Report: USL Votes to Adopt Promotion and Relegation
Promotion and relegation is reportedly coming to the United States!
The Athletic broke news Tuesday that could rock the sport of soccer in the United States. According to sources close to the outlet, the United Soccer League owners voted to adopt a promotion and relegation system to their leagues, becoming the first to do so in the United States!
In 2023, the organization attempted to adopt promotion and relegation, but a lack of support meant the motion was never brought to a vote. A recent spark in interest got the ball rolling that led to Tuesday's historic vote.
News of promotion and relegation's adoption comes nearly a month after USL announced its intentions to create a Division I league to pair alongside the USL Championship and USL League One.
According to The Athletic, owners hope to simultaneously introduce their three-tiered pro-rel system (League One, Championship, and Division I) alongside the start of their Division I league, which is slated to begin in 2028.
Specifics on how promotion and relegation will work are currently unknown. USL has been studying ways to introduce pro-rel and will work to finalize a method in the coming years.
We’re years away from it potentially becoming a reality, but Tuesday’s news should be something that excites USL fans in New England and beyond.