USL Championship

History

Background

Founding and first seasons (2010–2012)

Though leaked by the Dayton Dutch Lions weeks prior, the USL announced in a September 2010 press release the merger of its First and Second Division into the USL Pro, a new league with D3 status granted by U.S. Soccer. The Lions, then a Premier Development League (PDL) team, joined the new competition alongside the five remaining Second Division clubs: the Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Harrisburg City Islanders, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Richmond Kickers; and a reactivated Wilmington Hammerheads, who last played in the Second Division. The Austin Aztex, the lone surviving First Division club, joined as Orlando City SC, after relocating to Orlando, Florida. The Rochester Rhinos also joined, aborting their plan to defect from the USL to the NASL.

USL President Tim Holt initially hoped to launch USL Pro with 14–20 teams across four conferences. Two of these conferences were to be a "Caribbean" and "Western" division – the league added the Puerto Rico Soccer League's (PRSL) Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico; and the Antigua Barracuda and Los Angeles Blues; as expansion teams to serve as "building blocks" for these divisions. For the inaugural 2011 season, these five clubs were grouped in a "International" division, while the nine existing USL clubs and another expansion team, F.C. New York, were divided into the "American" and "National" divisions.

The league's first match took place on April 2, 2011, at City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia, where the Kickers defeated Orlando City and Stanley Nyazamba scored the league's first goal. The season initially structured the American and National divisions as a de facto single division, with their teams only occasionally playing International opponents. However, financial issues plagued the three PRSL clubs, leading to their expulsion five weeks into the season. The International division was abolished, and the Barracuda and Blues moved to the American and National divisions, respectively. The remaining twelve teams completed the season, and Orlando City were crowned as the inaugural champions. F.C. New York, also weighed by financial issues, departed for the National Premier Soccer League at the end of the season. The American and National divisions were replaced by a single eleven-team table in the 2012 season, during which the Battery won the title.

MLS partnership and expansion (2013–2016)

In the 2013 season, affiliations with Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs began as part of a partnership that aimed to improve "player development, competition and the overall business" of American soccer, according to MLS executive Todd Durbin. Phoenix FC and VSI Tampa Bay FC entered the league, though both would fold with the Barracuda at the season's end – Phoenix FC had their franchise rights revoked for allegedly committing accounting fraud and wage theft, while the Barracuda and VSI suffered from financial troubles. The Barracuda's final season was one of only six in the history of soccer to be completed without a win or draw. Phoenix FC's franchise rights were awarded to Arizona United SC, who began play the following season. Orlando City earned their second USL Pro title in three years, which was seen as crucial in the club's successful bid to enter the MLS.

Choosing not to affiliate with a USL club, the LA Galaxy founded a reserve team, which entered the USL Pro in the 2014 season alongside Arizona United, Oklahoma City Energy FC, and Sacramento Republic FC. The Los Angeles Blues rebranded as Orange County Blues FC. The Republic concluded their inaugural season by winning the Championship and nearly doubling the league's average attendance record. The Eagles and Lions exited for the PDL, while Orlando City became the fifth USL club to gain promotion to the MLS. Upon their exit, the Eagles and Orlando City sold their franchise rights to the Charlotte Independence and Louisville City FC respectively.

The two clubs began play in the 2015 season of the USL, which dropped "Pro" from its name, alongside Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Saint Louis FC, and the Tulsa Roughnecks. A new Austin Aztex also joined, but entered a hiatus after the season due to financial troubles caused by a historic flood that damaged their home ground. Inspired by the Galaxy, seven more MLS clubs fielded reserve teams into the USL, amid the demise of the MLS Reserve League. The unprecedented growth from 13 to 24 teams necessitated the introduction of the "Eastern" and "Western" conferences, where teams played 22 intraconference and six interconference games, and inspired the USL to apply for D2 status in early 2015. The Rhinos broke all-time USL records for shutouts (17) and fewest goals allowed (15) on their way to their fourth and final USL title.

Three more MLS reserve teams entered in the 2016 season, alongside San Antonio FC, MLS expansion bidders FC Cincinnati, and Rio Grande Valley FC Toros – a "hybrid" club with independent ownership, but managed by the MLS's Houston Dynamo FC. Cincinnati's inaugural season yielded three all-time USL records for single-match attendance, with the highest being 24,376. The New York Red Bulls II became the first MLS reserve team to win a USL title. The Hammerheads left for the PDL, despite a move to Baltimore, Maryland being reportedly planned by the club.

D2 status, NASL demise, and restructure (2017–2019)

Seeking to arrest financial losses incurred while playing in the NASL, the Ottawa Fury and Tampa Bay Rowdies defected to the USL ahead of the 2017 season, triggering a revocation of the NASL's D2 status, as its membership fell below the twelve required. As an interim solution, U.S. Soccer awarded a provisional D2 status to both the NASL and USL. Reno 1868 FC also joined, while the Montreal Impact folded their reserve team for a Fury affiliation. Arizona United SC rebranded as Phoenix Rising FC, following its sale to an ownership group that included Premier League Hall of Famer Didier Drogba, who also signed for the club. Louisville City won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018 – the latter by defeating the Rising in Drogba's final professional game. At the end of 2017, the Rhinos entered a hiatus in an attempt to shore up new investors, while Orlando City B (OCB) went on hiatus due to a lack of players and staff.

For the 2018 season, the USL gained full D2 status, while the NASL was stripped of theirs. A preliminary injunction against the decision was denied, leading to the NASL's collapse, and its clubs scattering. Two of them, Indy Eleven and North Carolina FC, joined the USL alongside Fresno FC, Las Vegas Lights FC, and MLS expansion bidders Nashville SC. A fifth NASL club, San Diego 1904 FC, were denied entry as concerns arose over its ownership, home ground, and lack of local investment. Atlanta United entered their reserve team, while the Vancouver Whitecaps folded theirs for a Fresno affiliation. The Islanders rebranded as Penn FC. Having won their bid to enter the MLS, Cincinnati's final season set all-time USL records for single-match attendance (31,478), average attendance (25,717), and total attendance (437,197).

After a decade playing as a single league, the USL returned to a two-division structure in the 2019 season. It rebranded its D2 league as the USL Championship and introduced a new D3 league, USL League One, to which the Kickers, OCB, Penn, Rhinos, and Toronto FC II moved. D.C. United's Loudoun United FC became the league's final MLS reserve team, entering alongside Birmingham Legion FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Hartford Athletic, Memphis 901 FC, and New Mexico United. The Aztex returned from its hiatus after rebranding as Austin Bold FC. Real Monarchs became the second and last MLS reserve team to win a USL title, while New Mexico's successful debut earned the season's highest average attendance. Having won their bid to join, Nashville became the seventh USL club to move to MLS. Fresno went on hiatus after stadium plans fell through, and the Fury folded after Concacaf and U.S. Soccer denied them permission to continue play in an American league. Their franchise rights were sold to Miami FC, a National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) club that first played in the NASL.

COVID 19 Impact (2020–2021)

Main article: 2020 USL Championship season, 2021 USL Championship season

San Diego Loyal SC began play in the 2020 season. Saint Louis FC folded at the end of the 2020 season. At the time, the city was set to receive an MLS franchise, with St. Louis City SC ultimately starting play in 2023. A spokesperson for SLFC told Sports Illustrated in August 2020, "The ownership decided that with the financial impact of COVID-19 and MLS on the horizon, it didn't make sense to continue operations." Also at the end of the 2020 season, two MLS clubs, the Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers, withdrew their reserve sides, Philadelphia Union II and Portland Timbers 2, from the United Soccer League system.

An expansion team was announced for the New York City borough of Queens to be named Queensboro FC. Chicago and Oakland East Bay were both announced to launch by 2021, but were indefinitely put on hold when they had issues in securing stadium plans. The proposed East Bay club's bid had faltered due to stadium issues and its USL franchise rights were purchased by Oakland Roots SC, which had previously played in NISA, who started play in the USLC in the 2021 season.

On November 6, 2020, Reno 1868 FC announced it was ceasing operations as a result of the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19. On January 10, 2021, North Carolina FC club chairman Stephen Malik announced that the club would make a "strategic move" to USL League One.

On February 1, 2021, Monterey Bay FC, which is a continuation of USLC's Fresno FC, joined the USL Championship since Beshoff, the owner of Fresno, was able to retain franchise rights after Fresno ceased operations due to lack of securing construction of a soccer-specific stadium, and landed the franchise in Monterey Bay at Cardinale Stadium on the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay in Seaside, California. On November 13, 2021, it was announced that Detroit City would join the USL Championship for the 2022 USL Championship season, becoming the third NISA team to join the league after Miami FC and Oakland Roots SC. On December 2, 2021, Charlotte Independence decided to drop down to the third tier USL League One for 2022, with the goal of better serving its youth players, as well as the fact that a new expansion franchise in the city Charlotte FC was joining Major League Soccer that season, with whom several Independence players had signed for.

On December 3, 2021, Oklahoma City Energy FC announced that it would temporarily suspend soccer operations and would not compete in the 2022 USL Championship season. The decision came after Energy FC's home field at Taft Stadium, which is owned and operated by the Oklahoma City Public Schools, would undergo major renovations that directly overlap with the 2022 USL Championship season and will resume play for the 2023 USL Championship season in its temporary home at Taft Stadium. This came after OKC Energy FC reached an historic agreement only roughly a month earlier renewing their lease with the school district for Taft Stadium. After OKC announced that they would impose another hiatus for the 2023 USL Championship season, they have since come out with a new majority ownership group, Echo Investment Capital that would build a stadium in Bricktown with part of the money reserved from the city's MAPS 4 penny tax initiative, with plans to return for the 2027 season.

End of MLS partnership (2021–2022)

Main article: 2022 USL Championship season

On December 6, 2021, Major League Soccer announced MLS Next Pro, a Division III league that would begin play in 2022. The MLS–USL partnership that started in 2014 came to an end: all MLS clubs with reserve teams in USL Championship or USL League One would be moving their affiliated teams to MLS Next Pro by 2023, with the exception of Loudoun United FC (although under different ownership). On December 10, 2021, the USL Championship approved a new ownership group for USL Championship club Austin Bold FC. The new ownership group consists of Donnie Nelson, Neil Leibman, and Bobby Epstein. The team has not participated since the 2021 USL Championship season as it actively seeks relocation to another city in Texas.

On January 27, 2022, the USL officially awarded USL Pro Iowa an expansion team to be based in Des Moines, Iowa, that would join the league in the 2024 season. The team's majority owner is Kyle Krause, who has been the majority owner of USL League Two side Des Moines Menace since 1998. On July 14, 2022, the USL announced a group that intended to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a goal for the Championship side to kick off by 2025.

On August 12, 2022, ground was broken in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Centreville Bank Stadium that will be the permanent home of Rhode Island FC. The team began play in the 2024 season in Smithfield, Rhode Island, as the construction is completed in Pawtucket. On August 30, 2022, the USL announced that a group of investors had formed to bring USL Championship and USL Super League expansion teams to Jacksonville, Florida, with the goal for the Championship side to kick off in 2025. On October 19, 2022, the USL awarded an expansion team to USL Milwaukee, set to begin play in 2025 with plans to build an 8,000-seat stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Recent history (2023–present)

Main article: 2023 USL Championship season, 2024 USL Championship season, 2025 USL Championship season, 2026 USL Championship season

On July 12, 2023, the USL awarded an expansion team to a team that would later be called Ozark United FC with the intent to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to Rogers, Arkansas, with a goal for the Championship and Super League sides to kick off by 2026, now expected to at least be 2027 and play in a new 5,000-seat stadium.

On August 7, 2023, North Carolina FC majority owner Steve Malik announced that the club would come back from USL League One to the USL Championship starting from the 2024 season.

On August 24, 2023, San Diego Loyal ownership announced that the team would shut down at the end of the season due to an inability to find a "viable near- and long-term stadium solution". and the USL announced that it would transfer the franchise rights of the Loyal. The announcement came three months after Major League Soccer announced a San Diego expansion team that would begin play in 2025 as San Diego FC. The club's final game was a 4–3 extra-time playoff quarterfinal loss to Phoenix Rising, the eventual playoff champions.

On November 29, 2023, it was announced that Milwaukee's expansion would be deferred to the 2026 season. On December 14, 2023, the USL awarded an expansion team to USL Palm Beach with the intent to bring USL Championship and Super League teams to Palm Beach County, Florida, with a goal for the Super League side to kick off by 2025.

On December 18, 2023, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros announced they were ceasing all soccer and business operations, officially ending their eight-year business partnership with USL.

On March 7, 2024, it was announced that Brooklyn FC, originally vying for a spot in League One, would instead move their efforts to try to get a team in the Championship by 2025, along with getting their women's side to play in the inaugural USL Super League season in 2024, both playing at Maimonides Park, the home also to baseball's Brooklyn Cyclones. This effort would be later pushed back to 2026.

In August 2024, the USL announced that Lexington SC would move from League One to the Championship in the 2025 season.

On November 13, 2024, the USL announced that Memphis 901 FC would cease operations, with their franchise rights being moved to Santa Barbara Sky FC. The Sky, initially planning to play in League One in 2025, will now begin play in the Championship starting with the 2026 season. Memphis's last game was their quarterfinal playoff loss to Orange County.

The USL announced its intent to establish a new Division I league via a press release published in February 2025. This new league would supersede the Championship as the top of the USL's men's league structure. The USL aims to commence play in USL Premier by the 2028 season. A system of promotion and relegation would also be implemented, with the Championship at the center of the USL's three tier professional pyramid. At the end of each season, the Championship's best-performing teams would be replaced by the worst-performing teams in the USL Premier, and the Championship's worst-performing teams would be replaced by the best performing teams in League One. A number of Championship clubs are likely to apply to USL Premier, with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC the first to officially do so in August 2025, followed by Louisville City FC in September.

Teams

The following teams will play in the 2026 season.

Expansion teams

Notes

Former teams

Timeline

From beginning of USL Pro to reserve team exit

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2. 2013 bar:PHX text:_ bar:TAM text:_

3. 2014 bar:AZU text:_ bar:LAG text:_ bar:OKC text:_ bar:SAC text:_

4. 2015 bar:AUS text:_ bar:CLT text:_ bar:CSS text:_ bar:MON text:_ bar:LOU text:_ bar:NYR text:_ bar:POR text:_ bar:RMO text:_ bar:STL text:_ bar:TAC text:_ bar:TOR text:_ bar:TUL text:_ bar:VAN text:_

5. 2016 bar:PHI text:_ bar:CIN text:_ bar:OCB text:_ bar:RGV text:_ bar:SAN text:_ bar:SPR text:_

6. 2017 bar:OTT text:_ bar:REN text:_ bar:TBR text:_

7. 2018 bar:ATL text:_ bar:MTR text:_ bar:IND text:_ bar:LVL text:_ bar:NSH text:_ bar:NCA text:_

8. 2019 bar:BLD text:_ bar:BHM text:_ bar:ELP text:_ bar:HAR text:_ bar:LDN text:_ bar:MEM text:_ bar:NMU text:_

9. 2020 bar:MIA text:_ bar:SDL text:_

10. 2021 bar:OAK text:_

11. 2022 bar:DET text:_ PlotData = width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

12. JOINED IN 2011

bar:ANT color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2013 text:Antigua Barracuda FC

bar:CHS $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:CHS color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:end text:Charleston Battery

bar:CHE $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:CHE color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2014 text:Charlotte Eagles bar:CHE $other from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:PDL bar:CHE $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:USL2

bar:DDL $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:PDL bar:DDL color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2014 text:Dayton Dutch Lions bar:DDL $other from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:PDL bar:DDL $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:USL2

bar:NEW color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2011 text:F.C. New York bar:NEW $other from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2012 bar:NEW $other from:05/01/2012 till:12/31/2012 text:NPSL # offset to prevent overlap with club name

bar:HCI $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:HCI color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2017 text:Harrisburg City Islanders bar:HCI color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2018 text:Penn FC

bar:OCO color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2013 text:Los Angeles Blues bar:OCO color:Full from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2016 text:Orange County Blues bar:OCO color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:end text:Orange County SC

bar:ORL color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2014 text:Orlando City SC bar:ORL $other from:01/01/2015 till:end text:MLS

bar:PGH $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:PGH color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:end text:Pittsburgh Riverhounds

bar:PR $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:PRSL bar:PR color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:05/11/2011 text:Puerto Rico clubs ‡

bar:RIC $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USL-2 bar:RIC color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2018 text:Richmond Kickers bar:RIC $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:USL1

bar:ROC $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2 bar:ROC color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2017 text:Rochester Rhinos bar:ROC $other from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2022 text:MLS Next Pro

bar:WIL color:Former from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2016 text:Wilmington Hammerheads FC bar:WIL $other from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2017 text:PDL

1. JOINED IN 2013

bar:PHX color:Former from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2013 text:Phoenix FC

bar:TAM color:Former from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2013 text:VSI Tampa Bay FC

1. JOINED IN 2014

bar:AZU color:Full from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2016 text:Arizona United SC bar:AZU color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:end text:Phoenix Rising FC

bar:LAG color:Former from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2023 text:LA Galaxy II bar:LAG $other from:01/01/2023 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:OKC color:Former from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2022 text:Oklahoma City Energy FC

bar:SAC color:Full from:01/01/2014 till:end text:Sacramento Republic FC

1. JOINED IN 2015

bar:AUS $other from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2014 text:PDL bar:AUS color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2015 text:Austin Aztex

bar:CLT color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2021 text:Charlotte Independence bar:CLT $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:USL1

bar:CSS color:Full from:01/01/2015 till:end text:Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

bar:MON color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2016 text:FC Montreal

bar:LOU color:Full from:01/01/2015 till:end text:Louisville City FC

bar:NYR color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2023 text:New York Red Bulls II bar:NYR $other from:01/01/2023 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:POR color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2020 text:Portland Timbers 2 bar:POR $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:RMO color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2022 text:Real Monarchs bar:RMO $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:STL color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2020 text:Saint Louis FC

bar:TAC color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:Seattle Sounders FC 2 bar:TAC color:Former from:01/01/2019 till:01/01/2022 text:Tacoma Defiance bar:TAC $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:TOR color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2018 text:Toronto FC II bar:TOR $other from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2019 text:USL1 bar:TOR $other from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2022 text:USL1 bar:TOR $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:TUL color:Full from:01/01/2015 till:end text:Tulsa Roughnecks FC bar:TUL color:Full from:01/01/2020 till:end text:FC Tulsa

bar:VAN color:Former from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2017 text:Whitecaps FC 2 bar:VAN $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

1. JOINED IN 2016

bar:PHI color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2019 text:Bethlehem Steel FC bar:PHI color:Former from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2020 text:Philadelphia Union II bar:PHI $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:CIN color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2018 text:FC Cincinnati bar:CIN $other from:01/01/2019 till:end text:MLS

bar:OCB color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2017 text:Orlando City B bar:OCB $other from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2020 text:USL1 bar:OCB $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:RGV color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2023 text:Rio Grande Valley FC

bar:SAN color:Full from:01/01/2016 till:end text:San Antonio FC

bar:SPR color:Former from:01/01/2016 till:end text:Swope Park Rangers bar:SPR color:Former from:01/01/2020 till:01/01/2022 text:Sporting Kansas City II bar:SPR $other from:01/01/2022 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

1. JOINED IN 2017

bar:OTT $other from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2016 text:NASL bar:OTT color:Former from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2019 text:Ottawa Fury FC

bar:REN color:Former from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2020 text:Reno 1868 FC

bar:TBR $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2 bar:TBR $other from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2016 text:NASL bar:TBR color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:end text:Tampa Bay Rowdies

1. JOINED IN 2018

bar:ATL color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:01/01/2023 text:Atlanta United 2 bar:ATL $other from:01/01/2023 till:end text:MLS Next Pro

bar:MTR color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2019 text:Fresno FC bar:MTR color:Full from:01/01/2022 till:end text:Monterey Bay

bar:IND $other from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2017 text:NASL bar:IND color:Full from:01/01/2018 till:end text:Indy Eleven

bar:LVL color:Full from:01/01/2018 till:end text:Las Vegas Lights FC

bar:NSH color:Former from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2019 text:Nashville SC bar:NSH $other from:01/01/2020 till:end text:MLS

bar:NCA $other from:01/01/2010 till:12/31/2010 text:USSF D2 bar:NCA $other from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2017 text:NASL bar:NCA color:Full from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2020 text:North Carolina FC bar:NCA $other from:01/01/2021 till:12/31/2023 text:USL1

1. JOINED IN 2019

bar:BLD color:Former from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2021 text:Austin Bold FC

bar:BHM color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Birmingham Legion FC

bar:ELP color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:El Paso Locomotive FC

bar:HAR color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Hartford Athletic

bar:LDN color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Loudoun United FC

bar:MEM color:Former from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2023 text:Memphis 901 FC

bar:NMU color:Full from:01/01/2019 till:end text:New Mexico United

1. JOINED IN 2020

bar:MIA $other from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2017 text:NASL bar:MIA $other from:01/01/2018 till:06/30/2019 text:NPSL bar:MIA $other from:07/01/2019 till:12/31/2019 text:NISA bar:MIA color:Full from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Miami FC

bar:SDL color:Former from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2023 text:San Diego Loyal SC

1. JOINED IN 2021

bar:OAK $other from:07/01/2019 till:12/31/2020 text:NISA bar:OAK color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:Oakland Roots SC

1. JOINED IN 2022

bar:DET $other from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2019 text:NPSL bar:DET $other from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2021 text:NISA bar:DET color:Full from:01/01/2022 till:end text:Detroit City FC

‡ Puerto Rico clubs Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico began play in the league, but in May 2011 United Soccer Leagues announced that the teams would not finish the season due to financial difficulties.

After reserve team exit

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12. 2025 bar:LEX text:_

13. 2026 bar:BKN text:_ bar:JAX text:_

14. Future bar:DAL text:_ bar:OZK text:_ bar:REN text:_ bar:SB text:_ bar:NCA text:_ PlotData = width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

15. JOINED IN 2011

bar:CHS color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Charleston Battery

bar:OCO color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Orange County SC

bar:PGH color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Pittsburgh Riverhounds

1. JOINED IN 2014

bar:AZU color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Phoenix Rising FC

bar:OKC color:Future from:01/01/2028 till:end text:Oklahoma City Energy FC

bar:SAC color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Sacramento Republic FC

1. JOINED IN 2015

bar:CSS color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

bar:LOU color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Louisville City FC

bar:TUL color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:FC Tulsa

1. JOINED IN 2016

bar:RGV color:Former from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2023 text:Rio Grande Valley FC

bar:SAN color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:San Antonio FC

1. JOINED IN 2017

bar:TBR color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Tampa Bay Rowdies

1. JOINED IN 2018

bar:MTR color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Monterey Bay

bar:IND color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Indy Eleven

bar:LVL color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Las Vegas Lights FC

bar:NCA $other from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2023 text:USL1 bar:NCA color:Former from:01/01/2024 till:12/31/2025 text:North Carolina FC bar:NCA color:Future from:01/01/2028 till:end text:North Carolina FC

1. JOINED IN 2019

bar:BHM color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Birmingham Legion FC

bar:ELP color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:El Paso Locomotive FC

bar:HAR color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Hartford Athletic

bar:LDN color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Loudoun United FC

bar:MEM color:Former from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2024 text:Memphis 901 FC

bar:NMU color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:New Mexico United

1. JOINED IN 2020

bar:MIA color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Miami FC

bar:SDL color:Former from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2023 text:San Diego Loyal SC

1. JOINED IN 2021

bar:OAK color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Oakland Roots SC

1. JOINED IN 2022

bar:DET color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Detroit City FC

1. JOINED IN 2024

bar:RHD color:Full from:01/01/2024 till:end text:Rhode Island FC

1. JOINED IN 2025

bar:LEX $other from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2024 text:USL1 bar:LEX color:Full from:01/01/2025 till:end text:Lexington SC

1. JOINED IN 2026 bar:BKN color:Full from:01/01/2026 till:end text:Brooklyn FC bar:JAX color:Full from:01/01/2026 till:end text:Sporting Club Jacksonville
2. FUTURE

bar:DAL color:Future from:01/01/2027 till:end text:Atlético Dallas

bar:OZK color:Future from:01/01/2027 till:end text:Ozark United FC

bar:REN color:Future from:01/01/2027 till:end text:Reno Pro Soccer

bar:SB color:Future from:01/01/2027 till:end text:Santa Barbara Sky FC

Competition format

For the 2025 season, teams played a home-and-away schedule within their conference and an additional 8 games (4 home and 4 away) against 8 of the 12 teams in the opposing conference for an unbalanced 30-game schedule. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The USL Championship playoffs are a single-elimination tournament with a fixed bracket format, culminating in the USL Championship Final.

Media coverage

Fox Sports purchased the league's broadcasting rights for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and aired matches on its Fox Soccer channel, while the league livestreamed matches on its USL Live website. The USL has been partnered with ESPN since the 2016 season. The first iteration of the deal brought 20 matches to ESPN3 and the championship match to one of its linear networks, while all remaining matches were broadcast directly by the league on its YouTube channel.

Beginning with the launch of ESPN+ on April 12, 2018, all USL matches moved to the over-the-top service, with 18 games of the week and the championship continuing to air on one of ESPN's linear channels. The 2019 final will also air on ESPN Deportes. The deal with ESPN expired after the 2019 season, but was subsequently renewed for three additional seasons. Although the ESPN+ match streams are not blacked out in-market, individual clubs are also allowed to syndicate the USL-produced broadcast to local television stations.

The English-language commentary team for the USL Championship on ESPN has included Mike Watts and Devon Kerr since 2018. Watts and Kerr also host a weekly program, USL All-Access, on Sirius XM FC. Broadcasts on ESPN Deportes have been led by Jesús Eduardo Acosta and José Armando Rodriguez.

In August 2020, the USL announced their first international broadcast partner with Caribbean broadcaster Flow Sports.

In August 2021, the USL announced a new broadcast agreement with OneFootball in Italy.

The USL announced that four-year media deal with CBS Sports beginning with the 2024 season through 2027. On February 27, 2024, the USL also announced multi-year deal with ESPN as a second broadcast partner through 2026.

Champions

Teams that no longer participate in the USL Championship are in italics.

USL Championship Final results

USL club honors

Updated to the end of the 2025 USL playoffs; sorted by major honors (championships).

Player records

Attendance

FC Cincinnati played before a record crowd of 20,497 at Nippert Stadium on April 16, 2016, in a rivalry match against neighboring Louisville City FC. This broke the USL Pro's previous record for attendance at a regular-season match of 20,231 set by Sacramento Republic in its home debut on April 26, 2014, at Hughes Stadium. Cincinnati broke the record again on May 14, 2016, with a new all-time high of 23,375. Cincinnati broke the single game attendance record again on October 2, 2016, in their first ever playoff match against the Charleston Battery, losing 2–1 in the quarterfinals of the 2016 USL playoffs. The attendance of 30,187 also set the USL playoff record.

Cincinnati broke the regular season record again on August 5, 2017, at Nippert Stadium, drawing 25,308 against Orlando City B. They broke their own record again about six weeks later drawing 30,417 to a 4–2 win over the New York Red Bulls II. Cincinnati broke the record once more in their final home regular season game as a USL team on September 29, 2018, drawing 31,478 versus Indy Eleven.

References

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135. (November 21, 2017). "Sterling Bay Executives to Bring USL to Chicago". USL.
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148. (July 18, 2024). "Echo buys majority stake in USL OKC Energy FC".
149. (August 8, 2024). "Former USL executive Court Jeske to lead OKC Energy FC soccer operations".
150. (June 21, 2021). "Major League Soccer to launch development league in 2022". [[ESPN]].
151. "Texas-Based Ownership Group Purchases Austin Bold FC".
152. (January 27, 2022). "United Soccer League Welcomes Pro Iowa to USL Championship".
153. (July 14, 2022). "Local group aims to bring USL club to New Orleans".
154. (August 12, 2022). "Stadium groundbreaking moves Rhode Island toward 2024 debut in USL Championship".
155. (June 9, 2023). "Rhode Island FC Announces Partnership with Bryant University for 2024 Season". USL Championship.
156. (August 30, 2022). "United Soccer League announces expansion plans for Jacksonville".
157. (October 19, 2022). "USL Championship Awards Franchise to Milwaukee".
158. (October 3, 2024). "USL Arkansas Unveils Ozark United FC as Official Brand, Bringing Unity and Community to Northwest Arkansas Soccer".
159. (23 December 2024). "OZARK UNITED FC ANNOUNCES NEW STADIUM LOCATION IN ROGERS".
160. "Professional Soccer Landing in Northwest Arkansas".
161. (August 7, 2023). "North Carolina FC to rejoin USL Championship in 2024". USL Championship.
162. Ziegler, Mark. (August 24, 2023). "San Diego Loyal to shut down; owner asks fans to 'celebrate and not mourn' pro soccer team over final games". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
163. (August 24, 2023). "USL to Transfer San Diego Franchise Rights". USL Championship.
164. Zeigler, Mark. (October 22, 2023). "Overtime goal sinks Loyal's season in playoffs, ends club's run in San Diego". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
165. (November 29, 2023). "Milwaukee Pro Soccer announces deferral of launch season to 2026". USL Championship.
166. "International Polo Star Nacho Figueras to Bring Professional Men's and Women's Soccer to the Palm Beaches".
167. (March 14, 2024). "Brooklyn FC Moves to USL Championship Ahead of Men's 2025 Inaugural Season".
168. (December 6, 2024). "Brooklyn Football Club Men’s Team Launch Moves to 2026".
169. (August 13, 2024). "Lexington Sporting Club to join USL Championship for 2025 season".
170. (November 13, 2024). "Memphis 901 FC moving to California, club confirms". [[WHBQ-TV.
171. (February 13, 2025). "USL announces plans to start new league that would rival MLS".
172. (February 13, 2025). "USL intends to launch rival Division 1 men's soccer league in 2027-28 to challenge MLS".
173. (March 20, 2025). "USL's Paul McDonough: promotion and relegation likely in US soccer by 2028".
174. (March 19, 2025). "United Soccer League to bring promotion and relegation to American soccer for first time, starting in 2028".
175. (March 19, 2025). "USL votes to adopt pro-rel in 2027 when Division One launches".
176. (March 19, 2025). "Promotion-Relegation Coming to American Professional Soccer, per Report".
177. (March 19, 2025). "USL makes history after official adoption of promotion-relegation system".
178. (August 19, 2025). "Riverhounds' owner plans a $125 million expansion project at its riverfront soccer venue".
179. (August 19, 2025). ""We'll say not if, but when": The Pittsburgh Riverhounds submit application for new league as fundraising starts for stadium expansion".
180. (25 September 2025). "Louisville City FC files formal application for USL’s new top-tier men’s league".
181. "Clubs".
182. "Protective Stadium".
183. (12 January 2026). "Jay Heaps becomes Birmingham Legion FC Head Coach".
184. Nalton, James. "New York Pro Soccer Club Brooklyn FC To Play At Maimonides Park, Coney Island".
185. (June 8, 2023). "Brooklyn, N.Y. awarded USL League One franchise".
186. (December 6, 2024). "Brooklyn Football Club Men's Team Launch Moves to 2026".
187. (8 December 2025). "Brooklyn FC appoints Marlon LeBlanc as first Head Coach".
188. (July 2025). "Patriots Point".
189. (November 17, 2022). "Battery appoint Ben Pirmann as Head Coach".
190. "Keyworth Stadium".
191. "Detroit City FC Acquires Land in Southwest Detroit To Build Soccer-Specific Stadium".
192. (November 29, 2023). "Detroit City Football Club Names Danny Dichio As Head Coach".
193. "Trinity Health Stadium".
194. (December 12, 2023). "Hartford Athletic appoints Brendan Burke as new Head Coach". USL Championship.
195. "Carroll Stadium".
196. "Indy Eleven Announces Sean McAuley as Head Coach".
197. "Segra Field".
198. "Lynn Family Stadium".
199. (March 2, 2023). "LouCity signs coach Cruz to contract extension through 2025".
200. (November 25, 2024). "Miami FC Announces Landmark Agreement with Sports Performance Hub (SPH) As County Approves Major Site Plan".
201. (January 23, 2025). "Miami FC Announces Gastόn Maddoni as Head Coach".
202. "Highmark Stadium (Pittsburgh)".
203. (December 21, 2025). "Rob Vincent named head coach".
204. "Centreville Bank Stadium".
205. (March 8, 2023). "Rhode Island FC Names Khano Smith as Club's First Head Coach and General Manager".
206. "Hodges Stadium".
207. (October 30, 2025). "Sporting JAX brings men’s professional soccer back to Jacksonville".
208. "Al Lang".
209. (8 July 2025). "Rowdies Name Dominic Casciato as Head Coach".
210. "Weidner Field".
211. Purslow, Ashley. "Switchbacks FC Announce Alan McCann as the New Head Coach".
212. "Southwest University Park".
213. "Cashman Field".
214. (March 25, 2025). "USL's Lights FC to move to new Vegas venue after '26 season". Sports Business Journal.
215. Webster, Danny. (August 4, 2025). "Lights hire new coach seeking to end lengthy losing streak". [[Las Vegas Review-Journal]].
216. (October 10, 2023). "Lexington Sporting Club Announces New State of the Art Stadium".
217. (October 5, 2021). "United Soccer League Welcomes Lexington Pro Soccer as League One Expansion Club".
218. (March 22, 2022). "Lexington Sporting Club Reveal Brand Identity".
219. (August 13, 2024). "Lexington Sporting Club to join USL Championship for 2025 season".
220. (9 December 2025). "Masaki Hemmi Named Men’s Head Coach, Kosuke Kimura Named Women’s Head Coach for Lexington Sporting Club".
221. "Cardinale Stadium".
222. (August 5, 2024). "Monterey Bay F.C. Begins New Era, Names former English Premier League and SJ Earthquakes Defender Jordan Stewart Permanent Head Coach".
223. "Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park".
224. "Albuquerque City Council Approves Lease Between New Mexico United & City of Albuquerque for Private Construction of Soccer Stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park".
225. (December 24, 2024). "NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF HEAD COACH DENNIS SANCHEZ".
226. (18 November 2025). "Oakland Roots Sports Club Name Veteran USL Coach Ryan Martin as New Head Coach".
227. (October 11, 2023). "Ten More Years for Orange County Soccer Club in Irvine".
228. (12 December 2024). "ORANGE COUNTY SC ANNOUNCE DANNY STONE AS HEAD COACH FOR 2025 USL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON".
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