USL Premier set to top new US soccer pyramid

USL Premier Ushers in a New Era for American Soccer

The United Soccer League has taken its most ambitious step yet toward reshaping the professional soccer landscape in the United States. With the announcement of USL Premier as its new Division One men’s league, the USL has signaled a clear intention to build a connected, merit-driven system that mirrors the global game while remaining rooted in American communities.

This move is about more than a new league name. It represents a philosophical shift. For decades, professional soccer in the U.S. has operated without promotion and relegation, creating rigid divisions and limiting upward mobility. USL Premier changes that conversation entirely, laying the groundwork for a three-tier men’s pathway where performance on the field truly matters.

A Three-Tier Pathway With Real Stakes

Under the new framework, USL Premier will sit at the top of a unified structure that includes the USL Championship and USL League One. Each tier plays a distinct role. USL Premier and the Championship will operate as single national tables, creating consistency, credibility, and national reach. USL League One will continue to grow regionally, allowing clubs to build rivalries and fan bases closer to home.

The ultimate goal is simple and bold: introduce the first true promotion and relegation system in American professional soccer. When fully implemented, clubs will rise and fall based on results, increasing competitive integrity and making every match meaningful for players, supporters, and investors alike.

Timing Matters More Than Ever

The timing of this announcement is not accidental. Soccer in the United States is entering a golden window. The 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games will place the sport under an unprecedented spotlight. Participation continues to rise. Fan interest continues to deepen. The demand for high-level professional soccer in local markets has never been stronger.

By positioning USL Premier to launch in 2028, the league is aligning itself directly with this surge in national and global attention. It is a calculated bet on growth, relevance, and long-term sustainability.

Leadership and Vision at the Top

Adding to the significance of the announcement is the future arrival of Tony Scholes, the current Chief Football Officer of the English Premier League, who will join USL Premier as President. His experience at the highest level of the global game underscores the seriousness of the project and its international ambition.

Below is the full official press release from the United Soccer League, outlining the structure, vision, and next steps for USL Premier.

TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League (USL) today announced USL Premier as the official name of its Division One men’s professional league and unveiled a new structure for its men’s pathway, establishing an interconnected three-tier framework designed to support long-term growth, competitive integrity, and the introduction of promotion and relegation.

USL Premier will serve as the top tier of a unified men’s professional pathway that also includes the USL Championship and USL League One. As part of this structure, the USL is aligning competition formats across divisions to support balanced schedules, credible movement, and future expansion.

Under the future league structure, 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, and is scheduled to launch in 2028.
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.

As this structure takes shape alongside the launch of USL Premier, the USL will introduce America’s first promotion and relegation system – creating a connected, merit-based professional pathway that 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.”

The USL is currently reviewing applications from clubs interested in competing in USL Premier and will announce the league’s inaugural members at a later date.

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.