USL Premier Set To Reshape American Soccer Pyramid

The United Soccer League (USL) has sent shockwaves through the American soccer landscape with its January 27, 2026, announcement: the creation of USL Premier, a new Division One men’s professional league, and the launch of a fully integrated three-tier system featuring promotion and relegation. For the first time in U.S. professional sports history, teams will be able to move up or down between divisions based solely on their on-field performance—a system that’s the norm in global soccer but has long eluded American leagues.

USL Premier is set to kick off in 2028, anchoring a pyramid that also includes the USL Championship and USL League One. Each of the top two divisions will feature a single national table with a target of 20 clubs, while League One will remain regionally focused. The league’s leadership describes this as a “defining piece of our long-term vision for the men’s game,” as Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League, put it. “We’ve built a multi-tier professional system that is both scalable and rooted in communities. By establishing a clear structure, we’re creating a strong foundation for clubs, players, and fans, and unlocking meaningful opportunities for stakeholders and investors as we continue to grow the game and prepare to introduce promotion and relegation.”

This bold move comes at a pivotal moment for soccer in the United States. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, the sport is poised for unprecedented growth in popularity and investment. The USL, long seen as the nation’s second professional soccer setup behind Major League Soccer (MLS), is aiming to capitalize on this momentum by fundamentally reshaping how competition works at the professional level. The league’s new structure mirrors the English football system, with single-table formats and a merit-based pathway for clubs to rise—or fall—through the ranks.

The USL’s announcement has set off a flurry of activity among clubs eager to secure their place in the new hierarchy. Louisville City FC, arguably the most successful club in USL history with four Eastern Conference titles and two USL Championship trophies since its 2015 debut, has already applied to join USL Premier for the 2028 season. The club, which boasts an average attendance of around 10,000 fans per game at Lynn Family Stadium, is awaiting confirmation from league officials. In a statement, LouCity emphasized its ambition: “We are excited to apply for USL Premier and look forward to the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the new structure.”

Other clubs are weighing their options as the USL reviews applications for the inaugural Premier season. Lexington Sporting Club, which began play in USL League One in 2023 and moved up to the USL Championship in 2025, is currently in its fourth professional season and second at the Championship level. The club told Spectrum News 1, “We value our rivalry with LouCity, and we know it means a lot to the fans. At this time, we are monitoring the changing USL landscape and considering all qualifications for Premier. As the USL continues to clarify what's required, we will continue to assess to make the right decision.”

Across the country, anticipation is building as other USL Championship clubs—such as Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Sacramento Republic, Detroit City, and Miami FC—make preparations to meet the new league’s standards. Stadium construction and facility upgrades are underway in several markets, and there’s widespread expectation that expansion franchises, like OKC Energy, will be part of the Premier’s inaugural group. According to USL President Paul McDonough, “We expect eight USL Championship clubs to move up immediately, with four to six expansion franchises getting involved for the inaugural season.”

Promotion and relegation will be phased in right from the 2028 launch. Initially, two teams will move up and down between USL Premier and the Championship each season. Once the league reaches its full complement of 20 teams, a three-up, three-down model—similar to major European leagues—will be implemented. This means every match will carry higher stakes, with the threat of relegation or the promise of promotion looming over the season’s final standings. The USL hopes this will “create matches of consequence,” driving fan engagement and raising the competitive bar across all divisions.

Guiding this ambitious transformation is a major front-office hire: Tony Scholes, the current Chief Football Officer of the English Premier League, will take over as President of USL Premier after completing his EPL duties in the summer of 2026. Scholes is expected to bring invaluable experience from managing one of the world’s most successful soccer pyramids. His appointment signals the USL’s intent to operate at international standards of competitive integrity and organizational excellence. “Tony’s leadership will be crucial as we build a league that reflects the very best of the global game while staying true to our American roots,” said a league spokesperson.

The league’s new pathway is designed to be both scalable and deeply rooted in local communities. USL Premier and Championship will operate as single national tables, a departure from the previous two-conference format. USL League One, meanwhile, will continue its regional approach, supporting the growth of soccer in emerging markets and providing a stepping stone for ambitious clubs. The league has not yet revealed whether playoffs will be part of the new structure, but the focus is clearly on regular season performance and the drama of promotion and relegation.

The timing of this transformation couldn’t be more strategic. The United States is on the cusp of a “golden era” for soccer, and the USL is determined to seize the opportunity. The league’s interconnected framework promises to reward performance, foster club ambition, and deliver more meaningful matches for players and fans alike. As Alec Papadakis put it, “We’re unlocking meaningful opportunities for stakeholders and investors as we continue to grow the game.”

While the specifics of which clubs will make the cut for USL Premier’s debut season remain under wraps, the application process is ongoing, and the league has committed to announcing its inaugural members at a later date. Clubs across the country are watching closely, eager to see how the new landscape will shape their future—and the future of American soccer as a whole.

With the introduction of promotion and relegation, the USL is not just following a global trend—it’s setting a new standard for professional sports in the United States. The countdown to 2028 has begun, and the next chapter in American soccer history is already taking shape.