The United Soccer League intends to launch a brand new males’s skilled league in 2027-28 that may play on the high stage of soccer within the U.S., the identical as Major League Soccer.
The USL already has a pair of leagues, the second-tier USL Championship and the third-tier USL League One. Presently, MLS is the nation’s solely Division One league.
The U.S. Soccer Federation might want to sanction the brand new league, which is able to embrace 12 to 14 groups. The league goals to construct on “USL’s dedication to develop the sport in any respect ranges.”
“Making a Division One league is a daring step ahead, increasing entry to top-tier competitors, deepening the connection between our communities and taking one other step in aligning with the construction of the worldwide recreation,” Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League, mentioned in a press release. “By uniting individuals by means of soccer and bringing Division One to extra cities, we’re not simply rising the game — we’re creating lasting alternatives whereas constructing a extra sustainable and vibrant soccer ecosystem within the U.S.”
The USL mentioned the brand new league would set up a “totally built-in pathway” for golf equipment and gamers throughout the three divisions.
U.S. Soccer, which units the requirements for the game, requires that top-tier leagues have a minimal of 12 groups, with stadiums that seat 15,000 or extra followers. Not less than 75% of the groups should be situated in cities with populations of 1 million or extra. And the groups should show monetary viability.
USL President Paul McDonough informed The Related Press that league officers not too long ago met with U.S. Soccer and there have been no objections to the plan. Sanctioning will come later within the course of.
“We informed them our intention, they’re supportive of it. Now we’ve to go and construct a league and supply all the correct documentation and meet all of the requirements to be sanctioned previous to kickoff,” McDonough mentioned.
It is potential that quite a few present USL Championship groups might transfer as much as the brand new league, together with Sacramento, Louisville, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Louisville posted on social media: “So did we simply get promoted?”
The announcement comes forward of a busy few years for soccer in North America. The Membership World Cup will probably be performed within the U.S. this summer time, adopted by the World Cup subsequent yr, collectively hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In 2028, Los Angeles will host the Olympics.
McDonough mentioned there will probably be an software course of for groups each already within the USL system and potential new golf equipment.
The league will play a spring-to-fall calendar, like MLS, and there will probably be no school draft. There may be the likelihood that the league could undertake promotion-relegation, McDonough mentioned.
Main League Soccer is celebrating its thirtieth season this yr. The MLS season opens next week with 30 groups, together with growth membership San Diego.
The USL has a high division ladies’s league, the eight-team USL Tremendous League, which launched final August.
Reporting by The Related Press.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized e-newsletter each day!
Get extra from United Soccer League Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
