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The United Soccer League (USL — not related to Major League Soccer) officially voted to adopt a ‘pro-rel’ system on March 19th. It will be the first time the system will be introduced on American shores, aligning with the rest of the world’s tiered-league systems. With a supermajority of club owners backing the initiative, it will aim to redefine the landscape of the sport in the U.S.
The vision centers around a three-division tier system. The newly planned USL Division One (officially launching in 2027), the existing USL Championship (Division Two), and USL League One (Division Three). Teams will rise and fall between divisions each season depending on their performance, giving regular-season matches much more weight. It is a departure from the usual closed-league system, where teams remain static in their league regardless of their seasonal performance. It also helps to circumvent “league bloat,” where new expansion teams enter a league that already has one too many teams.
For years, American soccer fans have debated the merits of a promotion-relegation system in their domestic leagues. While some say it breaks from the usual culture of parity in American sports, others say it’s necessary to drive more competition and engage with teams at a more local level. The USL’s intent to capitalize on the latter will be intriguing to see in terms of its impact on the sport, especially as the United States is set to co-host the World Cup next year in 2026, and the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028.
“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,” said CEO of the United Soccer League Alec Papadakis. “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.”
