Is promotion and relegation finally coming to the MLS? League rumored to be looking into the idea ahead of 2026 World Cup

MLS hopes to create more clubs across the country, turning the reserve teams that play in MLS Next Pro into standalone sides that can compete in another league. The proposed changes are motivated by the league's desire to capitalise on the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Charles Altchek, president of MLS Next Pro, said to AFP: "Looking ahead to the World Cup in 2026 we want to be in as many markets as we can be that want professional soccer."

He added: "There's a lot of opportunity, a lot of open markets, a lot of great cities that don't have professional soccer in the US. We are a little ways from that but when you start to 40 teams playing, you've got some scale there. Would you consider adding a second division? If you get to that point, could we come up with some really creative, competitive formats between the divisions? Certainly between division two and three within Next Pro. And then the question is what could you come up with that's really creative that could include division one?"

The creation of more teams and another division could see relegation and promotion finally introduced to the game in the United States. MLS has been operating since 1996 but has never had relegation, with the teams competing in the division currently fixed.

The new MLS developments will not be introduced in the next year or so. The 2024 campaign will kick off on February 21, opening with a match between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake.