A lot of soccer careers end after senior year but there are always options for elite players not immediately moving overseas or into Major League Soccer. United Soccer League (USL) is a professional soccer league organization based in the United States and Canada.
The USL is divided into several tiers, including the USL Championship, USL League One and USL League Two. In our second “Soccer After College” feature, here we take a closer look at the USL Championship and USL League One. These are the two main professional leagues sitting under Major League Soccer in the US Soccer Pyramid.
USL Championship:
The USL Championship, formerly known as the United Soccer League, is the top-tier professional soccer league within the USL. The league was founded in 2010, and it currently features 31 teams across North America, including the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
The league operates a single-table format, with the regular season running from March to October, followed by a playoff tournament to determine the league champion. The USL Championship (USLC) is the only USSF-sanctioned Division II men’s outdoor soccer league.
Players in the USL Championship can join teams in several ways. Some players are signed directly to the team’s roster, while others are loaned from Major League Soccer (MLS) teams or international clubs. Many players in the league also come from the college soccer system, with players often joining the league after completing their college careers.
Additionally, most teams hold annual open tryouts, which provide an opportunity for players without a professional contract to showcase their skills in front of team coaches and scouts.
USL Championship has seen significant growth and development in recent years, with several expansion teams joining the league, including Austin Bold FC, Memphis 901 FC, and New Mexico United. The league has also attracted many high-profile players, including former Premier League stars Didier Drogba and Joe Cole, as well as several former USMNT players.
USL League One:
USL League One, is a professional soccer league and the second tier of the USL system. The league was founded in 2017, and it currently features 12 teams across North America, including the United States and Canada. The league operates a single-table format, with the regular season running from March to October, followed by a playoff tournament to determine the league champion. USL League One is one of three USSF-sanctioned Division III men’s outdoor soccer leagues alongside MLS Next Pro and NISA (National Independent Soccer Association)
USL League One is a relatively new league, but it has already made significant strides in developing young players and providing a pathway for them to reach higher levels of professional soccer. The league has a focus on developing local talent and providing opportunities for players to showcase their skills in front of scouts from higher-level leagues.
USL Championship vs. USL League One:
The USL Championship and USL League One are both professional soccer leagues within the USL, but they differ in several key ways. The USL Championship is the top-tier league, with a higher level of competition and more established teams and players. The league also has a larger fan base and higher attendance figures.
USL League One, on the other hand, is a newer league that focuses on developing young players and providing opportunities for players to establish a pro career and showcase their skills. The league has a smaller number of teams and a smaller fan base, but it provides a more accessible entry point into professional soccer for many young players.
Conclusion:
The USL Championship and USL League One are both important professional soccer leagues within the USL system. While the USL Championship is the more established and higher-level league, USL League One provides a valuable pathway for young players to develop their skills and potentially move up to higher levels of professional soccer. With many players joining the league from the college soccer system, both leagues are likely to continue to be important in developing the next generation of professional soccer players in North America.
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