At the foundational ages, the emphasis will be on enjoyment, creativity, and technical development through frequent touches on the ball. As players progress, they will be introduced to the tactical and physical demands of the game, preparing them for higher levels of competition. The pathway is designed to create a clear progression into the first team, and ultimately to support opportunities for players to advance further into collegiate, semi-professional, and professional environments.

"The Faroe Islands are a small archipelago nation in the North Atlantic with a population smaller than Sammamish alone. Despite geographic isolation and limited resources, they have built a national team capable of beating countries like Turkey and Czechia and have produced professionals across Europe, including a player currently competing in Serie A. Sammamish already has excellent facilities and strong youth participation. The opportunity now is to create proven pathways to a first team and beyond, provide meaningful matches in high-level regional competition, and align our community with the structures that consistently develop talent around the world."

— Amin Sidialicherif, President and Manager, Sammamish FC