USL: Promotion & Relegation AND a New Calendar
On March 19 2025, the United Soccer League (USL) announced that a super-majority of club owners voted to implement a promotion and relegation (pro-rel) system across its professional men’s divisions. This will make it the first U.S. pro sports league to adopt this globally common model. uslsoccer.com+2Axios+2 Alongside this, the USL is moving to restructure its pyramid and its calendar, aligning more closely with the global game. Phoenix Rising FC+1
What is Promotion and Relegation?
Teams are rewarded or penalized based on their performances, when promotion and relegation is used. The top-performing clubs in a lower division are promoted to the next-higher tier. The lowest-performing clubs in a higher tier are relegated to the lower tier. This model is the dominant structure in Europe (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, etc.) and much of the world’s soccer. The concept means that every match can carry meaningful stakes. Not just for loftier ambitions (titles, cups) but also to avoid demotion.
By contrast, historically in U.S. leagues, expansion occurs after a purchase, rather than based on merit. No club has to fear dropping into a lower tier following a bad season. This is how our US MLS system works. This has historically been one of the biggest complaints about US Soccer. Many believe this is a reason whyxcz`p0o our US MLS players do not compare with players from Europe. Even now, many European soccer players come to the US to retire. MLS rosters have historically been full of ex-European players.
Why Does This Matter?
USL’s adoption of pro-rel is noteworthy for several reasons. The USL is going to be hte first major U.S. professional soccer league to formally adopt a pro-rel model. They have laid out a three-tier system consisting of a USL Division One, USL Championship and USL League One. USL Division One is scheduled to launch in 2028. The USL Championship league currently exists and operates as a Division II league. The USL League One is Division III.
This change will allow the US to align with the global game. Moving forward towards a league pyramid, merit-based progressions and schedules that align with the rest of the world signals a shift in the US Soccer culture. This will create a huge opportunity for smaller clubs, markets and communities. It will afford them a chance to “earn” a place at the top. They may have been locked out by franchise fees or market size limitations, in the past. This will be a huge boost for competition and local engagement.
When and Where Will it be Introduced?
This change was approved in March of this year. The new Division One league is scheduled to start in 2027-28. This will function as the top tier in the USL’s pyramid. They are hoping to have full pro-rel across their divisions by 2028 and on. Some reports suggest this will start in 2028. There is also a discussion of shifting hte calendar so that the USL league will align with the international calendars.
Hence, clubs, players and fans should reasonably anticipate the first seasons under this new structure to begin in the latter half of the decade — with key milestones in 2027/28 and full rollout in 2028.
What Impact Will This Have on US Soccer
The ramifications of this move are broad and far-reaching. Some of the major impacts:
a) Increased Competitive Intensity
With promotion and relegation, every match takes on added meaning. Because a club is fighting to reach the next tier or fighting to avoid dropping down — stakes are higher. USL President Paul McDonough noted that “more matches matter” under this system. uslsoccer.com For fans, this creates richer narratives, more meaningful engagement and potentially stronger local followings.
b) Incentives for Club Investment & Infrastructure
When clubs know they have to perform or risk relegation, investment in players, coaching, youth development, facilities and community engagement become more important. This raises the overall level of professionalism and slickness of the league system. Smaller clubs now have clear pathways to aim for.
c) Talent Development & Pathways
In the U.S., one critique has been that domestic leagues are somewhat isolated and closed. A pro-rel model fosters upward mobility for clubs and therefore players. A young talent at a small club can rise as the club ascends — rather than only being scouted out to a bigger franchise. Over time this should improve competitiveness of the domestic game and potentially strengthen the U.S. national teams.
d) Pressure on MLS and the U.S. Soccer Ecosystem
While MLS remains the top visible league in the U.S., USL’s bold move may increase pressure on MLS, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and other stakeholders to consider their own structural reforms. Indeed, questions may arise: will MLS eventually entertain pro-rel? Will smaller clubs petition for inclusion in a broader pyramid? This move injects dynamic into what has been a relatively static system.
e) Fan Engagement, Market Growth and Commercial Value
Narratives matter. Clubs will be rewarded for good performance. They will be punished for poor performance. Will they go up? Will they survive? Such stories tend to generate interest, local pride, and deeper connections to communities. This in turn can drive media attention, broadcast value and sponsorships.
Why Didn’t US Soccer Have This Previously?
Historically, U.S. professional sports (including soccer) have followed a franchise model — teams buy in, expansion carries a fee, and membership is stable. The major leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS) operate without relegation. The U.S. sports business model has emphasised stability, guaranteed membership and strong economic protection for owners — relegation introduces risk to that model. Many U.S. clubs and their owners have been cautious about that risk. Additionally, regulatory, financial, travel and market-size issues complicate a true open pyramid in the U.S. context.
Why Now?
Several factors have converged to make the timing work. The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup being held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico has created momentum for the domestic game. For a log time, there has been growing dissatifaction among both fans and stakeholders about the US’ closed systems and lack of global alignment. Many Americans now follow European leagues, and they see first hand how important pro-rel is. USL’s strategic ambition by launching Division One and adopting pro-rel is positioning it as an innovative, global-style league within U.S. Soccer.
Challenges
Of course, the road ahead is not without hurdles. Financial stability for clubs will be even more vital moving forward. Clubs will need to manage revenue, travel costs, and player salaries. It may be difficult to ensure competitive balance and avoid a situation where wealthier clubs dominate and entrench themselves at the top. The US is a huge space. It may prove difficult to align schedules, travel distances. USL will need to ensure that fans receive an education on the new structure.
Conclusion
For GoSoccerPro readers and the broader U.S. soccer community, the USL’s embrace of promotion and relegation marks more than just a structural tweak — it signals a philosophical shift in how American professional soccer views competition, ambition and growth. The stakes of every match will become higher, the pathways more open, and the dream of rising from local club to national prominence more real.
The seed has been planted. The full effect will take a few years to materialize. If executed well, this could be a turning point for U.S. soccer’s domestic architecture — perhaps the beginning of a true merit-based pyramid, closer to what fans see in Europe and what players and communities aspire to.
For now, clubs, players, families, fans — and yes, aspirational young Americans chasing the professional game — should pay close attention. The 2020s may well be the decade when American soccer “levels up” in a very literal sense.
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