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The United Soccer League (USL) announced last week (February 13) the launch of a new first-division league set to compete with Major League Soccer (MLS) starting in the 2027/28 season. The USL, which already operates the USL Championship (Second Division), USL League One (Third Division), and USL Super League (Women’s First Division), as well as several semi-professional and youth leagues, aims to complete its own league pyramid with this expansion.
A New First Division Under the USL Structure
Still unnamed, the USL Division One will be the top tier of the USL system, which currently starts at the youth level with the USL Academy and extends up to the second-tier USL Championship. Unlike other countries with a unified league system, U.S. soccer operates independently across multiple organizations, meaning the USL Division One and MLS can coexist.
USL CEO Alec Papadakis described the new league as a “historic and transformative moment for soccer in the U.S.” He emphasized that, unlike MLS, which operates as a franchise-based league where club owners share ownership of the league itself, the USL follows a “traditional” club ownership model. In this format, each club is independently owned, similar to leagues worldwide. Papadakis also stated that the USL will maintain this approach, including global-standard player transfer and registration rules.
Set to launch in 2027/28, the league could introduce a groundbreaking promotion and relegation system across the three professional USL divisions. Another potential shift is the adoption of the European calendar, a move that MLS is also considering post-2026 FIFA World Cup.
Securing First-Division Sanctioning
Despite the excitement surrounding the announcement, the USL must now submit its final proposal to the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and meet the requirements for first-division sanctioning. Among the key criteria:
• A minimum of 12 teams within the first three years, expanding to at least 14 in subsequent seasons.
• Representation in all U.S. time zones.
• Stadiums with a minimum capacity of 15,000 seats.
• Financial stability of club owners.
One of the biggest challenges for the USL will be meeting stadium capacity requirements. Currently, only Birmingham Legion, Miami FC, and Oakland Roots play in venues exceeding 15,000 seats. Some clubs, such as Louisville City, Phoenix Rising, Lexington SC, Charlotte Independence, and North Carolina FC, have the potential to expand their stadiums. Meanwhile, teams like Indy Eleven, Union Omaha, Detroit City, and Sacramento Republic have plans for new stadium construction.
Since the USL operates as a closed system, it has the flexibility to launch expansion clubs that meet first-division standards from inception. The league has historically been strategic in its growth, ensuring stability before making major moves.
This announcement follows a recent U.S. court ruling in favor of MLS, dismissing allegations from the New York Cosmos and the now-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) that the league conspired with the U.S. Soccer Federation to prevent fair competition.
With the launch of USL Division One, soccer could be on the same path that saw many other leagues merge into one to create a stronger, better version of itself domestically. MLS could soon be feeling the pinch from its rivals in Division I.
