United Soccer League unveils plans for new division to compete with Major League Soccer

The United Soccer League (USL) has announced its intention to establish a premier competition to rival Major League Soccer by introducing a new division in the 2027/28 season.

Last year, the USL initiated a first division women's league, known as the USL Super League, which operates independently of the existing National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

In the United States, the governing body for the sport, the US Soccer Federation, sets the criteria for each division. There are no restrictions preventing the formation and operation of competing leagues, provided they adhere to these established standards.

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"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," he added.

The announcement did not specify the number of clubs that have registered for the suggested new division, nor did it outline any plans for necessary stadium enhancements and other improvements required to obtain sanctioning approval from US Soccer.

Presently, the USL operates a second division league called the USL Championship, which comprises 24 teams located in cities including Louisville, Charleston, Detroit, and San Antonio.

Beneath this, the USL oversees the third division League One, as well as the regionally organized semi-professional USL League 2, which features 128 clubs across 18 divisions.

"The USL model empowers clubs with greater autonomy and fosters a dynamic, interconnected system - one that allows them to compete at the highest level while remaining deeply rooted in their communities," said Papadakis.

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"Around the world, top-tier clubs thrive in cities of all sizes, and we believe the same is possible here. The demand and infrastructure are in place, and the potential for growth is immense," he added.

Major League Soccer commenced its operations in 1996 and has expanded to include 30 clubs, the majority of which possess their own stadiums.

In the absence of a promotion or relegation system within the United States, the sole pathway into MLS is through an expansion process. This season, San Diego has joined the league after reportedly paying an expansion fee of $500 million.