LEAGUES & CLUBS
USL Premier
Division II
USL Premier is the United Soccer League’s planned Division I men’s professional soccer league, scheduled to launch in 2028. It will operate as a single national table with a long-term target of 20 clubs and will introduce promotion and relegation between USL Premier, USL Championship, and USL League One.
USL Premier was announced in January 2026 as the United Soccer League’s new top division. The league is scheduled to launch for the 2028 season and will become the second Division I men’s professional league in the United States alongside Major League Soccer.
The league was approved by USL club owners through a formal vote in January 2026.
The United Soccer League currently operates the USL Championship at Division II and USL League One at Division III. USL Premier will complete a three-tier professional structure with plans for promotion and relegation connecting all three levels.
Where USL Premier Fits in the U.S. Soccer Pyramid
USL Premier is intended to operate as a Division I league pending formal sanctioning by the United States Soccer Federation.
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 Premier will operate independently from Major League Soccer and MLS Next Pro. The leagues are expected to coexist as separate professional systems within the U.S. soccer landscape.
This structure is part of a larger system explained in How U.S. Soccer Works, which breaks down divisions, leagues, and how professional soccer is organized in the United States.
Key Characteristics
USL Premier plans to operate as a single national table with a long-term target of 20 clubs. This format differs from the two-conference structure currently used by the USL Championship.
The league is structured around independent club ownership rather than a single-entity model. Clubs own their operations, player contracts, and intellectual property.
The league will meet Division I professional standards established by the United States Soccer Federation, including requirements for stadium size, market size, and operational infrastructure. Some USL Premier clubs pursuing Division I status may need stadium expansions or operational upgrades to meet professional sanctioning standards.
Expansion and Structure
The United Soccer League is currently reviewing applications from clubs interested in competing in USL Premier at launch. The league has not yet announced which clubs will be part of the inaugural season.
No clubs have officially been confirmed for the inaugural season. Several USL Championship clubs have publicly expressed interest in joining USL Premier at launch or shortly after. Louisville City FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Sacramento Republic FC, Detroit City FC, and Miami FC are among the clubs that have indicated intent to compete at the Division I level.
Additional expansion markets are expected as the league builds toward its target of 20 clubs over time.
How USL Premier Relates to USL Championship
USL Championship will remain a Division II league and will operate as a single national table with approximately 20 clubs. The league will continue to serve as a competitive professional level and is planned to connect to USL Premier through promotion and relegation.
Clubs in the USL Championship will have the opportunity to earn promotion to USL Premier based on season performance. This structure creates a merit-based pathway through the USL system and raises the stakes for every match across both divisions.
The introduction of promotion and relegation will be the first such system in American professional men’s soccer. Other countries with connected league pyramids use similar structures to reward performance and create pathways for clubs at all levels.
Most American professional sports leagues operate as closed systems without movement between divisions. Promotion and relegation is common internationally but has not previously existed across a nationwide men’s professional soccer structure in the United States.
What USL Premier Means for Fans
USL Premier expands access to Division I professional soccer beyond the markets currently served by Major League Soccer. The league is expected to bring top-tier competition to mid-sized cities and regions without existing Division I teams.
For fans of USL Championship clubs, the introduction of USL Premier creates new stakes. Clubs can earn their way to the top division through performance rather than through expansion fees or league approval.
For fans in markets without professional soccer, the league may create opportunities for new clubs to enter at a lower division and work their way up over time.
The connected structure also means more meaningful matches across the entire USL system. Promotion battles and relegation fights will carry direct consequences for clubs and their supporters.
League Updates
The league has not yet announced its inaugural clubs, broadcast partners, or competition schedule. This page will be updated as more information becomes available ahead of the 2028 launch.
Contact Info
United Soccer League
1715 North Westshore Blvd
Suite 825
Tampa, Florida
Useful Links
For ongoing updates and official information:
USL Premier is 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”.