A new top-tier men’s professional soccer league is set to debut in the United States during the 2027-28 season, aiming to compete directly with Major League Soccer (MLS).
Currently, the United Soccer League (USL) operates two leagues: the USL Championship, which is the second tier, and USL League One, the third tier. At present, MLS stands as the sole Division One league in the country.
To move forward, the new league requires sanctioning from the U.S. Soccer Federation and plans to feature between 12 to 14 teams. This initiative reflects the USL’s ongoing commitment to expanding soccer’s reach and influence throughout the nation.
The USL has expressed that the new league will create a “fully integrated pathway” for clubs and players, enhancing the development opportunities across all divisions.
McDonough noted, “We shared our intentions, and they are supportive. Now, we must build the league and provide all necessary documentation to meet the standards required for sanctioning before kickoff.”
Several existing USL Championship teams, including Sacramento, Louisville, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, may be in contention to join this new league.
In a lighthearted moment, Louisville took to social media to ask, “So did we just get promoted?”
This announcement comes at a pivotal time for soccer in North America, with the Club World Cup scheduled in the U.S. this summer, followed by the World Cup next year, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, Los Angeles is set to host the Olympics in 2028.
McDonough also mentioned that an application process will be available for both current USL teams and prospective new clubs.
The league is expected to follow a spring-to-fall calendar similar to MLS, and it will not implement a college draft. There is potential for the introduction of a promotion-relegation system, according to McDonough.
As Major League Soccer celebrates its 30th season, with 30 teams including the newly added San Diego, the landscape of American soccer is poised for significant change.
Furthermore, the USL has established a women’s top division league, the USL Super League, which launched last August with eight teams.
