Queensbooro FC, which had planned to makes its USL Championship debut next year, has delayed it to 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a press release on Monday, club owners decided the additional year essential – to work alongside the Queens community to rebuild after “becoming the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, to fully establish its youth academy as a local talent pipeline to the senior team.”

The club also has to finalize its stadium plans, including the site where the QBFC Academy will play starting March 2021.

“All are important factors to consider when constructing from the ground up New York City’s newest professional soccer team in Queens – in order to give fans the right product, at the right time, in the right venue, and done the right way,” according to the press release.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.