The United Soccer League has announced “USL Premier” as the official name of its Division One men’s professional league that will top a three-tier pyramid interconnected by promotion and relegation.
Louisville City FC previously applied to join USL Premier at its launch for the 2028 season. The club boasts a winning tradition, stellar fan support and trendsetting facilities deserving of a chance to compete at the game’s highest level. Applications are under review by the USL, which will announce Premier’s inaugural members at a later date.
As part of this new structure, the USL is aligning competition formats across divisions to support balanced schedules, credible movement and future expansion. The USL is establishing the following initial framework, which could evolve over time:
- USL Premier (Division One) will operate as a single national table with a long-term target of 20 clubs.
- USL Championship (Division Two) will also operate as a single national table with 20 clubs, strengthening competitive consistency and national reach.
- USL League One (Division Three) will continue to grow nationally while organizing competition regionally, allowing clubs to compete closer to home and build local rivalries.
The USL is set to become the United States’ first professional sports organization to implement a promotion and relegation system. This global soccer model rewards performance, raises the level of competition across all divisions, and delivers more matches of consequence for clubs, players, fans and partners.
“USL Premier is a defining piece of our long-term vision for the men’s game,” said Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League. “We’ve built a multi-tier professional system that is both scalable and rooted in communities. By establishing a clear structure, we’re creating a strong foundation for clubs, players, and fans, and unlocking meaningful opportunities for stakeholders and investors as we continue to grow the game and prepare to introduce promotion and relegation.”
Soccer in the United States is entering a pivotal period, fueled by rising participation and the country’s role as host of major global sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This national spotlight is expected to deepen fan engagement, introduce new audiences to the sport, and drive demand for professional soccer in communities across the country, an opportunity the USL is uniquely positioned to capture.
Building on this momentum, Tony Scholes, current Chief Football Officer of the English Premier League, will join USL Premier as President upon completing his responsibilities in England this summer.
