Soccer-United Soccer League first in US to adopt promotion and relegation

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(Reuters) – United Soccer League (USL) clubs have voted to implement a promotion and relegation system to become the first professional sports league in the U.S. to adopt the European model, the USL said on Wednesday.

The USL said a supermajority of club owners were in favour of the change, and a three-tier professional system is set to be in place by the 2027-28 season when a new first division (USL Division One) is launched.

Although leagues in Europe and across the world have had promotion and relegation for decades, the model never caught on in the U.S. over fears of teams losing revenue if they finish bottom and are relegated to the lower division.

“A new chapter in American soccer begins. The decision by our owners to approve and move forward with this bold direction is a testament to their commitment to the long-term growth of soccer in the United States,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said.

“This is a significant milestone for the USL and highlights our shared vision with our team ownership to build a league that not only provides top-tier competition but also champions community engagement.”

The top-tier Major League Soccer (MLS) is still a closed league with 30 teams, 15 in the Eastern Conference and 15 in the Western Conference, who remain in it no matter how poorly they perform.

The USL announced plans last month for a new Division One league which will also have a top-tier status.

The implementation of promotion and relegation in the USL will also rule out dead rubbers at the end of the season, where every game could be vital to survival.

“Promotion and relegation transforms the competitive landscape of American soccer,” said Paul McDonough, President and Chief Soccer Officer of the USL.

“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.”

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)