Rio Hope-Gund

Rio Hope-Gund (born August 20, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Detroit City FC.

Early career Youth Hope-Gund was a four-year starter and served as captain at Friends Seminary in Manhattan, helping his high school team to three-consecutive league wins and a state championship in 2016. He was also a four-year started with club side New York Soccer Club, helping the team to back-to-back NPL National Championships in 2015 and 2016.

College and amateur Hope-Gund played college soccer at Georgetown University. After redshirting in 2017, he made 16 appearances for the Hoyas including four starts and scoring two goals as the team won both the Big East regular season title and Big East tournament in 2018. After the postponement of the 2020 fall season until spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope-Gund elected to return despite having been drafted by Orlando City in January 2021. He made a further eight appearances for the Hoyas until his departure for Orlando in April having helped the team top the conference spring series standings. He was named Big East defender of the year and earned Big East All-Conference first team honors at the end of regular season awards. In total he made 44 appearances for the Hoyas, scoring two goals and tallying two assists.

While at college, Hope-Gund played with USL League Two side Manhattan SC during the 2019 season, starting every game for the club as the team finished third in the Northeast Division.

Club career On January 21, 2021, Hope-Gund was selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City. He missed preseason camp, electing to return to Georgetown to play during the delayed college spring season before eventually being signed by the team to a one-year contract with three option years on April 8, 2021. He spent the entire season with the team and was named as a substitute 17 times but never made an appearance and had his contract option declined at the end of the year.

On February 11, 2022, Hope-Gund was announced as a signing for USL Championship side Loudoun United ahead of their 2022 season. He made his professional debut on March 12, 2022, starting and captaining Loudoun to a 1–0 win against Indy Eleven.

After a season with New York City FC II in the MLS Next Pro in 2023, Hope-Gund signed with their MLS roster on March 1, 2024. He was released by NYCFC following their 2024 season.

On April 5, 2025, Hope-Gund signed a short-term deal with USL Championship side Rhode Island FC. At the end of the season, Rhode Island FC let Hope-Gund's contract expire.

On December 18, 2025, Hope-Gund joined fellow USL Championship club Detroit City FC on a one-year contract with an option to extend another year.

Personal life Hope-Gund's twin brother, Kofi, played soccer as a goalkeeper at Amherst College.

Career statistics Club

Honors Georgetown Hoyas Big East Conference regular season: 2018, 2019 Big East Conference Tournament: 2017, 2018, 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament: 2019

Individual Big East Defender of the Year: 2020–21