USL moves to adopt promotion and relegation

Lexington SC celebrates its first ever win in the USLC.
Credit- LSC

TAMPA, Fl. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- The United Soccer League (USL) will adopt a system of soccer called promotion and relegation in 2027-28 when it’s slated to launch a new division one league to rival Major League Soccer.

The league’s owners moved to put the practice in place with a supermajority vote on Tuesday evening making the USL the first American soccer league to adopt the model.

“Promotion and relegation transforms the competitive landscape of American soccer,” said President and Chief Soccer Officer of the USL, Paul McDonough. “With the 2026 World Cup and other major international events approaching, we have a unique opportunity to build on that momentum and create a sustainable future for the sport in the U.S.”

A concept that is foreign to American sports fans, except those who watch international club soccer, promotion and relegation has been in the discussion of the USL for years.

The definition of the system is explained below.

“Teams earn promotion to a higher division or face relegation to a lower division based on their performance during the season. With this historic step, the USL aligns with the world’s top leagues where promotion and relegation raises the stakes of every match, drives fan engagement, and elevates the overall competition of the game.”

Last month, the USL announced that it would work towards a three-tiered professional system with the announcement of USL Division One (rumored to be called USL Premier), USL Championship and USL League One eventually competing under one promotion and relegation umbrella.

Lexington Sporting Club’s men’s professional side plays in the Championship and is playing in it’s first season in the second tier league.

The league office says that to make this move after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico they will be “rolling out this transformative system with a structured timeline and strategic planning. More details will be shared in the coming months as the league works closely with clubs, partners, and stakeholders to implement this historic change.”

McDonough says that this move will satisfy what soccer fans have been asking for in the U.S. and will draw more interest in soccer across America.

“Fans and stakeholders have been clear—they want something different,” said McDonough. “They’re drawn to the intensity of high-stakes competition, where more matches have real consequences—just like we see in European leagues. This shift challenges the status quo and brings a level of excitement and relevance that can elevate the game across the country.”