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Organizing body | United Soccer League |
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First season | 2028 (proposed) |
Country | United States |
Confederation | CONCACAF |
Number of clubs | 12 (proposed) |
Level on pyramid | Division 1 (proposed) |
Relegation to | USL Championship |
Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup |
League cup(s) | USL Cup |
International cup(s) | CONCACAF Champions Cup |
USL Division One is the tentative name for a proposed professional men's soccer league in the highest level of the United States league system, alongside Major League Soccer. Organized by the United Soccer League (USL), it would supersede the USL Championship as its premier league for men, and would employ a promotion and relegation system with the Championship. Its inaugural season would commence in 2028.
The USL announced its intent to establish a new Division I league via a press release published in February 2025. USL clubs were informed of the decision the day prior. [1] [2] [3] Before making their announcement, the USL waited for the outcome of N. Am. Soccer League, LLC v. U.S. Soccer Fed'n, Inc. in the United States District Court, E.D.N.Y., which ultimately ruled that U.S. Soccer's league system was legal and did not break antitrust laws. [4] The USL aims to commence play in USL Division One in the 2028 season. [5] [6]
USL Division One would play a spring-to-fall schedule, and its teams would sign players via transfers and free agency – a college draft would not be used. [7] A system of promotion and relegation would be implemented, in which the worst-performing teams in Division One would be replaced by the best-performing teams in the USL Championship at the end of each season. [8] [9] [10]
U.S. Soccer stipulates that a league must have a minimum of twelve teams to qualify for Division 1 sanctioning, and fourteen teams by its third season. The league must have teams situated in the Eastern, Central, and Pacific time zones, and at least three quarters of the teams must be based in metropolitan areas with a population of a million or more. [2] [11] [12] All clubs must play in a venue with a capacity of 15,000 or more, and have an ownership group with a combined net worth of US$70 million. An individual owner with a net worth of US$40 million must also have a 35% or greater stake in the club. [11] [12]
Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC have applied to join, with an upgrade of Highmark Stadium to meet the stadium capacity requirement put forward as the centerpiece of their bid. [13] [14] Detroit City FC and Sacramento Republic FC have also initiated stadium projects with an intent to meet the stadium capacity requirement. [15] [16] [17] Birmingham Legion FC, Miami FC, and Oakland Roots currently meet both the market population and stadium capacity requirements. [3] The USL are also open to applications from clubs outside its system. [7]
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Highmark Stadium | 15,000 (planned) | [13] [14] |
McDonough said the USL waited for the trial to conclude before moving forward with its plans.
...he was increasing capacity from 5,500 to 15,000 to qualify the Riverhounds for the United Soccer League's new Division One, which will launch in 2028.
We've currently completed our Division One application,