Organizing body | United Soccer League |
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Founded | April 2, 2017 |
First season | 2019 |
Country | United States |
Confederation | CONCACAF (North American Football Union) |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 3 |
Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup |
League cup(s) | USL Cup |
Current champion(s) | North Carolina FC (2023) |
Current regular season title | Union Omaha (2023) |
Most championships | Greenville Triumph SC North Carolina FC North Texas SC Union Omaha South Georgia Tormenta FC (1 title each) |
Most regular season titles | Union Omaha (2 titles) |
Top goalscorer | Emiliano Terzaghi (55) |
TV partners | |
Website | www |
Current: 2024 USL League One season |
United Soccer League divisions |
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Men's leagues |
Women's leagues |
Youth leagues |
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 2023, [update] the league has 12 teams who play 32 regular season games, followed by playoffs.
The USL Championship was granted second division sanctioning by the United States Soccer Federation in January 2017, leaving the third tier of American soccer unoccupied. From 1996 to 2009, the United Soccer League operated leagues at the lower divisions under various names, including the USL Second Division in the third tier. [1] On April 2, 2017, the USL announced that it would launch a new third division league in 2019, with a minimum of eight clubs and relaxed requirements compared to the second division USL. [2] [3] The new league had the temporary name USL Division III (USL D3). [2] The league announced that they would target cities with a population of 150,000 to one million, mostly in cities currently without a professional team. [4]
In the following months, the league began searching for cities and markets in which to locate new member teams. A tour of prospective cities in the southeastern United States was conducted by the league's vice president from April to May 2017, [5] followed by a visit to North Carolina and a similar tour of the Midwest in late May. [6] [7] After the closing of the southeastern tour, the league announced a possible plan for Tormenta FC, a Premier Development League team from Georgia, to join the league. [8]
The unveiling of the first founding member, South Georgia Tormenta FC, took place on January 25, 2018. [9] This was followed by FC Tucson on February 6, [10] [11] Greenville Triumph SC on March 13, [12] [13] and Madison, Wisconsin on May 17. [14] Toronto FC II of the USL was announced on July 2, [15] and Chattanooga, Tennessee was announced on August 1. [16] Three USL Championship teams, Penn FC, the Rochester Rhinos and the Richmond Kickers, also announced plans to move to League One by 2020 due to financial difficulties. [17] [18] [19] On October 2, 2018, the tenth and final founding member was revealed to be the reserve team of FC Dallas. Four days later, the club unveiled its branding as North Texas SC.
The league filed for Division III status with the USSF on August 14, 2018. Ten founding teams were listed in the application. [20] [21] On December 14, 2018, USSF voted to provisionally sanction League One as a Division 3 league for 2019. [22] [ non-primary source needed ][ better source needed ] The league currently shares Division III status with MLS Next Pro and the National Independent Soccer Association. [23]
The first League One game was played on March 29, 2019, when Tormenta FC defeated Greenville Triumph SC 1–0 before a crowd of 3,519 at Eagle Field in Erk Russell Park. Alex Morrell scored the first goal in the 72nd minute. [24] [25] At the end of the season, Lansing Ignite FC folded. [26]
For the 2020 season, Union Omaha joined the league. [27] Additionally, the New England Revolution and Inter Miami CF placed reserve teams in the league, bringing the total number of teams to 12. [28]
On June 21, 2021, Major League Soccer announced the creation of a new professional soccer league, MLS Next Pro, which began play in 2022 and would host all of MLS's reserve teams along with some independent teams. [29] Fort Lauderdale CF, New England Revolution II, North Texas SC and Toronto FC II all joined MLS Next Pro after the 2021 League One season. [30] Former League One side Orlando City B joined MLS Next Pro for the inaugural 2022 season following a hiatus that began after the club completed the 2020 League One season. [30] Rochester New York FC, formerly known as Rochester Rhinos, announced on December 5, 2021, that the club would be joining MLS Next Pro as its first independent club. [31] Rochester had announced in 2018 their intentions to join League One for the 2020 season, though stadium delays and other financial issues kept the club on hiatus for four years. [32] [33] On October 5, 2021, the USL announced it had awarded Lexington Pro Soccer an expansion team for the 2023 season. It would be League One's first club based in Kentucky. [34] The club's identity was revealed as Lexington Sporting Club on March 22, 2022. [35]
Central Valley Fuego FC, Charlotte Independence and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC began play in 2022. [36] [37] [38] On June 3, 2022, USL announced that they had granted a group based out of Wilmington, North Carolina the exclusive rights to pursue a League One expansion team for the area with the goal of joining in 2024. Wilmington had been the home of long time USL club Wilmington Hammerheads FC, who played in various USL leagues from 1996 until 2017. [39] On July 12, 2022, USL announced that a newly formed club, Santa Barbara Sky FC, would be joining League One for the 2024 season. [40] It would be the league's second club in California, joining Central Valley Fuego. Following the conclusion of the 2022 regular season, FC Tucson announced a self-relegation back to USL League Two. [41] Shortly after FC Tucson announced their self-relegation, One Knoxville SC announced they would turn professional and join League One for 2023, following a successful debut season that saw them reach the USL League Two conference finals. [42] On December 8, 2022, it was announced that USL League Two club Lane United FC acquired exclusive rights to pursue a League One franchise in Lane County, Oregon. [43]
The league has 12 teams participating in the 2024 season. [20]
Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Joining | Head coach | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planned expansion teams | |||||||
Santa Barbara Sky FC | Santa Barbara, California | La Playa Stadium | 10,000 | 2022 | 2025 | vacant | |
Texoma FC [44] | Sherman, Texas | Historic Bearcat Stadium | 6,500 | 2023 | 2025 | vacant | |
USL Antelope Valley [45] | Lancaster, California | Lancaster Municipal Stadium | 5,300 | 2023 | 2025 | vacant | |
USL Eugene [46] | Eugene, Oregon | Civic Park Stadium | 3,500 | 2024 | 2025 | vacant | |
USL Naples [47] | Naples, Florida | Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium | 5,000 | 2024 | 2025 | vacant | |
USL Portland [48] | Portland, Maine | Fitzpatrick Stadium | 6,000 | 2023 | 2025 | vacant |
Club | City | Stadium | Capacity | Joined | Final season | Fate | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fort Lauderdale CF | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | DRV PNK Stadium | 18,000 | 2020 | 2021 | Moved to MLS Next Pro | [30] |
Lansing Ignite FC | Lansing, Michigan | Cooley Law School Stadium | 7,527 | 2019 | 2019 | Folded | [26] |
New England Revolution II | Foxborough, Massachusetts | Gillette Stadium | 20,000 | 2020 | 2021 | Moved to MLS Next Pro | [30] |
North Carolina FC | Cary, North Carolina | WakeMed Soccer Park | 10,000 | 2021 | 2023 | Moved to USL Championship | [49] |
North Texas SC | Arlington, Texas | Choctaw Stadium | 48,114 | 2019 | 2021 | Moved to MLS Next Pro | [30] |
Orlando City B | Kissimmee, Florida | Osceola County Stadium | 5,400 | 2019 | 2020 | Moved to MLS Next Pro | [30] |
Toronto FC II | Toronto, Ontario | BMO Training Ground | 1,000 | 2019 | 2021 | Moved to MLS Next Pro | [30] |
FC Tucson | Tucson, Arizona | Kino North Stadium | 3,200 | 2019 | 2022 | Moved to USL League Two | [50] |
Teams that no longer participate in USL League One are in italics.
Season | Playoff champions | Players' Shield [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|
2019 | North Texas SC | North Texas SC |
2020 | Greenville Triumph SC [lower-alpha 2] | Greenville Triumph SC |
2021 | Union Omaha | Union Omaha |
2022 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | Richmond Kickers |
2023 | North Carolina FC | Union Omaha |
Season | Champions | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Attendance | MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | North Texas SC | 1–0 | Greenville Triumph SC | Toyota Stadium | 3,245 | Arturo Rodríguez (NTX) |
2020 | Greenville Triumph SC | Cancelled [51] | Union Omaha | Legacy Early College Field | N/A | N/A |
2021 | Union Omaha | 3–0 | Greenville Triumph SC | Werner Park | 5,221 | Damià Viader (OMA) |
2022 | South Georgia Tormenta FC | 2–1 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | Optim Sports Medicine Field | 3,045 | Kazaiah Sterling (TRM) |
2023 | North Carolina FC | 1–1 (5–4 PK) | Charlotte Independence | WakeMed Soccer Park | 4,487 | Raheem Somersall (NCA) |
Rochester New York FC, formerly known as the Rochester Raging Rhinos and later the Rochester Rhinos, was an American soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. In 2023, the club withdrew from the professional level in MLS Next Pro. The club won the 1999 U.S. Open Cup, marking the only time a non-MLS team has won the U.S. Open Cup since MLS started play in 1996.
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.
The Cincinnati Dutch Lions FC is an American amateur soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and playing home games in the suburb of Highland Heights, Kentucky. Founded in 2013, the team played in USL League Two. The club went into hiatus during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
South Georgia Tormenta FC, or simply Tormenta FC, is an American soccer organization based in Statesboro, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2015, the club fields a professional team in USL League One, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, as well as a pre-professional team in USL League Two called Tormenta FC 2 and a pre-professional team in USL W-League. The team colors are midnight navy, sky blue, silver, and magenta. The team's crest shows an ibis. Tormenta FC's USL League One team and the W-League team both emerged victorious in 2022, becoming national champions in their respective leagues.
Greenville Triumph SC is a professional soccer team based in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. The club began play in USL League One in 2019.
Lansing Ignite FC was a professional soccer team based in Lansing, Michigan, United States. The club began play in the newly-formed USL League One in 2019 and ceased operations following their inaugural season.
The 2019 Orlando City B season was the club's third year of existence and their first returning from hiatus during the 2018 season. It was their first season as a founding member of USL League One, the third tier of the United States soccer pyramid, after moving from the second tier now rebranded as USL Championship in the restructuring. The team also moved from Orlando City Stadium where they spent the 2017 season, to Montverde Academy which already housed Orlando City's Development Academy.
The 2019 Forward Madison FC season was the inaugural season in the soccer team's history, where they competed in the third division of American soccer, USL League One, the first season of the competition. Forward Madison FC also participated in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. Forward Madison FC played their home games at Breese Stevens Field, located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.
The 2019 Richmond Kickers season is a soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia. It was the club's 27th season of existence, their 15th season in the third tier of American soccer, and their first season in the newly-created USL League One. It was the Kickers' first season playing in the third tier of American soccer since 2016, when they were in the United Soccer League. The season covers the period from October 14, 2018 to the beginning of the 2020 USL League One season.
The 2019 FC Tucson season was the club's eighth season of existence and their first full professional season in USL League One. They previously played in the Premier Development League and won four divisional titles.
The 2019 season was Greenville Triumph SC's first of existence. They played in USL League One.
The 2019 Tormenta FC season was the club's fourth season of existence, and their first season as a professional club. It was their first season playing in the third tier of American soccer, USL League One.
The 2020 USL League One season was the second season of USL League One. The regular season was scheduled to begin on March 27 and end on October 3. On March 13, it was announced the regular season start would be delayed to April 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This delay was extended to May 10. The delay was extended for a third time with the USL awaiting guidance and clarity from various authorities before announcing a new date. On June 5, the league announced a provisional return date of July 18. On July 2, the league announced a modified 20-game schedule with a modified playoffs. Now, only the top two teams will go straight to the League Finals, on the weekend of October 31. On July 8, Toronto FC II announced they would not play in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions. They remain a member club of the league, and plan to return for the 2021 season. Nine teams return from the inaugural season, while three new teams enter for the first time; MLS reserve teams Fort Lauderdale CF and New England Revolution II, and expansion club Union Omaha.
The 2020 Richmond Kickers season was the club's 28th season of existence, their 16th season in the third tier of American soccer, and their second season in the newly created USL League One. It is the Kickers' second season playing in the third tier of American soccer since 2016, when they were in the United Soccer League. Initially, the preseason began on February 8, 2020 and was scheduled to conclude on March 24, 2020. The regular season was originally scheduled to begin on March 28, 2020 and conclude on September 24, 2020.
The 2022 Richmond Kickers season was the club's 30th season of existence, their fourth season in USL League One, and their 18th season in the third tier of American soccer. The Kickers were led by third-year head coach, Darren Sawatzky. The USL League One season started on April 2 and concluded on October 15, 2022.
The 2022 Union Omaha season was the third season in the soccer team's history, and their third season in the third division of American soccer, USL League One. Union Omaha played their home games at Werner Park, located in Papillion, Nebraska, United States.
The 2022 USL League One season was the fourth season of USL League One. The regular season began on April 2 and ended on October 15. The playoffs began on October 22 and ended on November 6.
The 2022 Tormenta FC season was the club's seventh season of existence, and their fourth season as a professional club, all of which have been spent in the third tier of American soccer in USL League One. Tormenta FC enter this season following an 11th-place finish the previous season. This will be the club's first season in their new stadium, Optim Health System Field, after spending previous seasons at Eagle Field on the campus of Georgia Southern University.
The 2022 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC season was the first season in the club's history. The club, which was announced on January 12, 2021, will be playing in USL League One, a third division league in the American soccer pyramid. The club will play their home games at Future Legends Complex, a sports park currently under construction in Windsor, Colorado. In August 2021, the club announced that former Libya international Éamon Zayed will manage the club in its first season.
William Garrity "TJ" Bush is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Chattanooga Red Wolves in the USL League One.