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Gateway to Professional Soccer

MEN'S SOCCER

PRO LEAGUES - MLS - USL - NISA

MEN'S SOCCER USA

US Soccer does not organize any leagues themselves. They “only” provide sanctioning to entities to organize leagues, based on specific requirements per division, such as the amount of teams, time zones, stadium, city (media market), ownership value ($) etc. This makes it possible that there are currently three entities offering third division professional men’s soccer in the USA, all with different license fees. 

 

Thre are currently three divisions in professional soccer. They all take place between February/March and October/November. There is no promotion and relegation system, and all entities wotk with licenses that you can purchase (and sell). The latest license fee for a MLS franchise was $500 million (San Diego). This franchise fee was at $20 million 15 years ago. The license value is expected to go up even more looking at the value of some NFL and NBA teams ($3 to 4 billion). With a limited amount of spots open and the demands of the MLS towards ownership, facilities and the city it is extremely difficult to buy in. Rumors are that the MLS will allow a maximum of 36 teams (2×18 teams in two Conferences) in the League, leaving 6 more spots open. The license fee for a USL Championship franchise is between $15-20 million, while the fee for a USL League One franchise is around $5 million.  The franchise fee for NISA is rumoured to be around $500.000.

 

Professional

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS) - PREMIER LEAGUE

The MLS is the only sanctioned league for Division 1 professional soccer. There are currently 29 clubs – 26 USA, 3 Canada – in the MLS. The League operates as a single entity, which means MLS, and not the individual teams, holds the contracts on players. The League is split up in a Western Conference and an Eastern Conference. The league is played between late February and October – The MLS Cup Final is in November.

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES (USL) USL CHAMPIONSHIP - 2nd DIVision

The USL Championship is the only sanctioned league for Division II professional soccer. There were only 8 teams in 2011 but in 2023 there are 24 teams competing. Previously the North American Soccer League (NASL) was sanctioned for 2nd Division as well, but they folded in 2018. Dayton Dutch Lions FC played four years in the USL Championship (from 2011-2014). The league is played between March and October.

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES (USL) USL LEAGUE ONE - 3rd DIVision

Three Leagues are currently sanctioned for Division III professional soccer: USL League One, MLS Next Pro and NISA.. USL League One has 12 clubs in their League.  The league runs from late March to the beginning of October.

MLS NEXT PRO - 3RD DIVision

Three Leagues are currently sanctioned for Division III professional soccer: USL League One, MLS Next Pro and NISA.. MLS Next Pro has 29 clubs in their League, that was launched in 2022. The league runs from late March to the beginning of October.

NATIONAL INDEPENDENT SOCCER LEAGUE (NISA) - 3RD DIVision

Three Leagues are currently sanctioned for Division III professional soccer: USL League One, MLS Next Pro and NISA.. NISA has 9 clubs. The league runs from late March to the beginning of October.

amateur

UNTED SOCCER LEAGUES LEAGUE TWO (USL2) - 4th DIVISION

USL League 2 (122 teams) is recognized as the highest amateur level and considered the 4th division in US Soccer, and in practical terms as playing at a higher level as both USL2 and NPSL are considered national leagues and receive more automatic berths to the US Open Cup than the total given to all the regional leagues and the state leagues. The USL2 season runs from the beginning of May to mid July.

National premier soccer league (npsl) - 4th DIVision

NPSL (92 teams) is recognized as the hghest. amateur level and (also) considered 4th division in US Soccer, and in practical terms as playing at a higher level as both are considered national leagues and receive more automatic berths to the US Open Cup than the total given to all the regional leagues and the state leagues. The NPSL season runs from the beginning of May to mid July.

United premer soccer league (upsl) - 5th DIVision

The UPSL (appr. 400 teams) is unofficially considered the 5th tier in US Soccer. The seasons can run longer than just the summer months based on what teams in their Conference agree on. Teams from both leagues can enter the qualifying rounds for the US Open Cup.

USASA ELITE AMATEUR LEAGUES - 5th division

The USASA Elite Amateur Leagues (15 State and Regional Leagues) is unofficially considered the 5th tier in US Soccer. The seasons can run longer than just the summer months based on what teams in their Conference agree on. Teams from both leagues can enter the qualifying rounds for the US Open Cup.

COLLEGE SOCCER - NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA

College soccer is (still) considered the top level for players in the USA between 18-22 years old. College soccer is not governed by FIFA, Concacaf or US Soccer. It is regulated by one of the sports regulatory bodies – the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association. of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the National Junior College. Athletic Association (NJCAA). NCAA has three divisions. D1 is the top level, and has 201 men’s teams and 315 women’s teams. The season runs from August to November.