USL League Two is the premier pre-professional league in the United States with 143 clubs across 37 states engaging with their passionate fanbases and building deep roots in their local communities. A cornerstone of the American soccer landscape since its foundation in 1995, USL League Two provides a platform for the top emerging pre-professional and college players to showcase their talent with thousands of players continuing their careers in the USL Championship, USL League One, MLS, and Europe.

The League Two season consists of 12-14 regular season matches for each team and provides elite pre-professional players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their college eligibility. In addition to league play, clubs are able to compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.

USL LEAGUE TWO SEASON

The USL League Two regular season takes place during the summer from early May to mid-July. Each team plays a 12-14-match schedule against their respective divisional opponents. Currently, the playoffs feature 35 teams from across the league’s four conferences. All 19 division winners will automatically qualify, while 10 division runners-up based on conference will also qualify for the Round of 32. Six teams from the Eastern Conference – five second-place teams and one third-place team – will play to determine the remaining three spots in the Round of 32. The playoffs occur in late July, with each conference champion advancing to the national semifinals and the winners of those matches advancing to the League Two Final in early August.

LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP

USL League Two clubs also compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, entering in the first round of the competition. The League Two participants in the historic tournament are determined by standards set forth by the U.S. Open Cup Committee, with priority going to the defending league champion followed by the eight best division winners based on PPM. The knockout tournament signals an early start to the upcoming season for those who qualify and provides a platform for the fanbase’s energy and passion that embodies the beauty of local soccer. League Two clubs are drawn against professional teams in the first round and, as underdogs, are tapped to provide ‘cup magic.’ Nine clubs from League Two competed in the 2025 edition of the Open Cup. The Des Moines Menace and Little Rock Rangers advanced to the Second Round of the competition, the latter by defeating USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC.