FC Cincinnati scheduled a "significant announcement about the future" on Tuesday as Sports Illustrated reported the team would join Major League Soccer starting next year.

MLS commissioner Don Garber, city mayor John Cranley and club majority owner Carl Lindner III will attend what is expected to be the announcement of expansion to Cincinnati as the 26th MLS team.

Cincinnati, atop the second-tier United Soccer League at 6-2-2, secured a deal for a downtown stadium but would play its first MLS campaign in 2019 at the University of Cincinnati, its current home field, according to the report, with a new 21,000-seat venue likely would open in 2021.

Nashville and Miami were approved as expansion teams last December and January. Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento were selected as finalists with the announcement of another expansion club delayed due to stadium and ownership issues in the remaining bids.

Cincinnati averaged more than 21,000 spectators a game last year and is at nearly 24,000 average for four home games this year.

It could become the only Ohio MLS club as the owner of the Columbus Crew, a natural rival only a two-hour drive away, are looking at a move to Austin, Texas.

MLS has committed to expanding to 28 teams but said it would look at other candidates for the last two clubs, which have no timetable for being approved.