Retired AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini and TV rights entrepreneur Riccardo Silva are launching the Miami Football Club in the North American Soccer League, the league announced Wednesday.
Miami FC plans to start playing in 2016.
The NASL currently contains 11 teams in the United States in Canada, highlighted by the New York Cosmos.
Separately, David Beckham is planning to start an MLS team in Miami. His group has been searching for a downtown site to build a stadium.
NASL commissioner Bill Peterson called the Miami FC announcement "another testament to the strength of our rapidly growing organization, our owner-friendly structure, and the growing popularity of NASL soccer worldwide.
"Riccardo Silva is a world leader in soccer media, and he has decided, along with his partners, that Miami and the NASL are part of an important future for the game globally," Peterson added. "Miami finally has an ownership group with a global vision and the experience to build a proper club that all of Miami will be proud to support."
A statement provided to The Associated Press says the team will play "in one of the existing world-class stadiums of Miami."
Silva and Maldini are backed by a group of international investors led by Antonio Barreto, a longtime sports and media entrepreneur and Miami resident who will be CEO of the club.
"I'm proud and excited to be part of this venture," Maldini said. "I strongly believe in the growth of soccer in [the] USA, and this is the perfect project to develop a top-class soccer team in one of the most important cities of the world.
"We are glad not only to bring a professional soccer team to Miami, but also to support all of its communities through our social responsibility commitment.
"We believe that the fast-growing NASL will be the perfect platform to develop a successful team and a valuable business. Miami has been my second home for 15 years, so I look forward to spending more and more time here as Co-owner of Miami FC, giving my enthusiastic contribution for its success," he concluded.
Silva was similarly excited about Miami FC's future on the soccer fields and in the community.
"I'm proud to support a venture that is not only bringing world-class professional soccer to Miami but also a project with an active charity program for the local community," he said.
Silva continued: "As Miami moves forward in the world of business and arts, we feel that it's a good time to also take a step further in the world of sports and soccer, and we will do that with dedication and passion, bringing our business and soccer expertise."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.