Rhode Island FC

On December 2, 2019, under the leadership of Brett M. Johnson, the co-founder and owner of Rhode Island FC, it was announced that a USL Championship team playing in a new soccer-specific stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island would be a centerpiece for a large development project to be named Tidewater Landing. The stadium was proposed to seat at least 10,000 fans and be connected to shops, apartments, offices, and a hotel in a $400-million plan. The project's initial goal was to have the team playing by 2022.

In order to move forward with the project, team ownership requested partial funding from the State of Rhode Island and City of Pawtucket, with the remainder covered by team ownership. Plans moved slowly due to inflation and supply-chain delays caused by COVID-19, and costs increased from initial projections. Rhode Island's Governor, Dan McKee, cast the deciding vote in a Rhode Island Commerce Corporation meeting on July 25, 2022, to provide funding and allow construction of the stadium. Groundbreaking occurred on August 12, 2022.

The day after the team name was announced, RIFC allowed fans to place advance deposits for purchase of season tickets, which could be applied for a later purchase. The team reported success with the deposits with more than 2,500 in the first week, exceeding volume from any previous USL franchise at their debut. By December, the team reported receiving season ticket deposits from customers in each of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns.

Former Bermuda national team captain Khano Smith was named the team's first head coach and general manager on March 8, 2023. This signing was followed up on November 1, with the announcing of the signing of the first player in team history, Spanish goalkeeper Koke Vegas, a former player for San Diego Loyal and many years at various clubs in Spain. He was subsequently named the team's first captain on March 12, 2024, several days prior to the team's first game.

The team's inaugural match was a sellout on March 16, 2024, against New Mexico United, ending in a 1–1 tie. The first goal in team history was an own goal scored in second-half stoppage time by New Mexico defender Chris Gloster. It was the first time in USL Championship history that a team earned a point in its inaugural game.

The team finished the 2024 regular season 5th in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship. The team showed significant improvement in the standings as the season went on, having been in 11th place as late as mid-June.

Significant inaugural season milestones included their first win at the Las Vegas Lights in April, the only regular season defeat of the Louisville City FC at their home stadium, and a 3-0 victory against rivals Hartford Athletic. The team had a mid-season unbeaten streak of 8 games and closed the regular season on a 6-game unbeaten streak, extending it further in the playoffs. Their final game against Miami FC was an 8–1 victory, the largest margin of victory and highest single-game goal total of any game in the 2024 season.

Rhode Island FC set the single-season USL Championship record for most draws, at 15. Team honors included Noah Fuson as the 2024 Golden Playmaker, JJ Williams as Player of the Month of October, and Khano Smith as Coach of the Month for June.

After defeating Indy 3–2 in their first playoff game, RIFC traveled to Players' Shield winners Louisville City FC, beating them 3–0. In the Eastern Conference Championship, they beat Charleston Battery 2–1. RIFC lost in the 2024 USL Championship Final 3-0 to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

In 2025, the team moved to its new home location, Centreville Bank Stadium. The team's first scheduled game at Centreville was a 10,700-person sellout May 3, as Rhode Island played a 0–0 draw against San Antonio FC. Season highlights included the team's first meeting against the New England Revolution, a 2–1 home loss in the U.S. Open Cup; scoring a 5–0 home victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies; and winning Group 4 and reaching the semifinals of the USL Cup. As the seventh-seed in the playoffs, RIFC won two playoff games, but lost to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the USL Eastern Conference Final.