Ensuring Accountability in the American Soccer Landscape

The Future of Soccer in the United States: A Shift Toward Promotion & Relegation

In a country built on capitalism and competition, why do we have a closed soccer system? Unlike in England and most of the world, where clubs can work their way up the football pyramid, the United States has a closed system with Major League Soccer (MLS) at the top.

The current system prevents clubs from earning their place in the top division through merit, limiting growth and stifling competition. While the history of soccer in the U.S. is more complex than many realize, featuring battles for dominance between governing bodies and leagues, a new battle is emerging—this time over league structures.

While MLS remains closed, change is on the horizon. One league has quietly positioned itself for success, and it’s not the one you might expect.

USL’s Ambition Toward an Open System

The United Soccer League (USL) recently announced plans to introduce USL Division One for the 2027/2028 season. This new league will be sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as the highest level of professional soccer in the United States, marking a significant shift in the American soccer landscape.

With an already well-structured tier system—including the USL Championship (Division Two) and USL League One (Division Three) already sanctioned by U.S. Soccer—this expansion will complete a fully integrated club pathway. The current USL model doesn’t have an open system for teams to be promoted or relegated across its leagues, but it is well-positioned to implement one.

USL’s goal is clear:

“Bringing the highest level of soccer to more communities, elevating the sport, and taking another step toward aligning with the global game, providing more opportunities.”

If implemented successfully, this would be a monumental step toward a promotion and relegation system in the United States—something long overdue in American soccer.

Global Examples: Why an Open System Works

To understand the significance of promotion and relegation, let’s look at two success stories from around the world.

RB Leipzig: From the 5th Tier to the Bundesliga

RB Leipzig’s rise in Germany showcases what is possible with vision, investment, and an open system.

• 2009: Red Bull GmbH acquires SSV Markranstädt (5th division) and rebrands it as RB Leipzig.

• 2012–13: Promoted to 3. Liga (3rd division).

• 2013–14: Promoted to 2. Bundesliga (2nd division).

• 2016–17: Finished second in 2. Bundesliga, earning direct promotion to the Bundesliga.

In just seven years, RB Leipzig went from a small fifth-tier club to competing in Germany’s top division—an achievement impossible under the current U.S. system.

AFC Bournemouth: From League Two to the Premier League

Boscombe St. John’s Institute F.C. which rebranded to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic F.C. but is currently known as AFC Bournemouth in England is another prime example of promotion and relegation fueling growth. For much of their existence, Bournemouth remained a lower-league club, bouncing between the third and fourth divisions of English football.  

• 2010: Playing in League Two (4th division) of English football.

• 2015: Earned promotion to the Premier League.

• 2025: Now competing for a UEFA Champions League spot.

Bournemouth’s journey proves that smaller clubs with ambition can reach the top, given the opportunity—something U.S. clubs are denied under the current system.

The Problem with MLS: A Closed League Model

Unlike European leagues, MLS operates under a franchise model, requiring teams to “buy in” rather than earn their place. Expansion fees have skyrocketed, with new franchises paying hundreds of millions of dollars just to enter the league.

While MLS has done a great job growing soccer’s popularity in the U.S., its closed system stifles competition and investment opportunities.

When MLS was founded in 1993, prior to the United States hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the league had just 10 teams in the 1996 inaugural season—a structure that didn’t initially allow for promotion and relegation based on the amount of clubs. However, three decades later, with 30 teams (27 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada), the lack of an open system is a major flaw in the American soccer landscape.

USL’s Strategic Advantage

While MLS has focused on big checkbooks and exclusivity, USL has quietly built a foundation for long-term growth.

📍 Key markets with growing populations: Charleston, SC | San Antonio, TX | Tampa Bay, FL
⚽ Multiple tiers of professional & amateur soccer
🏆 A clear pathway for players, coaches, and clubs

The USL Pyramid (2025 Season)

• USL Championship (Division Two) – 24 teams (East & West Conferences)

• USL League One (Division Three) – 14 teams

• USL League Two (Pre-professional) – 128 teams across 18 regional divisions

• USL Academy League (Youth Development) – 103 clubs

Since launching USL Pro in 2011, the league has expanded rapidly, creating a structure that could seamlessly implement promotion and relegation. Not only nationally but also regionally. 

The question is:

Why has USL been able to build this structure while MLS, with its head start, has not?

The answer likely lies in exclusivity and investment security. MLS owners pay massive expansion fees, and promotion/relegation could risk devaluing their franchises. In contrast, USL clubs have invested with growth and fluidity in mind, making them a stronger long-term investment for those looking to enter the soccer market.

A Defining Moment for U.S. Soccer

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted in the United States next year, soccer is on the verge of explosive growth. Over the next 5 to 15 years, we are likely to see a monumental shift in the American soccer landscape.

If I were investing in a club to join an established U.S. soccer league, my choice would be clear: USL.

USL has laid the groundwork for an open, competitive structure, and as soccer continues to grow, promotion and relegation will be the future of the sport in the U.S..

Of course, USL will need to fine-tune how it will position clubs within the promotion/relegation system in the inaugural season, but once they define their criteria and structure, teams will have to earn their place. This will hold all involved in the soccer landscape accountable.

This shift is critical for the American soccer ecosystem, as it will create more opportunities for clubs, coaches, and players while fostering a merit-based competition that lets the best teams rise to the top. 

The momentum is undeniable—soccer’s future in the U.S. has never been brighter.

The change is coming. Be optimistic. ⚽🇺🇸