The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, the federation is a full member of FIFA and governs American soccer at the international, professional, and amateur levels, including: the men's and women's national teams, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, youth organizations, beach soccer, futsal, Paralympic, and deaf national teams. U.S. Soccer sanctions referees and soccer tournaments for most soccer leagues in the United States. The U.S. Soccer Federation also administers and operates the U.S. Open Cup and the SheBelieves Cup.
Charmaine Elizabeth Hooper is a Canadian retired soccer player. A four-time winner of the Canadian Players of the Year award and member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame, Hooper played on the Canada women's national soccer team from 1986 to 2006. As a forward, she stood as Canada's record holder for the women's national team for appearances and goals scored when she retired. Hooper competed in three FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: 1995 in Sweden, 1999, and 2003 in the United States. At club level, Hooper played professionally in Norway, Italy, Japan, and the United States.
North Carolina FC is an American professional soccer team in Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 2006, the team previously was named the Carolina Railhawks.
Rebecca Lynn Edwards is an American soccer player who played for Swedish club Kristianstads DFF in the Damallsvenskan. She previously played for Orlando Pride, Houston Dash, Portland Thorns, and Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as well as FC Gold Pride and the championship-winning Western New York Flash in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
Sean Everet Johnson is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the United States national team.
Romario Garfield Williams is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a forward for USL Championship side Indy Eleven. He is named after the legendary Brazilian footballer, Romário.
Maxime Crépeau is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers and the Canada national team.
Markhus "Duke" Lacroix is a professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship. Born in the United States, he plays for the Haiti national team.
Neco Jeborie Brett is a Jamaican footballer who plays as a forward for USL Championship club Memphis 901.
Connor Austin Maloney is an American former soccer player who played as a full-back. His senior career includes stints with four different American clubs and experience in Major League Soccer. Playing collegiately at Penn State, Maloney was the 2014 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championship and other leagues. As of 2024, the league has 12 teams who play 22 regular season games, followed by playoffs. All teams also participate in the USL Cup, adding an additional eight games, followed by knockout rounds.
Atlanta United 2 are the reserve team of the Major League Soccer club Atlanta United FC. The team plays in MLS Next Pro, the official reserve league of MLS. The team was established on November 14, 2017 and began their first professional season in March 2018.
The 2018 USL season was the eighth season of the United Soccer League and second under Division II sanctioning. The previous season, the USL had provisional Div. II sanctioning from the United States Soccer Federation along with the North American Soccer League, but was given full sanctioning for the 2018 season with a two-year deadline to meet the full requirements set by U.S. Soccer.
The 2018 season was Penn FC's 15th season of competitive soccer, its second in the second division of American soccer, and its eighth and final season in the United Soccer League, now known as the USL Championship. This was the first season the club operated under the "Penn FC" name, having re-branded from the Harrisburg City Islanders in November 2017.
George Oluwaseun Bello is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for Austrian Bundesliga club LASK.
Jacen Rex Orlando Russell-Rowe is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew and the Canada national team.
Aaron Molloy is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship.
Ajani "Jay" Fortune is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United. Born in the United States, he plays for the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
Carlos "Charlie" Asensio is an American soccer player who currently plays as a left-back for USL Championship club Orange County SC.
