Former USMNT player Altidore teams up with Westbrook in Oklahoma City for soccer initiative.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Former U.S. forward Jozy Altidore has joined NBA player Russell Westbrook as part of the OKC for Soccer ownership group, the organization announced on Thursday.

The ownership group has acquired the rights to a USL Championship team that was formerly known as the OKC Energy. The group intends to have a team ready for a new stadium expected to open in downtown Oklahoma City in 2028.

Altidore is a two-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and has participated in two World Cups, having played in both the English Premier League and Spain’s LaLiga.

“It’s uncommon to find a club and its pathway so fundamentally connected to the community from the outset,” Altidore stated. “It aligns seamlessly with the goal of establishing a world-class environment for soccer in OKC across all levels of the sport.”

Altidore joins a group that features primary owners Echo Investment Capital, his business associate Alex Lee, and the Chickasaw Nation.

“We are excited to welcome Jozy Altidore and Alex Lee to the OKC for Soccer family,” said Christian Kanady, founding partner and CEO of Echo. “Jozy brings an invaluable asset: world-class credibility, a player’s insight into what is necessary to nurture talent, and the capacity to motivate the next generation from the locker room to the boardroom.”