Promotion-relegation coming to American soccer as USL owners vote to approve European model

The USL will introduce a promotion-relegation model that mimics European soccer, with league owners voting via supermajority to approve the model, the league announced Wednesday morning.

The historic motion comes a month after the USL announced plans to start a Division One league that will be on the same level as Major League Soccer - although the league insists that it is not a direct competitor to the more-established setup.

The USL will become the first professional sports league in the U.S. to adopt the global model, creating an interconnected three-tiered men’s professional soccer system in which teams earn promotion to a higher division or face relegation to a lower division based on their performance during the season.

The vote was not unanimous.

Promotion-relegation has long been a fixture within the American soccer dialogue. There was talk of implementing a system as early as 2023, but fears about financial hardships to do with being sent down a division delayed discussions.

Those concerns have now been quelled, it seems, with pro-rel to come concurrently with a three tiered system. The league said that the USL’s professional men’s soccer structure will consist of three divisions:

USL Division One (newly launched), USL Championship (Division Two) and USL League One (Division Three).

Teams will earn promotion or face relegation based on their season performance, "ensuring a dynamic and competitive landscape where ambition is rewarded."

Paul McDonough, president and chief soccer officer of the USL outlined the reasons for a change in system

"Promotion and relegation transforms the competitive landscape of American soccer," he said. “With the 2026 World Cup and other major international events approaching, we have a unique opportunity to build on that momentum and create a sustainable future for the sport in the U.S.

"Fans and stakeholders have been clear - they want something different. They’re drawn to the intensity of high-stakes competition, where more matches have real consequences - just like we see in European leagues. This shift challenges the status quo and brings a level of excitement and relevance that can elevate the game across the country.”

The league will operate under the same system for the next few years, but a significant change is around the corner. There is yet to be a confirmed year for the advent of the Division One league, but a 2028 target date has been set.