USL Becomes First U.S. Soccer League to Adopt Promotion and Relegation

CHARLESTON, S.C. — In a groundbreaking decision on March 18, 2025, United Soccer League (USL) owners voted to implement a promotion and relegation (pro-rel) system, making it the first professional soccer league in the United States to adopt such a structure.

According to sources familiar with the vote, USL owners approved the proposal with a supermajority. This monumental shift is set to coincide with the anticipated launch of a new Division I league in 2028, alongside the existing USL Championship and USL League One.

The pro-rel mechanism, common in soccer leagues around the world, enables teams that finish at the bottom of their division to drop to a lower tier, while the top teams from the lower divisions ascend. Despite previous discussions regarding pro-rel in 2023, the idea gained traction again as the USL announced its future Division I plans last month.

“It was really clear that the time was right here,” said Brett Johnson, a USL owner who also has a stake in the Premier League’s Ipswich Town. “Every single game matters. It requires excellence on and off the pitch, and I believe this move will take USL to another level.”

Prior to this vote, there were concerns among owners about the financial implications of relegation. However, USL’s current reliance on gameday revenues and local sponsorships offers more stability than leagues in other countries, which have large media rights payments at stake.

USL President Paul McDonough expressed optimism about the change: “People want something different. A lot of people in this country relate strongly to European soccer. This pro-rel structure will help make soccer more relevant in our communities,” he said.

The upcoming changes could require U.S. Soccer to reevaluate its strict guidelines for division sanctioning, including stadium size and ownership capital. This evolving landscape may pave the way for more fluid team mobility within the USL pyramid.

Charleston Battery owner Rob Salvatore highlighted the strong fan support for the pro-rel system, reflecting a growing movement among supporters for more competitive dynamics in American soccer. “I think this is a product decision that makes a lot of sense. I see that demand, and we’ve got to do this,” Salvatore remarked.

Despite initial challenges in rallying support for the pro-rel system, the recent developments demonstrated a newfound consensus among league owners. McDonough noted that the USL now needs to work with stakeholders to refine how the system will function operationally.

“This vote was a first step,” McDonough said. “What we roll out will drive growth for USL as we aim to differentiate ourselves in the market.”

As USL embarks on this unprecedented journey, fans eagerly await the implementation of a system that aims to mirror the competitive structures seen in prominent leagues worldwide.