Background

The United Soccer League (USL) made a historic announcement in March 2025 when a supermajority of club owners voted to implement a promotion and relegation system in American professional soccer. This plan includes:

• Launching a new Division One league in 2027-28

• Creating a three-tier system with USL Championship (Division Two) and USL League One (Division Three)

• Becoming the first professional soccer league in the United States to adopt promotion and relegation

This represents a significant departure from the closed league system that has dominated American professional sports, moving toward the model used in most global soccer leagues.

Resolution Criteria

This market will resolve as YES if by December 31, 2030:

• The USL has officially implemented a functioning promotion and relegation system between at least two of its league tiers

• At least one season has been completed where teams have been promoted or relegated based on sporting merit

This market will resolve as NO if:

• The USL has not implemented promotion and relegation by December 31, 2030

• The USL announces they have abandoned or indefinitely postponed their promotion/relegation plans

• The USL ceases to exist as an organization before implementing the system

Considerations

While the USL has committed to this system, several challenges remain:

• Regulatory compliance with U.S. Soccer Federation requirements

• Ensuring financial viability across all league tiers

• Potential resistance from owners concerned about relegation risks

• The unprecedented nature of promotion/relegation in American professional sports