USL to adopt first promotion-relegation system in United States
03/19/2025 06:11 PM
For the first time in United States soccer history, a promotion-relegation system will be coming to the country.
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’s professional league in 2027.
This new league would rival MLS despite working under the same sanctioning by U.S. Soccer as a professional soccer league.
“A 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,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in a statement.
“This 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’s time.”
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’s top leagues including the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and Spanish La Liga, but never looked set to be used in MLS.
The USL launched in 1986 and later announced a women’s pathway that includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024.
U.S. Soccer later voiced its support for the USL’s structure change for its new league.
“The 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’s World Cup and bid for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” a federation statement said. “We welcome innovation and growth to the landscape of American soccer, and we look forward to learning more.”
