Miami (AFP) – The lower division United Soccer League (USL) says it plans to create a top-flight rival to Major League Soccer by launching a new division in 2027-28. USL last year launched a first division women’s league, the USL Super League, which competes separately from the established National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and now intends to do the same with the men’s game.
In the USA, the sport’s governing body, the US Soccer Federation, designates standards for each division and there is nothing to stop rival leagues being formed and operating if they meet such standards. “Today is a defining moment for the USL and the future of soccer in the United States,” Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League said in a statement. “Creating a Division One league is a bold step forward, expanding access to top-tier competition, deepening the connection between our communities and taking another step in aligning with the structure of the global game.”
The statement did not indicate how many clubs were signed up to the proposed new division or give any plans for stadium improvements and other upgrades that would be needed to receive sanctioning approval from US Soccer. Paul McDonough, President and Chief Soccer Officer of USL, told AFP that some clubs are in the planning stages of stadium construction but said the hard work began now.
“We do need the runway to focus on infrastructure,” he said, adding that 2028 might prove to be a more realistic start date than 2027. “But the conversations we had with some people and the people who have come forward today with their intent…they know what the standards are…but we are going to need some time.”
McDonough said a Division One league had to be a clear upgrade on the current USL Championship in many areas. “Everything, when people watch it, it has to be better than what we have now,” he said. “The stadium feel, the stadium capacity, how they fill it, what it looks like on the field, it has all got to be better and that’s what we’re focused on.”
The USL currently runs a second division league known as the USL Championship with 24 teams in cities such as Louisville, Charleston, Detroit, and San Antonio. Below that, USL runs the third division League One and the regionalized semi-professional USL League Two with 128 clubs in 18 divisions.
McDonough said he believes US Soccer, who will ultimately decide if the new league merits first division status, is focused on growing the game across the country.
– ‘Room for more teams’ –
As for MLS’s likely response, McDonough suggested the established top-level league might not be happy with the development. “I think MLS have been a key influencer in the game in this country and they will continue to be that,” he said. “But you know, there is room for more teams in this country. Do I think they are going to be thrilled with it? Probably not, but that’s kind of, you know, life, right? We are going to go forward with it and I think if we do a good job and they do a good job, the goal is to make this a soccer country.”
Major League Soccer began play in 1996 and has grown to 30 clubs, most of them with their own stadiums. As there is no promotion or relegation into the US system, the only route into MLS is via an expansion process with San Diego joining the league this season after paying a reported $500 million expansion fee.
© 2024 AFP
