The USL, and US soccer generally, will need flexibility from the USSF if it is to grow in more soccer communities throughout the country and include things like community-owned and member-run clubs and teams in smaller cities – probably not something that’s possible in a D-I league where an ownership must have a combined net worth of $70m, with at least one principal owner worth $40m or more.
The way pro soccer is organized in the US, with closed leagues and new teams only able to arrive via expansion, means the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) sanctions league tiers based on requirements set out in the PLS.
McDonough was speaking ahead of last week’s announcement that USL plans to launch a men’s Division I league in 2027 which would see it operate a top-tier competition parallel to Major League Soccer.
The USL has toyed with this in the past, and already has leagues at Division II (the USL Championship), Division III (League One), and regional semi-pro levels (League Two).
Making these games available via channels fans already subscribe to for other sports and soccer leagues around the globe, and on similar channels internationally, would be useful, and a marked contrast to MLS’s current deal with Apple that sees the vast majority of its games live behind a paywall for a broadcaster with few other live sports on offer.
