For the first time in United States soccer history, a promotion-relegation system will be coming to the country. <\/p>\n
USL club owners voted for promotion-relegation to be implemented, similar to that of the European-style, the league announced Wednesday. The USL previously announced in February that they would be launching a new Division One men\u2019s professional league in 2027.<\/p>\n
This new league would rival MLS despite working under the same sanctioning by U.S. Soccer as a professional soccer league.<\/p>\n
\u201cA new chapter in American soccer begins. The decision by our owners to approve and move forward with this bold direction is a testament to their commitment to the long-term growth of soccer in the United States,\u201d USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a significant milestone for the USL and highlights our shared vision with our team ownership to build a league that not only provides top-tier competition but also champions community engagement. Now, just as it is in the global game, more communities in America can aspire to compete at the highest level of soccer. It\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new Division One league stands as the highest of three levels for the USL, that includes the USL Championship (Division Two) and USL League One (Division Three). Promotion-relegation is used in many of the world\u2019s top leagues including the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and Spanish La Liga, but never looked set to be used in MLS.<\/p>\n
The USL launched in 1986 and later announced a women\u2019s pathway that includes the\u00a0top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024. <\/p>\n
U.S. Soccer later voiced its support for the USL\u2019s structure change for its new league. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe continued investment into the game reflects the strength of the United States as a soccer country, which will only accelerate as we build toward hosting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the 2026 FIFA Men\u2019s\u00a0World Cup\u00a0and bid for the 2031 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup,\u201d a federation statement said. \u201cWe welcome innovation and growth to the landscape of American soccer, and we look forward to learning more.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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