Waterloo United

KW United
Full nameWaterloo Minor Soccer Club
Founded1971 (as Waterloo Minor SC)
StadiumWarrior Field, University of Waterloo
Head CoachJohn O'Brien (men)
Chris Kraemer (women)
LeagueLeague1 Ontario
2025L1O-C, 10th (men)
L1O-P, 6th (women)
Websitehttps://www.waterloounited.com/
Current season

KW United is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Waterloo, Ontario that plays in the League1 Ontario men's and women's divisions. Their home stadium is Warrior Field at the University of Waterloo.

Waterloo United, a youth club founded in 1971, launched their semi-professional side in League1 Ontario in 2021. In 2022, Waterloo United partnered with Borussia Dortmund, becoming part of their BVB International Academy North America program, rebranding the League1 Ontario club to BVB International Academy Waterloo from 2022 through 2024, before ending the partnership in 2025 and re-verting to the Waterloo United name. In 2026, they announced they would partner with Kitchener TFC to jointly run the semi-professional team, re-branding the semi-professional team to KW United for the 2027 season.

History

The club was founded in 1971 as the Waterloo Minor Soccer Club. In 2011, the club rebranded as Waterloo United. In 2019, the club was awarded the Canada Soccer National Youth Club Licence by the Canadian Soccer Association.

In 2020, the team was to begin play with a U21 team in the League1 Ontario Reserve Division, however, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, lining up with the club's 50th anniversary, they added a team in the League1 Ontario main division. The club also added a team in the League1 Ontario women's division for the 2021 season. The city of Guelph also added men's and women's teams in 2021, setting up a natural local rivalry for the two clubs. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Waterloo deferred their entrance to the League1 Ontario top division until 2022.

In 2022, the club struck an affiliation agreement with German club Borussia Dortmund. As part of the agreement, the League1 Ontario teams competed under the name BVB IA Waterloo. In February 2025, the club returned to using the Waterloo name for their League1 Ontario teams, while the youth sides retained the BVB branding. In August 2025, the club fully ended the partnership, returning to using the Waterloo United branding for the whole club.

In March 2026, Waterloo United announced a partnership with Kitchener SC to jointly support the Ontario Premier League (re-branded from League1 Ontario in 2026) team, with the team to announce a re-brand in 2027 (they will continue to use the Waterloo United name for 2026 - both clubs would still operate their own separate youth programs). In October 2026, it was revealed that the team would be known as K-W United.

Seasons

Men

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs League Cup Ref
2021 League1 Ontario Summer Championship 11 2–5–0 5th – not held
2022 League1 Ontario 22 7–1–13 15th Did not qualify not held
2023 21 1–0–19 21st Did not qualify not held
2024 League1 Ontario Championship 10 4–4–10 9th – Round of 16
2025 12 6–4–12 10th – Round of 32

Women

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs League Cup Ref
2021 League1 Ontario Summer Championship 7 2–1–3 4th – –
2022 League1 Ontario 20 4–3–12 16th Did not qualify –
2023 19 7–3–8 10th Did not qualify –
2024 League1 Ontario Championship 10 11–3–4 Champions ↑ – Round of 16
2025 League1 Ontario Premier 10 4–5–9 6th – Round of 16

Notable former players

The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 Ontario team:

Men

References

  1. ↑ Reid, Brady (April 21, 2021). "Waterloo United ring in 50th anniversary with 'natural progression' to League1 Ontario". League1 Ontario.
  2. 1 2 3 "WMSC History". Waterloo United.
  3. ↑ Thoman, Alana (September 3, 2019). "Kids in Sports: Waterloo United recognized as high achieving club". Waterloo Chronicle.
  4. ↑ "League1 Ontario adds four men's teams for 2021". League1 Ontario. January 28, 2021.
  5. ↑ Jacques, John (January 28, 2021). "League1 Ontario Adds Four New Teams". Northern Tribune.
  6. ↑ "League1 Ontario adds three women's teams for 2021". League1 Ontario. February 3, 2021.
  7. ↑ Pare, Mark (February 4, 2021). "Semi-pro soccer teams coming to Waterloo, for men and women". Kitchener Today.
  8. ↑ "A Bluffer's Guide to BVB IA Waterloo". League1 Ontario. July 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ Brown, Josh (February 16, 2022). "Waterloo Minor Soccer Club strikes affiliation deal with Borussia Dortmund". Waterloo Region Record.
  10. ↑ "Waterloo United Partners With Borussia Dortmund". Waterloo United SC.
  11. ↑ Lane, Nancy (December 13, 2021). "Announcing BVB International Academy- Waterloo". BVB International Academy.
  12. ↑ "League1 Ontario Announces Men's Premier Division Schedule". League1 Ontario. March 18, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Locked In: All six divisions in the 2025 season". League1 Ontario. February 4, 2025.
  14. ↑ Brown, Josh (August 5, 2025). "Waterloo United ends deal with German pro club Dortmund". Waterloo Region Record.
  15. ↑ Pickel, Jeff (March 31, 2026). "Soccer teams from Waterloo and Kitchener team up for new partnership". CTV News.