United Soccer League club owners vote to implement first U.S. sports league promotion, relegation system

TAMPA, Fl (KION-TV) -- The United Soccer League announced club owners voted to implement a promotion and relegation system. The first of its kind for a professional sports league in the U.S.

This move allows the USL to align with the world's top leagues like the English Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga.

"A new chapter in American soccer begins," said Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League. "Now, just as it is in the global game, more communities in America can aspire to compete at the highest level of soccer.”

Last month the USL announced plans to launch a new Division One league in 2027/28, with the USL Championship acting as Division Two and USL League One acting as the third division.

All three leagues would be interconnected through a structured promotion and relegation system, according to the USL, where more matches matter.

Monterey Bay FC joined the USL Championship back in 2022 and is expected to have matches set up within this new system.

More information on the structure of this new system is expected to be shared in the coming months, according to the USL.