US soccer gets promotion and relegation after historic vote

For the very first time, soccer fans in the United States will get to experience all the emotions of promotion and relegation after a landmark vote was passed.

Sports Illustrated reports that the United Soccer League (USL) will become the first professional soccer competition in the US to make the change after club owners voted in favour of the proposal. Some owners had initially been concerned about instability caused by a loss of revenue in the event of relegation but the promise of extra of competitiveness seems to have won them over.

Meanwhile the MLS - like the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL - is a closed league with no promotion or relegation. Owners hoping to join the league have to apply for an expansion team or buy the rights for an existing license, both increasingly expensive options. That system has allowed the MLS to grow from eight to 30 teams but it’s out of step with the vast majority of soccer leagues around the world.

Big changes coming to US soccer

Currently the MLS is the only first-division league under the umbrella of the US Soccer Federation. The governing body designates divisional status for professional soccer leagues in the US, which strict guidelines for member divisions.

At the moment the USL has second-division (USL Championship) and third-division (USL League One) competitions but it has announced a ground-breaking new introduction.

From 2028 onwards the USL will launch a new first-division league, putting it in direct competition with MLS. The two leagues will both be considered top-tier professional soccer leagues in the United States, with one key difference.

The new-look USL system will include promotion and relegation between all three tiers, with a pyramid system forming to mirror the European leagues. Organisers hope that this extra element of competitiveness will help add greater jeopardy and allow the competition to distinguish itself from the more established MLS.

It’s a key moment for soccer in this country, and as we see where this game is going, we want to be a part of it,” USL president Paul McDonough told The Athletic last month. “Taking this big initiative allows for the growth of the game throughout the country.”

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