United Soccer League

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This article is about the governing body. For its top-flight men's league, see USL Championship.

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Not to be confused with United Soccer League (1984–85).
United Soccer League
File:USL Corporate abbr logo.svg
Country United States
Confederation CONCACAF
Founded 1986; 39 years ago (1986)
Divisions
Number of teams
  • 182 (men's)
  • 101 (women's)
Level on pyramid 1–4
Domestic cup(s) U.S. Open Cup (men's)
League cup(s) USL Cup (men's)
TV partners
Website uslsoccer.com

The United Soccer League (USL) is a governing body that organizes a number of professional and amateur soccer leagues in the United States league system. It currently organizes its Championship, League One, and League Two for men, its Super League and W League for women, and the USL Academy and USL Youth for youth players. It also organizes the USL Cup, a league cup competition for its professional men's clubs.

The USL began in 1986 as a men's indoor soccer minor league, before branching out into outdoor soccer in 1989. After rebranding as the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL), it commenced a women's outdoor league (the W-League) and split its men's outdoor league into two pro and one amateur league over the course of 1995–96. Its top pro flight would merge with the American Professional Soccer League to become the A-League in 1997 – a decision influenced by the advent of Major League Soccer (MLS). Its indoor league folded in 1998. The USISL adopted its current name, the USL, in 1999.

In 2011, a number of USL clubs broke away to form the North American Soccer League, necessitating the merger of its two pro leagues into one. The USL also took ownership of the Major Indoor Soccer League, though it and the W-League would fold by 2015. Despite these setbacks, the USL experienced growth in the late 2010s, leading to a split of the professional leagues back into two in 2019. It also revived the W League and established a pro women's league over the course of 2022–24. A third men's pro league, tenatively named USL Division One, is currently being planned for a 2027–28 debut.

The Rochester Rhinos men's team and Pali Blues women's team are the most successful clubs in the USL, having won four championships each in its top flights. Two USL clubs, the Rochester Rhinos and the Richmond Kickers, have won the men's U.S. Open Cup. Seven men's clubs that played in the USL – the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact, Orlando City SC, FC Cincinnati, and Nashville SC – are now MLS franchises.

History

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See also: A-League (1995–2004) § History, USL First Division § History, USL Second Division § History, USL Championship § History, USL League One § History, USL League Two § History, USL Super League § History, and USL W League § History

The United Soccer League (USL) traces its roots to 1985 when Francisco Marcos founded the Southwest Indoor Soccer League.[1] Initially intended as a minor indoor league associated with the Major Indoor Soccer League, it began with five teams owned by operators of indoor soccer arenas in the Southwest United States. By 1986, Marcos' own team, the Austin Sockadillos, joined the league, expanding it to six teams.[2]

In 1989, the league shifted its focus beyond semi-professional indoor soccer. A press release from that year revealed ambitions to align with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)'s plan to professionalize soccer in the lead-up to the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The league aimed to become part of a structured, three-tiered system envisioned by the USSF.[3]

By 1990, the league began with their first outdoor soccer competitions, and rebranded as the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League, reflecting broader ambitions. Throughout the 1990s, the league underwent significant changes. This included splitting out an amateur Premier League in 1995 (renamed to the Premier Development League (PDL) in 1997), and the launch of their first attempt at a women's league. A merger with the American Professional Soccer League was completed in 1997 to form the A-League (later named the USL First Division), solidifying its position in the U.S. soccer pyramid.[4]

In 2009, several USL First Division clubs expressed dissatisfaction with the league's leadership and structure, leading to a significant split. These clubs formed a breakaway competition called the North American Soccer League (NASL), which aimed to operate as a separate second division under the USSF. This division sparked disputes over sanctioning rights between the USL and the NASL. In response, the USSF organized a temporary combined league in 2010 before officially sanctioning the NASL as a separate entity.[5]

In 2010, the USL unified its First Division and Second Division under the name USL Pro to consolidate its professional competitions, and moved down to the third division.[6] In 2013, USL Pro and Major League Soccer (MLS) entered a partnership to integrate their competitions, enhancing player development and strengthening the league's professional status.[7] The W-League folded in 2015. Second division sanctioning was once again granted by USSF in 2017. In 2019, the professional league rebranded to USL Championship, the PDL rebranded as USL League Two, and a new division three league named USL League One was launched.

In recent years, the USL has expanded its reach significantly in the women's game. It reintroduced the W League in 2022 to support women's development and launched the USL Super League in 2024 as a Division I professional women's league alongside the National Women's Soccer League.[8][9]

On February 13, 2025, the USL announced plans to launch a Division I league in 2027 that would exist apart from MLS, pending USSF approval. It also restated its desire to eventually introduce a promotion and relegation system like most other global soccer leagues.[10] On March 18, 2025, The Athletic reported that USL club owners had overwhelmingly passed a proposal to adopt promotion and relegation throughout all of the organization's professional leagues, though no timeline for the start of the process had been determined.[11]

Competitions

Men's competitions

The USL operates three divisions within the U.S. soccer pyramid for men's professional and developmental teams:

  • USL Championship: The second division of professional men's soccer in the United States, sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation. It includes a regular season and playoffs to determine the league champion.
  • USL League One: One of two third-division leagues of professional men's soccer, launched in 2019 to focus on smaller markets and player development. It also features a regular season and playoffs.
  • USL League Two: A developmental league primarily for collegiate players aspiring to go professional. It operates during the summer and provides a platform for scouting and talent development.

Women's competitions

  • USL Super League: A professional league launched in 2024, with joint top-tier status within women's soccer.
  • USL W League: A pre-professional women's league reintroduced in 2022 to create a pathway for collegiate players and young talent.

Former competitions

The USL has a history of organizing leagues and competitions that have since evolved or ceased operations:

  • USL First Division: The former top-tier league operated by the USL until 2010, when it was restructured into the USL Pro (now USL Championship).
  • USL Second Division: Operated as a lower-level professional league until 2010, when its teams were absorbed into other USL leagues.
  • Southwest Indoor Soccer League: The USL's original indoor competition, established in 1986. It provided a platform for amateur and semi-professional teams in the Southwest United States.
  • Sunbelt Independent Soccer League (Indoor Division): After expanding into outdoor soccer in 1990, the league continued operating indoor divisions to maintain year-round competition. The indoor leagues were phased out as the organization shifted its focus to outdoor soccer in the 1990s.

These competitions show the evolution of the USL from its origins as an indoor soccer league to a modern, multi-tiered system supporting professional and developmental soccer across North America.

Complete historical team list

UISL/USISL

Champions

dagger Won the regular season championship
§ Won the U.S. Open Cup

Men's leagues

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Year Division II Division III Semi-pro
Div. Champions Div. Champions Div. Champions
1989 SOSL Colorado Comets dagger
1990 SISL Colorado Comets (2)
1991 SISL Richardson Rockets
1992 USISL Palo Alto Firebirds
1993 USISL Greensboro Dynamo
1994 USISL Greensboro Dynamo (2)
1995 Pro Long Island Rough Riders Premier Richmond Kickers §
1996 Select California Jaguars Pro Charleston Battery Premier Central Coast Roadrunners
1997 AL Milwaukee Rampage D3 Pro Albuquerque Geckos PDSL Central Coast Roadrunners (2)
1998 AL Rochester Raging Rhinos dagger D3 Pro Chicago Stingers PDSL San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
1999 AL Minnesota Thunder D3 Pro Western Mass Pioneers PDL Chicago Sockers
2000 AL Rochester Raging Rhinos (2) D3 Pro Charlotte Eagles PDL Chicago Sockers (2)
2001 AL Rochester Raging Rhinos (3) D3 Pro Utah Blitzz dagger PDL Westchester Flames
2002 AL Milwaukee Rampage (2) D3 Pro Long Island Rough Riders (2) PDL Cape Cod Crusaders
2003 AL Charleston Battery Pro Wilmington Hammerheads FC PDL Cape Cod Crusaders (2)
2004 AL Montreal Impact Pro Utah Blitzz (2) PDL Central Florida Kraze
2005 USL1 Seattle Sounders USL2 Charlotte Eagles (2) PDL Des Moines Menace
2006 USL1 Vancouver Whitecaps USL2 Richmond Kickers dagger PDL Michigan Bucks
2007 USL1 Seattle Sounders (2) dagger USL2 Harrisburg City Islanders PDL Laredo Heat
2008 USL1 Vancouver Whitecaps (2) USL2 Cleveland City Stars PDL Thunder Bay Chill
2009 USL1 Montreal Impact (2) USL2 Richmond Kickers (2) PDL Ventura County Fusion
2010 D2 Pro Puerto Rico Islanders USL2 Charleston Battery (2) dagger PDL Portland Timbers U23s
2011 USL Pro Orlando City SC dagger PDL Kitsap Pumas
2012 USL Pro Charleston Battery (3) PDL Forest City London
2013 USL Pro Orlando City SC (2) PDL Austin Aztex
2014 USL Pro Sacramento Republic FC PDL Michigan Bucks (2)
2015 USL Rochester Rhinos dagger PDL K–W United FC
2016 USL New York Red Bulls II dagger PDL Michigan Bucks (3)
2017 USL Louisville City FC PDL Charlotte Eagles
2018 USL Louisville City FC (2) PDL Calgary Foothills FC
2019 USLC Real Monarchs USL1 North Texas SC dagger USL2 Flint City Bucks (4)
2020 USLC Cancelled[lower-alpha 1] USL1 Greenville Triumph SC dagger USL2 Cancelled[lower-alpha 1]
2021 USLC Orange County SC USL1 Union Omaha dagger USL2 Des Moines Menace (2)
2022 USLC San Antonio FC dagger USL1 Tormenta FC USL2 Ventura County Fusion (2)
2023 USLC Phoenix Rising FC USL1 North Carolina FC USL2 Ballard FC
2024 USLC Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC USL1 Union Omaha (2) dagger USL2 Seacoast United Phantoms
Year Div. Champions Div. Champions Div. Champions
Division II Division III Semi-pro

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Women's leagues

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Year Division I Semi-pro
Div. Champions Div. Champions Div. Champions
1995 WL Long Island Lady Riders dagger
1996 WL Maryland Pride
1997 WL Long Island Lady Riders (2)
1998 WL1 Raleigh Wings WL2 Fort Collins Force
1999 WL1 Raleigh Wings (2) WL2 North Texas FC
2000 WL1 Chicago Cobras WL2 Springfield Sirens
2001 WL1 Boston Renegades WL2 Charlotte Lady Eagles
2002 WL Boston Renegades (2)
2003 WL Hampton Roads Piranhas
2004 WL Vancouver Whitecaps
2005 WL New Jersey Wildcats
2006 WL Vancouver Whitecaps (2)
2007 WL Washington Freedom
2008 WL Pali Blues dagger
2009 WL Pali Blues (2)
2010 WL Buffalo Flash
2011 WL Atlanta Silverbacks Women
2012 WL Ottawa Fury
2013 WL Pali Blues (3)
2014 WL Los Angeles Blues (4)
2015 WL Washington Spirit Reserves
2022 USLW Tormenta FC
2023 USLW Indy Eleven
2024 USLW North Carolina Courage U23
Year Div. Champions Div. Champions Div. Champions
Division I Semi-pro

Indoor leagues

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Year Div. Champions
1986–87 SISL Garland Genesis dagger
1987–88 SISL Oklahoma City Warriors dagger
1988–89 SISL Lubbock Lazers
1989–90 SISL Addison Arrows (2)
1990–91 SISL Colorado Comets
1991–92 USISL Oklahoma City Warriors (2)
1992–93 USISL Atlanta Magic dagger
1993–94 USISL Atlanta Magic (2)
1994–95 USISL Atlanta Magic (3) dagger
1995–96 USISL Baltimore Bays
1996–97 IL Baltimore Bays (2) dagger
1997–98 IL Baltimore Bays (3) dagger
2011–12 MISL Milwaukee Wave
2012–13 MISL Baltimore Blast dagger
2013–14 MISL Missouri Comets

Staff

  • Alec Papadakis – Chief executive officer
  • Justin Papadakis – Chief operating officer and chief real estate officer
  • Paul McDonough – President and chief soccer officer[12]

References

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External links

United Soccer League divisions
50px 50px 50px
Championship League One League Two
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