What United Soccer League changes mean for San Antonio FC

• If the team performs poorly, it could face relegation to a lower league.

Context: Last month the USL announced plans to launch a Division One league in 2027-28.

• USL currently has two leagues: USL Championship (second division) and USL League One (third division).
• SAFC is a Championship team, the higher-performing of the two divisions.

How it works: It is unclear what the exact layout for promotion and relegation will look like, such as the number of teams that will be promoted and relegated each season or whether there will be financial incentives for promotion.

Between the lines: The promotion/relegation model is common outside the U.S., including in England's Premier League.

• In the Premier League, the bottom three teams are relegated to the Championship. The Championship's top two teams are automatically promoted, and the winner of playoffs between teams finishing third to sixth gets the third promotion spot.
• If you're among the millions of people who watched "Ted Lasso" on Apple TV+, you've already been exposed to the concept.

What they're saying: "Now, just as it is in the global game, more communities in America can aspire to compete at the highest level of soccer," Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League, said in a statement. "It's time."

Zoom in: SAFC won its first two games of the season under new head coach Carlos Llamosa.

• The team has also added 13 new players and four new coaches, per the Express-News.

What's next: SAFC's next home game at Toyota Field is April 6 at 3pm against Phoenix Rising FC.

• Tickets start at $17.