HOW U.S. SOCCER WORKS

Promotion and Relegation Myths

Key Concept 

Promotion and relegation is often debated through a set of widely repeated claims about economics, geography, and sustainability. This section takes a closer look at those ideas, separating fact from assumption, and considers how these narratives impact the direction and growth of soccer in the United States.

As soccer continues to grow in the United States, promotion and relegation has become part of a broader conversation among fans, media, and league leaders.

While it is a standard structure across much of the global game, it differs from the closed systems long used in American sports. That approach helped the sport establish itself, but the landscape is evolving and new questions are emerging.

With increasing attention on the topic, it is worth taking a closer look at the arguments that often shape the discussion.

Here are some of the most common myths and how they hold up under closer examination.

Myth #1: The US lacks a strong soccer culture

For many years, critics argued that promotion and relegation could never work in the United States because the country simply did not have a deep enough soccer culture.

That concern may have been more understandable decades ago. Professional soccer was still stabilizing after the collapse of the NASL in the 1980s, and Major League Soccer was just beginning its long rebuilding process.

Today, however, the landscape looks very different.

The Growth of Soccer in the United States

Several indicators show how dramatically the sport has expanded in recent years:

• MLS average attendance has grown from 13,756 in 2000 to over 23,000 per match in 2024, the highest in league history.

• More than 4 million youth players are registered in organized soccer programs in the United States.

• Participation studies estimate that over 14 million Americans play outdoor soccer each year, an increase of more than 20 percent compared with 2018.

• The 2022 Argentina vs. France championship final drew 16.8 million viewers in the United States, a 36 percent increase from the previous tournament.

• Roughly 27 percent of American sports fans now report following soccer, a major increase from previous decades.

• About 55 percent of U.S. soccer fans are between ages 18 and 34, one of the youngest demographics among major sports audiences.

Investment in the sport has also grown rapidly. In recent years, more than $14 billion has been invested across stadium development, club ownership, and media rights connected to soccer in the United States.

A Growing National Footprint

Interest in soccer now extends well beyond the top professional league.

Across the country there are hundreds of clubs competing in professional, semi-professional, and amateur leagues. The United Soccer League alone operates more than 300 men’s and women’s teams, with additional expansion expected in the coming years.

The professional women’s game has also seen major growth. The National Women’s Soccer League recently surpassed 11,000 fans per match on average, the highest attendance for any women’s professional league in the world.

American ownership has also become increasingly active in the global soccer market. In 2022, an American-led ownership group purchased Chelsea for $5.4 billion, one of the largest transactions in sports history.

What the Numbers Show

Taken together, these numbers paint a clear picture: soccer in the United States is no longer a niche sport. It is one of the fastest-growing parts of the American sports landscape.

Whether promotion and relegation eventually becomes part of that landscape is still an open question. But the idea that the United States lacks the fan base, participation levels, or cultural interest to support deeper competition within the sport is becoming harder to support.

As American soccer continues to grow, many supporters believe that stronger connections between clubs, communities, and competitive opportunity could help the sport continue expanding across the country.

Soccer Clubs Across America

Myth #2: The geographic size of the US makes it impractical

One of the most common concerns about promotion and relegation in American soccer involves geography.

The United States is far larger than most countries that operate open league systems. Travel distances between cities can stretch thousands of miles, and long road trips can create significant financial pressure for smaller clubs.

Those concerns are legitimate. However, geography has not prevented large sports leagues in the United States from operating successfully, and several structural solutions could reduce the burden if an open pyramid ever develops.

Travel Is Already a Reality in American Soccer

Professional soccer leagues in the United States already manage significant travel demands.

• Major League Soccer operates nationwide, with teams traveling coast to coast throughout the season.

• The USL Championship also spans the country, with clubs regularly flying across multiple time zones.

• Many lower-league competitions already manage regional and national schedules with limited budgets.

In other words, travel challenges already exist within the current system.

Regional Structures Could Reduce Costs

If promotion and relegation were implemented in the United States, lower divisions would not necessarily need to operate as nationwide leagues.

Several models could help reduce travel costs:

• Regional divisions in lower tiers that limit travel during the regular season.

• Conference-based structures dividing the country into regions such as East, Central, and West.

• Promotion playoffs where top regional teams compete for advancement at the end of the season.

This type of structure already exists in several American sports leagues and could easily be adapted to soccer.

Large Countries Already Use Regional Leagues

The United States would not be the first large country to address this issue.

Countries such as Brazil and Australia operate complex league systems that rely on regionalization at lower levels to manage travel distances. Even in Europe, many lower divisions are organized regionally to control operating costs for smaller clubs.

Regionalization allows clubs to grow locally while still maintaining a pathway toward higher levels of competition.

Geography Shapes the Structure

The size of the United States is a real structural challenge, but it is not an unsolvable one.

Travel logistics, scheduling, and regional divisions are all tools that sports leagues already use to balance competition with financial realities.

If promotion and relegation were ever introduced in American soccer, geography would likely shape how the system is structured. But the scale of the country alone does not prevent the concept from working.

Like many aspects of the American soccer landscape, the question is less about whether solutions exist and more about how the system might evolve over time.

Myth #3: MLS owners and investors will never agree

A common argument against promotion and relegation in the United States is that investors would never accept the financial risk of relegation.

This concern reflects a real difference between American sports and most global soccer leagues. In the United States, major leagues traditionally operate as closed systems where ownership groups purchase permanent membership in the league. That structure provides long-term stability for investors.

Promotion and relegation introduces a different dynamic. Clubs can move up or down divisions based on performance, creating both opportunity and risk. Because of that, it is reasonable to ask whether investors would support such a system.

American Investors Already Operate in Open Systems

While American leagues are traditionally closed, many U.S. investors already operate in promotion and relegation systems around the world.

American ownership groups now hold stakes in dozens of European clubs, including teams in England’s second and third divisions where promotion and relegation is central to the competition structure.

One of the most notable examples came in 2022 when an American-led ownership group purchased Chelsea for $5.4 billion, one of the largest transactions in sports history.

These investments suggest that many American owners are already comfortable operating within open soccer pyramids.

New Opportunities for Investors

An open pyramid can also create new entry points for investment.

In closed leagues, the primary path into top-level soccer is often through expansion fees that can reach hundreds of millions of dollars. Promotion and relegation systems offer a different pathway.

Investors can purchase clubs at lower levels and build them over time through improved facilities, stronger academies, better management, and on-field success. The possibility of climbing the pyramid creates long-term upside that can attract ambitious ownership groups.

Across world soccer, some of the most compelling ownership stories involve clubs rising through the divisions after new investment and leadership.

Competition Can Increase Value

Supporters of promotion and relegation also point out that the system creates meaningful stakes throughout the season.

Promotion races and relegation battles often generate strong fan engagement, television audiences, and media attention in leagues around the world. That competitive pressure can increase interest not just at the top of the pyramid, but throughout multiple divisions.

At the same time, investors naturally prioritize financial stability. Any transition toward promotion and relegation in the United States would likely require careful planning, financial safeguards, and gradual implementation.

A Different Path to Growth

American sports have traditionally grown through closed leagues and expansion.

In much of the soccer world, growth has occurred through open pyramids where clubs can rise through the divisions over time.

Both systems prioritize stability in different ways. Closed leagues emphasize financial certainty, while open pyramids emphasize competitive opportunity and long-term club development.

As soccer continues expanding across the United States, the conversation about how the professional pyramid should evolve will likely continue as well.

Myth #4: Fans will lose interest in relegated teams

One concern often raised about promotion and relegation is that fans will lose interest if their local club is relegated to a lower division.

In the United States, this fear makes sense on the surface. Most major American sports leagues do not have relegation, so fans are used to their teams remaining at the same level every year.

However, global soccer history suggests something different. In many countries, relegation does not destroy fan support. In some cases, it strengthens the bond between a club and its supporters.

Loyal Fan Bases Exist at Every Level

One of the most remarkable aspects of soccer culture around the world is that passionate supporters exist at every level of the pyramid.

Clubs in lower divisions regularly attract large and loyal fan bases, even without the visibility of top-tier leagues.

The United States already provides examples of this.

Several clubs in the lower professional divisions consistently draw strong crowds, including:

  • New Mexico United
  • Louisville City FC
  • Sacramento Republic FC
  • Indy Eleven
  • Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Many of these teams regularly attract crowds approaching 10,000 fans per match, demonstrating that strong local support can exist well outside the top division.

Relegation Can Strengthen Club Identity

In countries with promotion and relegation, relegation is painful for supporters. But it rarely leads fans to abandon their club.

Instead, it often strengthens loyalty and community identity.

A well-known example is Leeds United in England. The club has moved between divisions several times over the past two decades, yet it continues to maintain one of the most passionate fan bases in European soccer.

Supporters do not simply switch teams when results become difficult. Their loyalty is tied to community, history, and identity.

American sports culture reflects similar patterns. College football programs, for example, often maintain deeply loyal fan bases even during long stretches of losing seasons.

What we do know is that Americans care deeply about their cities and communities. That same sense of local pride often drives sports loyalty.

Across the soccer world, relegation battles frequently intensify that connection.

  • Relegation fights create high-stakes drama that can boost attendance and television viewership.
  • Loyal supporters often become even more committed when their club faces adversity.
  • The possibility of promotion gives fans of lower-division teams hope and excitement each season.

The Hope of Promotion

Promotion and relegation also introduces something unique in sports: the possibility for clubs outside the top division to move upward.

In closed leagues, teams that are not competing for championships can sometimes fall into long periods of stagnation. In open pyramids, even smaller clubs can dream of climbing the divisions over time.

For supporters, that possibility can make every season feel meaningful.

Promotion races, relegation battles, and the chance to move up the pyramid create storylines that extend throughout the entire league structure.

Community Identity

American sports culture already shows how strongly fans identify with their local teams and communities.

Promotion and relegation would introduce a different competitive structure, but the emotional connection between clubs and supporters would likely remain just as strong.

If anything, the added stakes of promotion races and relegation battles could deepen those connections and create new moments that fans remember for generations.

Myth #5: Lower division clubs aren’t financially stable enough

Financial stability is a legitimate concern in any professional sports league. Critics often argue that promotion and relegation could place smaller clubs under financial pressure if they are suddenly required to compete at a higher level.

This concern reflects real challenges. Operating a professional soccer club requires significant investment in players, facilities, travel, and staffing.

However, research and global experience suggest that promotion and relegation can also create financial opportunities when leagues are structured responsibly.

Promotion Can Drive Growth

One of the major incentives within open soccer pyramids is the opportunity for clubs to grow as they move through the divisions.

When a club earns promotion, it often gains access to larger audiences, new sponsorship opportunities, and increased matchday revenue. Promoted teams frequently see a surge in attendance and local interest as they enter higher levels of competition.

The possibility of promotion can also encourage ownership groups to invest in facilities, youth academies, and long-term development.

Research on Promotion and Relegation Systems

Academic research has examined how promotion and relegation affects league economics.

A study from Stanford University examining leagues that operate with promotion and relegation found several consistent patterns:

  • Promoted clubs often experience increased attendance after moving up a division.
  • Player investment tends to rise as teams compete for promotion or attempt to avoid relegation.
  • Competitive pressure increases throughout the league, creating meaningful matches across multiple divisions.

In other words, the possibility of moving up or down the pyramid can encourage clubs to invest more actively in their teams and infrastructure.

Financial Stability in Professional Soccer

Some of the most financially stable leagues in the world operate within promotion and relegation systems.

The German Bundesliga is often cited as a strong example. Its governance structure includes the well-known 50+1 ownership rule, which requires club members to maintain majority control while still allowing outside investment.

Even during challenging economic periods, the Bundesliga has remained financially strong. In 2021, the league generated more than €3 billion in revenue, despite pandemic-related disruptions.

Different leagues around the world use a variety of financial rules, ownership structures, and licensing standards designed to protect clubs and maintain long-term sustainability.

Balancing Opportunity and Stability

Financial stability will always be essential for professional sports leagues, regardless of their structure.

Promotion and relegation does not eliminate financial challenges, but it can create incentives for clubs to invest in long-term development, infrastructure, and youth academies.

If implemented carefully, an open pyramid could create new pathways for clubs to grow while still maintaining responsible financial oversight.

As American soccer continues expanding, the key challenge will be finding ways to balance competitive opportunity with long-term financial stability.

Myth #6: Lower divisions don’t have the infrastructure

Another common concern is that many lower-division clubs in the United States do not currently have the stadiums, training facilities, or financial resources required to compete at the highest professional levels.

This concern is understandable. Top-tier professional leagues often require larger stadiums, stronger club operations, and more advanced facilities.

However, infrastructure in American soccer has been improving steadily for more than a decade, particularly as new clubs enter professional leagues.

Infrastructure Investment Is Already Happening

Many lower-division clubs have already invested heavily in stadiums and facilities designed specifically for soccer.

  • Louisville City FC opened Lynn Family Stadium in 2020, a soccer-specific venue with a capacity of 11,700 that can expand to more than 15,000. The stadium meets many of the requirements typically associated with top-tier professional standards.
  • Sacramento Republic FC has also announced plans for a 15,000-seat stadium, expected to open later this decade as the club continues building toward long-term growth.

Even outside professional stadiums, the United States already has many venues capable of hosting high-level soccer matches. Facilities such as Titan Stadium at Cal State Fullerton, with a capacity near 10,000, have hosted international matches involving the U.S. national team.

These examples show that soccer infrastructure in the United States is steadily developing across multiple levels of the game.

Infrastructure Often Develops Alongside Success

In many soccer leagues, clubs are not required to meet every top-division infrastructure standard immediately after promotion.

Instead, leagues often allow a transition period so clubs can upgrade facilities while continuing to compete.

For example, when Luton Town earned promotion to the Premier League, the club was granted time to complete stadium improvements required for top-division competition.

Similarly, several clubs in top leagues around the world currently play in smaller stadiums while planning future expansions.

Bournemouth, for example, has competed in the Premier League with a stadium capacity of just over 11,000, smaller than many American professional stadiums.

Investment Follows Opportunity

Infrastructure often improves when clubs have a clear pathway to higher levels of competition.

If clubs know that promotion is possible, ownership groups, communities, and investors often become more willing to fund stadium upgrades, training facilities, and youth academies.

American sports history shows many examples of this pattern. As leagues grow and communities rally behind successful teams, facilities and infrastructure tend to grow alongside them.

A Gradual Process

Building stronger infrastructure across American soccer would likely take time.

Promotion and relegation systems in other countries developed over decades as clubs grew, invested in facilities, and expanded their fan bases.

If an open pyramid ever develops in the United States, infrastructure improvements would likely follow a similar gradual path.

The key question is not whether every club already has top-tier facilities, but whether the structure of the game encourages clubs and communities to invest in building them.

Myth #7: The quality gap between divisions is too large

Some bring up the concern that promotion and relegation creates a gap in quality between divisions would be too large for teams to compete successfully after moving up.

At first glance, that concern seems reasonable. Higher divisions typically have larger budgets, deeper rosters, and greater access to experienced players.

However, competitive gaps exist in many sports leagues, and promotion and relegation systems often help narrow those gaps over time.

Competition Encourages Improvement

One of the defining features of promotion and relegation is the constant competitive pressure it creates throughout the league system.

Clubs pushing for promotion or fighting to avoid relegation often invest more heavily in improving their teams.

This dynamic can strengthen competition across the entire pyramid:

  • The prospect of promotion motivates lower-division clubs to improve their squads and infrastructure.
  • Relegated teams often bring higher standards and experience to the divisions they enter.
  • Increased competition across multiple levels can gradually raise the overall quality of play.
  • A stronger league system can attract talented players from around the world, pushing domestic players to improve as well.

As clubs strive to move up the pyramid, many invest in better coaching, scouting, and player development programs.

Opportunity for Emerging Talent

Promotion and relegation systems can also expand opportunities for players.

As clubs compete to move up the pyramid, they often look beyond traditional recruiting pipelines and search for players who may have been overlooked.

In a country as large as the United States, talented players can emerge from almost anywhere.

An expanded professional pyramid could create more opportunities for players to develop through:

  • Regional clubs
  • Lower-division professional teams
  • Stronger local academies
  • Additional scouting networks

Over time, broader competition can help strengthen the overall player pool.

Unexpected Success Stories

Soccer history includes many examples of clubs successfully bridging the gap between divisions.

Leicester City’s championship season in 2016 remains one of the most remarkable stories in modern sports. The club had been promoted to the top division only two years earlier before going on to win the league.

More recently, Wrexham A.F.C. has drawn global attention after earning multiple promotions following new investment and improved recruitment.

These stories do not suggest that every promoted club will immediately compete for championships. But they do show that the gap between divisions is not always permanent.

Strengthening the Entire Pyramid

Promotion and relegation systems often strengthen the entire league structure rather than just the top division.

When clubs know that advancement is possible, they have stronger incentives to improve their organizations.

Over time, this can encourage:

  • Better facilities
  • Stronger youth development systems
  • Deeper competition across multiple levels of the sport

For a country with the size and talent pool of the United States, expanding competitive opportunities could help raise the overall level of the game.

Boy choosing pathway

Myth #8: Soccer can’t compete against the other American sports schedule

Another argument often raised is that soccer simply cannot compete with the crowded American sports calendar.

The United States already has established leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and major college sports. With so many options for fans, some critics believe there is little room for another major soccer competition model.

However, the growth of soccer over the past several decades suggests that American sports fans are increasingly open to the game.

Soccer Already Draws Large American Audiences

Interest in soccer in the United States has grown steadily through television viewership, youth participation, and professional attendance.

Several indicators highlight this growth:

  • The 2022 Argentina vs. France championship final drew 16.8 million viewers in the United States.
  • Major League Soccer attendance has reached record levels in recent seasons.
  • European league matches regularly attract large American television audiences.
  • Millions of American children grow up playing soccer through youth leagues and school programs.

These trends show that soccer already occupies a meaningful place in the American sports landscape.

Competition Can Create New Drama

Promotion and relegation could introduce a type of competitive drama that American sports fans rarely experience.

In open pyramids, the stakes extend throughout the entire league table. Clubs may be fighting for championships, promotion, or survival in their division.

This structure creates meaningful matches across the season, not just during playoffs.

For American fans, this type of drama may feel familiar in other ways:

  • Promotion races can resemble March Madness-style competition
  • Relegation battles can create high-stakes late-season matches
  • Smaller clubs can become national stories as they rise through the pyramid

A Different Kind of Sports Experience

American sports fans already follow a wide variety of leagues and competitions. Many watch international soccer tournaments, domestic leagues, and global club competitions throughout the year.

Introducing promotion and relegation would not replace existing American sports traditions. Instead, it could offer a different type of competitive structure alongside them.

With a population of more than 330 million people, the United States has the capacity to support multiple sports leagues and formats.

We Won’t Know Until We Try

Ultimately, the question of how promotion and relegation would perform in the United States cannot be answered entirely in theory.

American soccer has grown dramatically since the 1994 global championship helped launch Major League Soccer. Each decade has brought new investment, stronger leagues, and larger fan bases.

As the sport continues to expand, the possibility of experimenting with new structures will likely remain part of the conversation.

Myth #9: There aren’t enough good soccer markets in the U.S.

EVERY city in the United States has a soccer market. They may not all be huge but that is why an open pyramid is so exciting. See soccer leagues in the United States.

Over the past two decades, soccer has expanded into hundreds of communities, from major metropolitan areas to smaller regional markets.

The current American soccer landscape already includes a wide range of professional, semi-professional, and amateur leagues.

Professional Leagues Continue Expanding

At the highest levels of the sport, professional leagues continue to grow.

The United Soccer League has also announced plans to launch a new Division I men’s league beginning in the 2027–28 season, signaling continued expansion at the professional level.

Hundreds of Clubs Already Compete Nationwide

Several nationwide and regional leagues already support hundreds of clubs, including:

Nationwide Leagues

  • USL League Two
  • National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)
  • United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)

Regional Leagues

  • Midwest Premier League
  • Eastern Premier Soccer League
  • Gulf Coast Premier League
  • Southwest Premier League
  • Metroplex Premier League (Texas)
  • Bay State Soccer League (Massachusetts)

Long-Established Regional Competitions

  • Cosmopolitan Soccer League (New York)
  • Long Island Soccer League (New York)
  • Garden State Soccer League (New Jersey)
  • Buffalo District Soccer League (New York)
  • Ohio Valley Premier League

Together, these leagues represent hundreds of clubs playing organized competitive soccer across the country.

New Markets Continue Emerging

Recent expansion has already shown that soccer can succeed in markets once considered unlikely.

Clubs such as Atlanta United and Charlotte FC quickly built strong fan bases after joining Major League Soccer. At the same time, lower-division clubs in cities like Sacramento, Louisville, New Mexico, and Indianapolis regularly attract strong crowds and deep local support.

These examples highlight something important about the American game: enthusiasm for soccer is not limited to the largest markets. Communities across the country are proving that they are ready to support ambitious clubs when given the opportunity.

An open pyramid could strengthen that momentum by allowing more cities and communities to compete, grow, and build their clubs over time.

A National Footprint for the Game

Soccer in the United States is no longer confined to a handful of major metropolitan areas

Professional, semi-professional, and amateur clubs now operate across nearly every region of the country. From large cities to smaller communities, supporters are building local soccer cultures that continue to grow each year.

An open pyramid would not create these markets. They already exist. What it could do is connect them more meaningfully within the structure of the sport.

By creating pathways for clubs to rise through the divisions, an open system could reward ambition, strengthen community investment, and expand opportunities for teams across the country.

As the sport continues to grow, the breadth of the American soccer landscape suggests that the foundation for a deeper pyramid may already be in place.

Myth #10: We’re not ready for it yet

With pundits saying “Soccer is the sport of the future since the 1970’s, is American soccer truly ready?

In some ways, this concern reflects the history of professional soccer in the country. When Major League Soccer launched in 1996, the sport was still rebuilding after the collapse of the NASL in the 1980s. League leaders prioritized financial stability and gradual growth, and the closed league structure helped MLS survive its early years.

That cautious approach proved successful. Over the past three decades, professional soccer has grown dramatically across the United States.

Today the landscape looks very different.

The Game Has Grown Rapidly

American soccer has expanded across multiple levels of the sport.

  • Major League Soccer has grown to 30 clubs with new stadiums and rising attendance.
  • The National Women’s Soccer League has become one of the most successful women’s professional leagues in the world.
  • The United Soccer League now operates multiple professional and pre-professional divisions across the country.
  • Youth participation remains among the highest of any sport in the United States.

These developments show how much the sport has matured since the early years of MLS.

The Soccer Landscape Is Still Evolving

As the sport grows, new ideas about league structure are beginning to emerge.

The United Soccer League has announced plans to launch a Division I men’s league beginning in the 2027–28 season, with early indications that the organization hopes to build a more connected league pyramid over time.

Whether that vision eventually includes promotion and relegation remains to be seen. But the announcement reflects how the conversation about league structures in American soccer is continuing to evolve.

The 2026 global tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico is also expected to bring unprecedented attention to the sport across North America.

Progress Often Happens Gradually

Promotion and relegation systems in other countries did not appear overnight. They developed gradually as leagues expanded, clubs grew stronger, and fan support increased.

If an open pyramid ever develops in the United States, it would likely follow a similar path.

Rather than appearing suddenly, structural changes would most likely emerge over time as leagues, clubs, and supporters continue building the sport.

Looking Toward the Future

American soccer has already come a long way since the 1990s.

What began as a cautious effort to rebuild the professional game has grown into a national network of leagues, clubs, academies, and supporters.

As the sport continues to expand, conversations about how the league system should evolve will likely continue as well.

For many supporters, the question is no longer whether American soccer can grow, but how the structure of the game might continue to develop in the years ahead.

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Conclusion

Promotion and relegation is often portrayed as a radical change for American soccer. In reality, it is simply a different way of organizing competition.

For decades, the United States focused on stability and gradual expansion as professional soccer rebuilt itself. That cautious approach helped leagues such as Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League establish a strong foundation.

Today, the landscape of the sport is much larger. Professional leagues operate across multiple divisions, hundreds of clubs compete nationwide, and millions of Americans participate in the game every year.

As soccer continues to grow, conversations about how the sport should evolve will likely continue as well.

Promotion and relegation represents one possible path forward. Not a guarantee, but an idea rooted in opportunity, competition, and the belief that clubs can grow through performance and community support.

As President John F. Kennedy once said when describing America’s decision to reach the moon:

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

The future of American soccer will ultimately be shaped by that same willingness to pursue ambitious ideas as the game continues to expand across the country.

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