I recently came across this article about clubs merging to become the San Diego Soccer Club. Here is a press release and a FAQ. This is seems to be the logo. I'm not familiar with the soccer scene, clubs and leagues in San Diego but that would probably be the team which has currently the best chances to play in USL or NASL soon (and maybe one day in MLS), right?
That's a youth club. It is no more likely to make it to MLS than the other big youth clubs -- Nomads, Albion, Surf, etc. San Diego United actually had a men's NPSL team for a while, Nomads had a men's team too, way back when.
The ability to play (at least for San Diego) in USL PRO, NASL, or MLS, is quite literally all about the money. There is plenty of talent here. Between players who are already here playing for random minor league teams (Boca, Flash, Tiburones, Pumitas, others), products of the youth clubs, and colleges, we could already put together a pretty legitimate D-2 or D-3 team I'm sure. And that's not even considering any players who would move here to play for a team at one of those levels if it existed. The only thing lacking is an ownership group with the money (and stadium) to make it happen. As much as people like to debate this city or that city "would be a great addition to MLS", or "is a soccer hotbed", or "would really support a team", or "the league needs to expand its geographical footprint HERE", the deciding factor really is the money. I happen to think San Diego is a great place for soccer, and I'd love to have a high-level pro team here someday, but we're not going to get one for sentimental reasons. The formula is simple--you've got an owner with the requisite millions and a stadium (or plans for one), you've got a team. You don't, you don't.
I can see this group expanding into one of the pro leagues, it's definitely not unprecedented, but as mentioned they'll need cash, and lots of it, to make an effective run at the higher leagues. They have a good base, I'll grant them that, but I see nothing that stands out as making them any more likely to make a USL or higher attempt than anyone else.
This is the coming together of two youth clubs. PQ premier and San Diego FC Sockers. They have combined to have a better chance of competing with Surf. Surf has the Name, Tournament and reputation for being the biggest club in SD. This group wants to challenge that. Mc Fadden is also to a point of retiring soon and this answers his need to good management of his club. Brian Quinn is mostly in charge now. They don't need to go into pro soccer as they make a fortune on youth parents. They do support Pro soccer in SD and will help any way they can. No big owner with big money in this group to my knowledge. I still hear that it is the Xolos. They have big money.