Organizing body | USL Championship |
---|---|
Founded | 2010 |
Region | United States (CONCACAF) |
Current champion(s) | San Antonio FC (1st title) |
Most successful club(s) | Louisville City and Orlando City (2 titles each) |
Television broadcasters | ESPN+ |
Website | USLSoccer.com |
2023 USL Championship Playoffs |
The USL Championship final is the post-season championship match of the USL Championship, the second tier of professional men's soccer in the United States. The winner is crowned champion in the same manner as in other North American sports leagues (i.e. via a playoff following a regular season).
Unlike most soccer league, but much like North American sports leagues, the USL champion does not earn promotion into Major League Soccer, due to the fixed membership structure found in the league.
As of 2022, the USL Championship final is typically held in mid-November and features the Eastern Conference champion and Western Conference champion. The predecessor to the USL Championship final was the A–League Championship and the USL-1 Championship.
Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | California Jaguars | 1–1 ( p ) | Richmond Kickers |
1997 | Milwaukee Rampage | 1–1 ( p ) | Carolina Dynamo |
1998 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 3–1 | Minnesota Thunder |
1999 | Minnesota Thunder | 2–1 | Rochester Raging Rhinos |
2000 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 3–1 | Minnesota Thunder |
2001 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 2–0 | Hershey Wildcats |
2002 | Milwaukee Rampage | 2–1 (2OT) | Richmond Kickers |
2003 | Charleston Battery | 3–0 | Minnesota Thunder |
2004 | Montreal Impact | 2–0 | Seattle Sounders |
Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Seattle Sounders | 1–1 ( p ) | Richmond Kickers | Qwest Field | 8,011 |
2006 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 3–0 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | PAETEC Park | 9,547 |
2007 | Seattle Sounders | 4–0 | Atlanta Silverbacks | Starfire Sports Complex | 4,893 |
2008 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 2–1 | Puerto Rico Islanders | Swangard Stadium [n 1] | 5,822 |
2009 | Montreal Impact | 3–2 [n 2] 3–1 [n 2] | Vancouver Whitecaps | Swangard Stadium Saputo Stadium | 5,886 13,034 |
Club | Winner | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
Louisville City FC | 2 | 2 | 2017, 2018 | 2019, 2022 |
Orlando City SC | 2 | 0 | 2011 , 2013 | |
Charleston Battery | 1 | 1 | 2012 | 2023 |
Phoenix Rising FC | 1 | 1 | 2023 | 2018 |
Sacramento Republic FC | 1 | 0 | 2014 | |
Rochester Rhinos | 1 | 0 | 2015 | |
New York Red Bulls II | 1 | 0 | 2016 | |
Real Monarchs SLC | 1 | 0 | 2019 | |
Orange County SC | 1 | 0 | 2021 | |
San Antonio FC | 1 | 0 | 2022 | |
Harrisburg City Islanders | 0 | 2 | 2011, 2014 | |
Swope Park Rangers | 0 | 2 | 2016, 2017 | |
Wilmington Hammerheads FC | 0 | 1 | 2012 | |
Charlotte Eagles | 0 | 1 | 2013 | |
LA Galaxy II | 0 | 1 | 2015 | |
Tampa Bay Rowdies | 0 | 1 | 2021 |
Winner | USL Cup champions |
Bold | Players' Shield champions |
Italics | No longer plays in the USL Championship |
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