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United For Soccer

ABOUT THE UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organization in North America, possessing more than a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing three men's leagues (USL Championship, USL League One, USL League Two), two women's leagues (USL Super League, USL W League), one elite player development platform (USL Academy), and a national youth platform (USL Super Y League), the USL is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 200 clubs in its membership.

Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL has grown during the past decade into a model organization with strong corporate partnerships and stable organizational leadership. It features a dedicated staff of more than 90 professionals across 18 departments ranging from operations, digital, communications and club services, each of which provides unparalleled support to member clubs and outside partners. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, the USL is #UnitedForSoccer, moving the game forward in North America.


THE LEAGUES

USL CHAMPIONSHIP

The USL Championship is one of the most successful professional soccer leagues in the world, reaching a population of more than 84 million and fueling the growth of the game across North America. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a Division II professional league, The Championship includes a membership of more than 30 clubs across the United States.

Through The Championship’s headquarters in Tampa, Florida, the league’s clubs are provided with unparalleled support with a growing team of more than 50 professionals across 17 departments, ranging from operations to marketing, communications, and sponsorship.

The Championship has a national media partnership with ESPN, wherein all league matches are broadcast on ESPN+, ESPN3 and across linear channels. The league also operates USL Productions, which includes a state-of-the-art facility that produced and distributed more than 500 league matches and more than 1,000 hours of original content to national partners, local affiliates and international markets throughout the 2018 season.

USL SUPER LEAGUE

The USL Super League is a new first-division professional women's soccer league expected to begin play in 2024.

Furthering the USL’s commitment to advancing the women’s game, unifying communities, and fueling the growth of the sport, the USL Super League aims to double the number of professional women’s soccer teams in the United States by its inaugural season.

The USL women’s pathway now includes the Super Y League, the USL Academy, the pre-professional USL W League which kicked off in 2022, and the professional USL Super League. The USL Super League will apply for Division I sanctioning from U.S. Soccer.

USL LEAGUE ONE

Shaping the future of the game in the United States and Canada, the United Soccer League (USL) – one of the most successful professional soccer organizations in the world – announced in 2017 it would launch a new third division - USL League One in Spring 2019, uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of a proven professional soccer experience.

The USL has targeted U.S. communities ranging in population from 150,000 to one million – markets that represent more than 75 million people without access to a local professional soccer club. League One has focused on launching new clubs in markets that possess strong local ownership groups, populations with broad-based diversity, a vibrant millennial and strong family base, established corporate support, and stadiums to properly showcase the sport for fans, partners and the public.

USL LEAGUE TWO

The proven developmental leader in North American soccer's evolving tiered structure, USL League Two (formerly the PDL) features 72 franchises in four conferences throughout the United States and Canada, including 18 clubs that are owned and operated by a professional club, or that hold a partnership with a professional club. League Two has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world, with more than 70 percent of all selections in the MLS SuperDraft since 2010 having PDL experience, including 66 selections in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. The League Two season consists of 14 regular season matches for each team, seven home and seven away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, League Two teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.

USL W LEAGUE

The USL W League is a pre-professional women’s soccer league set to kick off in May 2022. The USL W League strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development. The League and its member clubs are committed to investing in women’s soccer – through not only financial resources but also with time, energy, and attention – and are united in our mission to grow the women’s game.

The USL W League will serve as the nation’s premier pre-professional league developing the next generation of women’s talent both on and off the field, enhancing the women’s soccer pipeline between college and professional soccer. With at least 30 teams in its inaugural season, the USL W League will bring elite women’s soccer to communities across the U.S., creating more opportunities to play, watch and work in the women’s game.

USL Academy

The United Soccer League officially unveiled its vision for the future of the league’s Academy system in March, with the announcement of USL Academy Cup, a new competition set to begin this year that will set the stage for the organization’s first-ever Academy League.

Off the field, the USL also plans to host workshops with members of the technical staff to share best practices and discuss long-term player development strategies. The USL Academy Cup’s additional programs will also continue to educate and improve refereeing and hold educational seminars for players and parents to better inform them of the growing opportunities to play professionally, as well as the commitment levels and higher demand associated with playing at that level.

USL Youth

USL Youth is a driving force for American soccer’s greatest energy: its youth players. It is dedicated to elevating the youth player experience in the United States by inspiring, educating, and engaging the American “soccer generation.”

Evolving from the historic Super Y League, USL Youth provides alignment between the USL’s youth initiatives and the full USL ecosystem’s youth-to-pro pathway. It focuses on building and engaging a vibrant youth soccer community through events, content, and experiences, providing an integral step in the soccer journey of players, coaches, clubs, and families.