LEAGUES & CLUBS
USL Championship
Division II
USL Championship is a Division II professional league with clubs across the country. Many teams are deeply connected to their local communities and continue to grow attendance and facilities.
The USL Championship is a Division II professional men’s soccer league in the United States sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation.
The league evolved through a long history of growth, mergers, affiliations, and rebranding within the United Soccer League system. Its immediate predecessor, USL Pro, launched in 2011 following the consolidation of the USL First Division and USL Second Division. The broader United Soccer League organization traces its roots back to 1985.
In 2017, the USL Championship was officially granted Division II professional status by the United States Soccer Federation. As of the 2026 season, the league features clubs across the United States and continues to expand into new markets.
In January 2026, the USL announced USL Premier as a new Division I league launching in 2028, with USL Championship at Division II, USL League One remaining at Division III and USL League Two in the pre-professional league.
The three-tier structure:
- Division I: USL Premier
- Division II: USL Championship
- Division III: USL League One
USL plans to implement promotion and relegation connecting its professional divisions. Clubs will move between tiers based on season performance, creating a connected professional pathway through the USL system.
USL Championship Teams
- Birmingham Legion FC (Team Shop)
Birmingham, Alabama
(Founded in 2017) - Charleston Battery (Team Shop)
Charleston, South Carolina
(Founded in 1993) - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (Team Shop)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
(Founded in 2014) - Detroit City FC (Team Shop)
Detroit, Michigan
(Founded in 2012) - El Paso Locomotive FC (Team Shop)
El Paso, Texas
(Founded in 2019) - Hartford Athletic (Team Shop)
Hartford, Connecticut
(Founded in 2018) - Indy Eleven (Team Shop)
Indianapolis, Indiana
(Founded in 2013) - Las Vegas Lights FC
Las Vegas, Nevada
(Founded in 2017) - Lexington SC (Team Shop)
Lexington, Kentucky
(Founded in 2021) - Loudoun United FC
Leesburg, Virginia
(Founded in 2018) - Louisville City FC (Team Shop)
Louisville, Kentucky
(Founded in 2014) - The Miami FC
Miami, Florida
(Founded in 2015) - Monterey Bay FC (Team Shop)
Seaside, California
(Founded in 2021) - New Mexico United (Team Shop)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(Founded in 2018) - North Carolina FC
Cary, North Carolina
(Founded in 2006) - Oakland Roots SC (Team Shop)
Oakland, California
(Founded in 2018) - Orange County SC (Team Shop)
Irvine, California
(Founded in 2010) - Phoenix Rising FC (Team Shop)
Phoenix, Arizona
(Founded in 2014) - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (Team Shop)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(Founded in 1998) - Rhode Island FC
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
(Founded in 2019) - Sacramento Republic FC (Team Shop)
Sacramento, California
(Founded in 2012) - San Antonio FC (Team Shop)
San Antonio, Texas
(Founded in 2016) - Santa Barbara Sky FC
Santa Barbara, California
(Founded in 2023) - Tampa Bay Rowdies (Team Shop)
St. Petersburg, Florida
(Founded in 1975) - FC Tulsa (Team Shop)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
(Founded in 2015)
Expansion Teams
- Milwaukee Pro Soccer
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(Planned) - Pro Iowa (Des Moines)
Des Moines, Iowa
(Planned)
Other USL Championship Info
Contact Info
United Soccer League
1715 North Westshore Blvd
Suite 825
Tampa, Florida
Useful Links
For ongoing updates and official information:
USL Championship is just one part of a larger system of leagues and divisions. For a full breakdown of how all levels connect, see How U.S. Soccer Works”.