The new 'USL Premier' - what do we know?
USL’s announcement this week that it’s planned new division one league, would be known as ‘USL Premier’ was, in itself, unremarkable but some of the details that emerged around this non-news are very interesting for those still asking themselves whether this thing is for real?
‘USL Premier’ was non-news in the sense that most people had assumed that a league which has followed English nomenclature for every other competition it runs, would do the same for the planned top tier. League Two, League One, Championship, what else could it be but Premier? Even the newish women’s top tier league is known (without sponsor) as the USL Super League (England has the Women’s Super League).
What does the name tell us, other than remind us of USL’s Anglophilia? USL Premier League, places the new division firmly within the USL framework and is certainly not as bold as some alternatives (American Premier League?) might have been if the goal was really to be a challenger to Major League Soccer.
More significant though were the comments from USL President Paul McDonough to the Sports Business Journal, where he was clearly pressed for some indications on what USLPL might look like and how the pro/rel system with the Championship could operate.
The goal is for the new division to reach 20 clubs but for starters they must reach a minimum of 12 clubs at the 2028 launch to meet US Soccer’s ‘Pro League Standards’ and get USSF sanctioning. McDonough says the league is targeting an initial 14 clubs to give the league “a little bit of breathing room for something happening with a stadium or just some unforeseen issue.”
So where are these 14 clubs to be found? The USL President says “eight or nine of them” will be existing USL Championship clubs. The remaining five or six clubs would be entirely new franchises.
Let’s pause there for a minute. Those existing clubs will need to upgrade their facilities and other aspects of their operations to meet US Soccer’s D1 standards. As the regulations stand that will mean stadiums with a minimum capacity of 15,000 - well above the level of the vast majority of USL Championship clubs. And they will need to do all that in the next two years. That’s a very big ask but, with resources and will power, perhaps not impossible.
But the creation of five or six entirely new clubs with suitable stadiums and meeting all other requirements, in the next 24 months? That will require something astonishing. USL announced this plan in February and since then there have been few credible reports of new clubs in the right sized market looking to join this top flight. Oklahoma City looks like it could be one. It could be, of course, that work is going on, undetected, to create this half a dozen new clubs, but as far as is publicly known, five more new owners need to appear and activate in the next two years.
McDonough was skeptical of the value of 15,000 capacities as a standard and presumably the league will lobby US Soccer to reduce that capacity requirement. And he has a point. In his appearance on The Soccer Business podcast, former USSF President Sunil Gulati questioned whether it would really be such a big issue if a club had a thriving fan-base which was filling a smaller venue? What surely matters is full stadiums with real atmospheres, not arbitrary capacity levels. (As a reality check here are last season’s average attendances )
Likewise, if US Soccer’s attitude is to be supportive and try to help a new D1 league come to fruition, seeing the development as a benefit to the American game as a whole, there may be some flexibility in other areas of the ‘Pro League Standards’ which USL could negotiate. But again, the mere fact that USL’s approach is to try to lower the demands of D1 standards, tells us something about this project. At a time when MLS is building new 25,000 seater stadiums in Miami and New York City, the USL is looking to avoid the need to build 15,000 seater venues.
There are other standards being discussed in other forums. The USL Players Association (USLPA) is in talks over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement - the previous CBA expired at the end of last year. According to the USLPA, in 2025: Approximately 85% of players did not have 12-month contracts and are treated as seasonal employees. Over 25% of players were not even offered any health insurance option by their clubs and roughly 25% of players made less than $35,000 gross salary
“For this league to truly grow, the USL Headquarters (which is separate from the clubs themselves), must take an active role in investing in and strengthening the USL Championship. It’s not fair to promote a bold vision for the future of American soccer while, behind the scenes, denying players basic professional standards. What is said publicly should match what players experience in negotiations,” the union said in an open letter to fans.
Perhaps it is time for less high octane talk, from online boosters, about USL being a ‘rival’ to MLS and more of a focus on what the real issue should be - building a strong, sustainable and high-standard lower division structure in the USA.
Introducing pro/rel in the USL ecosystem can certainly be a big part of that process. Having a new top division with higher standards, could also help in the consolidation of the lower divisions, especially if it is able to attract broadcast revenue. Will it all happen by 2028? If you follow the stories of new USL clubs it is not unusual for ambitious launch dates to be missed by a year or two.
There are a lot of 'ifs' and much needs to happen in the next two years - but even if it takes three or four years for new clubs, upgraded clubs, new facilities and new standards to be introduced - it will have been worth it. It may not be a 'game changer' or a 'soccer revolution' but it will be progress.
MLS and Polymarket Partner on Prediction Insights
Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) have entered a multi-year partnership with Polymarket, making it the league's Official and Exclusive Prediction Market Partner. The deal positions MLS as one of the first global leagues to integrate real-time collective fan sentiment and prediction data into its digital platforms. The partnership will also extend to the Leagues Cup and the MLS All-Star Game. The only other North American sports league to have taken this step is the NHL.
The collaboration focuses on second-screen engagement, allowing fans to interact with live match data and season-long storylines. To protect match integrity, the agreement includes independent monitoring of trading activities. MLS officials noted that the innovation is part of a strategy to modernize fan engagement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MLS unveils 'Walmart Saturday Showdown'
MLS has announced the "Walmart Saturday Showdown," a weekly marquee matchup designed to establish consistent appointment viewing for fans. Debuting on February 21 with a match between Inter Miami CF and LAFC, the initiative will feature enhanced broadcast production on Apple TV. This includes a "Shot on iPhone" view to offer dynamic, close-up angles of the action.
The partnership aims to celebrate soccer culture by making matchdays more shareable through social media highlights and in-person fan activations. The program will run throughout the regular season, spotlighting the league's most intense rivalries. MLS also has a seperate slot for premium games under the banner 'Sunday Night Soccer'.
Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that the league and Apple TV are dropping the Spanish language version of their MLS 360 whip-around show and reducing the use of double commentary teams.
USL League 2 Announces Record Expansion for 2026
USL League Two will feature a record 158 clubs for its 2026 season, organized into 20 divisions across four conferences. The alignment includes 25 expansion teams and the debut of the Ranger Division in the Southern Conference, which will host the likes of the Fort Worth Vaqueros and West Texas FC. As the premier pre-professional league in the U.S., it serves as a bridge for elite players seeking professional pathways. Clubs will play a 12 to 14-match regular season followed by a 35-team playoff bracket. New additions for 2026 also include the Connecticut Rush and a new pre-professional team for USL Championship side San Antonio FC.
USL Expands Partnership with InProduction for Modular Stadiums
USL has signed a long-term partnership with InProduction, designating the firm as its preferred provider for modular stadium infrastructure. The agreement covers seating, hospitality structures, and venue solutions across the entire USL ecosystem. The partnership is seen as vital for the league's expansion, allowing clubs to build or upgrade venues quickly to meet professional standards.
InProduction has been a USL partner since 2017, and this formalization positions them as a cornerstone for both temporary and permanent stadium development. The deal follows several new club announcements and stadium projects aimed at increasing capacity and enhancing fan experiences. USL executives emphasized that scalable infrastructure is critical as the league grows into new communities.
U.S. Consortium Acquires Majority Stake in Kelty Hearts FC
An American consortium led by Jordan Gardner has acquired an 80% majority ownership stake in Scottish League One (third tier) club Kelty Hearts. The remaining 20% will be retained by Kelty Hearts FC Members Ltd, a company formed by the outgoing board of directors to preserve local community roots. Gardner will serve as the club's new chairman.The investment aims to strengthen the club’s infrastructure, first team, and academy while maintaining its sustainable operating model. According to outgoing director George McTrusty, the deal provides a platform for long-term planning while protecting the club’s community identity. The new board includes ten members, featuring Gardner and several international directors
U.S. Soccer Foundation Aims to Reach 10 Million Youth by 2030
The U.S. Soccer Foundation has launched its "Soccer Will" campaign, a bold initiative to uplift 10 million youth by 2030. The program focuses on expanding access to mini-pitches in underserved communities and increasing the number of trained coach-mentors. The foundation intends to use the momentum of the upcoming 2026 World Cup to create a lasting legacy for the sport in the United States.
The campaign also introduces expanded digital tools for parents and educators to support healthy habits beyond the pitch. By turning safe play spaces into community hubs, the initiative seeks to improve the health and wellness of children in high-stress, low-income areas. This commitment marks the foundation's thirtieth year of operatio
Baller League Germany Pauses Operations
Baller League, the digital-focused six-a-side competition, has suspended its German operations indefinitely and postponed its fourth season. Representatives stated that while Germany is central to the league's roots, the current market lacks the necessary size and structural conditions to meet long-term goals. Despite the pause, the organization remains liquid and solvent, keeping the door open for a future return to the German market.
The league, founded in 2024 by Felix Starck with backing from German stars Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, will now shift its focus to its UK and U.S. competitions. The UK league launched last March, and the U.S. division is scheduled to debut this March. This pivot follows a €23 million ($24.1 million) Series A funding round led by EQT Ventures to support international scaling.
Textor troubles continue
American soccer investor John Textor has been removed as director of his once ambitious vehicle Eagle Holdings as his issues continue to mount, according to multiple reports. According to AFP, a judge in Rio de Janeiro imposed a precautionary suspension on all acts related to player and asset sales at Textor owned Botofogo. More here.
Lineker podcast group gets U.S. investment
The Chernin Group has taken a minority stake in the U.K. podcast firm Goalhanger, the producer of popular podcasts like The Rest Is History and The Rest Is Football along with several other soccer shows. Financial terms of the strategic partnership were not disclosed, but Peter Chernin’s media and sports banner will get a seat on the Goalhanger board of directors and help broaden the U.K. company’s podcast reach into the U.S. market. (Hollywood Reporter).
Europe's leaders in matchday revenue
Some interesting data on matchday revenue trends in this report from Football Benchmark in Italy.