Charlotte Independence play at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte. Photo: Andy Weber/Axios
United Soccer League owners voted this week to introduce promotion and relegation by 2028 as they prepare to launch a new top-tier soccer league.
Why it matters: This is a huge move in the U.S. soccer landscape. It rewards teams that perform well with promotion to a higher league, while teams that perform poorly will face relegation to a lower league.
Context: Last month the USL announced plans to launch a Division One league in 2027-28, intended to rival Major League Soccer.
USL currently has two existing leagues: USL Championship (second division) and USL League One (third Division).
USL Division One (first division) would create a pyramid structure for promotions and relegations.
Zoom in: The Charlotte Independence play in USL League One at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Elizabeth.
What they're saying: Jim McPhilliamy, the team's CEO and managing partner, tells Axios he has always been for promotion and relegation. It will make USL a lot more exciting he says, because so many more games will matter.
