USL Championship
 | |
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Most championships | Cups: Louisville City (2) Shields: Orlando City (2) |
| Website | Official Site |
The USL Championship (also known as USLC) is a professional soccer league for men in the United States. It started in 2011 and is the second-best level of professional soccer in the country, just below Major League Soccer.
The league is managed by the United Soccer League, and their main office is in Tampa, Florida. The USL Championship was created by combining two smaller leagues, USL First Division (USL-1) and USL Second Division (USL-2), after the 2010 season.
This combination happened because neither USL-1 nor the North American Soccer League (NASL) were officially recognized as Division II leagues by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). They had to play in a temporary league called USSF Division 2 Pro League for a while. The goal of putting these leagues together was to make the overall soccer situation better in the United States. They thought it would make soccer more stable and popular.
Teams
These teams below played in the USL Championships during the 2023 season.[1]
| Team | Location | Stadium | Size | Created | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
| Birmingham Legion FC | Birmingham, Alabama | Protective Stadium[lower-roman 1] | 47,100 | 2017 | 2019 |  Tom Soehn |
| Brooklyn FC | Brooklyn, New York | Maimonides Park | 7,000 | 2023 | 2026 | Marlon LeBlanc|- |
| Charleston Battery | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina | Patriots Point Soccer Complex[lower-roman 2] | 3,900 | 1993 | 2011 | Ben Pirmann |
| Detroit City FC | Hamtramck, Michigan | Keyworth Stadium[lower-roman 1] | 7,933 | 2012 | 2022 |  Trevor James |
| Hartford Athletic | Hartford, Connecticut | Trinity Health Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 5,500 | 2018 | 2019 | Omid Namazi |
| Indy Eleven | Indianapolis, Indiana | Carroll Stadium[lower-roman 1] | 10,524 | 2013 | 2018 | Mark Lowry |
| Sporting Club Jacksonville | Jacksonville, Florida | Hodges Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 12,000 | 2022 | 2026 |  Liam Fox |
| Loudoun United FC | Leesburg, Virginia | Segra Field[lower-roman 2] | 5,000 | 2018 | 2019 | Ryan Martin |
| Louisville City FC | Louisville, Kentucky | Lynn Family Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 11,700 | 2014 | 2015 | Danny Cruz |
| Miami FC | University Park, Florida | Pittbull Stadium[lower-roman 1] | 20,000 | 2015 | 2020 | Lewis Neal (interim) |
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Highmark Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 5,000 | 1998 | 2011 | Bob Lilley |
| Rhode Island FC | Pawtucket, Rhode Island[lower-roman 3] | Centreville Bank Stadium[lower-roman 2][2] | 5,000 | 2019 | 2024[3] |  Khano Smith |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | St. Petersburg, Florida | Al Lang Stadium[lower-roman 4] | 7,227 | 2008 | 2017 | Robbie Neilson |
| Western Conference | ||||||
| Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Weidner Field[lower-roman 2] | 8,000 | 2013 | 2015 |  Stephen Hogan |
| El Paso Locomotive FC | El Paso, Texas | Southwest University Park[lower-roman 4] | 9,500 | 2018 | 2019 | Brian Clarhaut |
| Las Vegas Lights FC | Las Vegas, Nevada | Cashman Field[lower-roman 2] | 9,334 | 2017 | 2018 | .svg.png){kind=small} Isidro Sanchez |
| Lexington SC | Lexington, Kentucky | Lexington SC Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 7,500 | 2021 | 2025 |  Masaki Hemmi |
| Monterey Bay FC | Seaside, California | Cardinale Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 6,000 | 2021 | 2022 | Frank Yallop |
| New Mexico United | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Rio Grande Credit Union Field[lower-roman 4] | 13,500 | 2018 | 2019 | Eric Quill |
| Oakland Roots SC | Oakland, California | Oakland Coliseum[lower-roman 4] | 5,000 | 2018 | 2021 | Noah Delgado |
| Orange County SC | Irvine, California | Championship Soccer Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 5,000 | 2010 | 2011 |  Morten Karlsen (interim) |
| Phoenix Rising FC | Phoenix, Arizona | Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium[lower-roman 2][4] | 10,000 | 2014 |  Juan Guerra | |
| Sacramento Republic FC | Sacramento, California | Heart Health Park[lower-roman 2] | 11,569 | 2012 | 2014 | Mark Briggs |
| San Antonio FC | San Antonio, Texas | Toyota Field[lower-roman 2] | 8,296 | 2016 | Alen Marcina | |
| FC Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Oneok Field[lower-roman 4] | 7,833 | 2013 | 2015 | Blair Gavin |
Expansion teams
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Joining | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlético Dallas[5] | Dallas, Texas | Cotton Bowl | 90,000 | 2024 | 2027 | |
| USL Pro Iowa[6][7] | Des Moines, Iowa | Pro Iowa Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 6,300 | 2022 | TBD[8] | |
| Milwaukee Pro Soccer[9] | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Iron District Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 8,000 | 2022 | TBD | |
| Ozark United FC[10][11] | Rogers, Arkansas | TBD | 5,000 | 2023 | 2027 | |
| Reno Pro Soccer[12] | Reno, Nevada | TBD | 6,000 | 2025 | 2027 | |
| Santa Barbara Sky FC[13] | Santa Barbara, California | Harder Stadium[lower-roman 2] | 17,000 | 2023 | 2027 |
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 A stadium where sports other than soccer are played
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 A stadium that is used mostly for soccer.
- ↑ Will play at this stadium until a stadium for the team is built in Pawtucket.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Cite error: The named reference
bpwas used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
Not playing right now
| Club | Location | Stadium | Size | Joined | Last Played | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OKC Energy FC | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Oklahoma City Stadium | 7,500 | 2014 | 2021 | Planned 2028 return, waiting on new stadium [14] |
Former teams
| Club | Location | Stadium | Size | Joined | Last season | MLS partner | Where are they now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua Barracuda FC | St. John's, Antigua | Stanford Cricket Ground | 5,000 | 2011 | 2013 | None | Folded |
| Atlanta United 2 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Fifth Third Bank Stadium | 8,318 | 2018 | 2022 | Atlanta United | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Austin Bold FC | Austin, Texas | Circuit of the Americas | 5,000 | 2017 | 2021 | None | Folded |
| Austin Aztex | Austin, Texas | House Park | 6,500 | 2015 | Columbus Crew SC | Folded | |
| Charlotte Eagles | Charlotte, North Carolina | Dickson Field | 5,006 | 2011 | 2014 | None | Moved to Premier Development League[lower-roman 1] |
| Charlotte Independence | Charlotte, North Carolina | Memorial Stadium | 10,500 | 2014 | 2021 | None | Moved to USL League One[15] |
| FC Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | Nippert Stadium | 33,800 | 2015 | 2018 | None | Moved to Major League Soccer |
| Dayton Dutch Lions | West Carrollton, Ohio | DOC Stadium | 3,000 | 2011 | 2014 | Columbus Crew SC | Moved to Premier Development League[lower-roman 1] |
| FC Montreal | Montreal, Quebec | Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard | 3,500 | 2015 | 2016 | Montreal Impact | Folded by MLS parent club |
| F.C. New York | Queens, New York | Belson Stadium | 2,168 | 2011 | None | Moved to National Premier Soccer League | |
| Fresno FC | Fresno, California | Chukchansi Park | 12,500 | 2017 | 2019 | None | Relocated to Monterey County, California, became Monterey Bay FC |
| LA Galaxy II | Carson, California | Dignity Health Sports Park | 10,000 | 2014 | 2022 | LA Galaxy | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Nashville SC | Nashville, Tennessee | First Tennessee Park | 10,000 | 2016 | 2019 | None | Moved to Major League Soccer |
| New York Red Bulls II | Montclair, New Jersey | MSU Soccer Park | 5,000 | 2015 | 2022 | New York Red Bulls | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Memphis 901 FC | Memphis, Tennessee | AutoZone Park[lower-roman 2] | 10,000 | 2018 | 2025 | None | Folded |
| North Carolina FC | Cary, North Carolina | Sahlen's Stadium | 10,000 | 2018 | 2025 | None | On break, wanting to join USL Division One[16] |
| Orlando City B | Orlando, Florida | Orlando City Stadium | 3,500 | 2016 | 2017 | Orlando City SC | Moved to USL League One[17] |
| Orlando City SC | Bay Lake, Florida | ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex | 5,500 | 2011 | 2014 | Sporting Kansas City | Moved to Major League Soccer; USL rights transferred to Louisville |
| Ottawa Fury FC | Ottawa, Ontario | TD Place Stadium | 24,000 | 2017 | 2019 | Montreal Impact | Folded; USL rights transferred to Miami[18] |
| Penn FC | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | FNB Field | 6,187 | 2011 | 2018 | None | Folded |
| Philadelphia Union II | Chester, Pennsylvania | Subaru Park | 18,500 | 2015 | 2020 | Philadelphia Union | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Phoenix FC | Tempe, Arizona | Sun Devil Soccer Stadium | 3,400 | 2013 | None | Folded; replaced by Arizona United SC[lower-roman 3] | |
| Portland Timbers 2 | Hillsboro, Oregon | Hillsboro Stadium | 7,600 | 2015 | 2020 | Portland Timbers | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Puerto Rico United[lower-roman 4] | Aguada, Puerto Rico | Aguada Stadium | 4,000 | 2011 | None | Moved to Liga Nacional (PR) | |
| Real Monarchs | Herriman, Utah | Zions Bank Stadium[lower-roman 5] | 5,000 | 2015 | 2021 | Real Salt Lake | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Reno 1868 FC | Reno, Nevada | Greater Nevada Field[lower-roman 6] | 9,013 | 2017 | 2020 | San Jose Earthquakes | Folded |
| Rio Grande Valley FC | Edinburg, Texas | H-E-B Park[lower-roman 7] | 9,400 | 2015 | 2023 | None | Folded |
| River Plate Puerto Rico[lower-roman 4] | Fajardo, Puerto Rico | Roberto Clemente Stadium | 12,500 | 2011 | None | Moved to Puerto Rico Soccer League | |
| Richmond Kickers | Richmond, Virginia | City Stadium | 22,000 | 2011 | 2018 | D.C. United | Moved to USL League One |
| Rochester Rhinos | Rochester, New York | Marina Auto Stadium | 13,768 | 2011 | 2017 | New England Revolution | Moved to MLS Next Pro[19] |
| Saint Louis FC | Fenton, Missouri | West Community Stadium[lower-roman 5] | 5,500 | 2014 | 2020 | None | Folded |
| San Diego Loyal SC | San Diego, California | Torero Stadium | 6,000 | 2020 | 2023 | None | Folded |
| Sevilla Puerto Rico[lower-roman 4] | Juncos, Puerto Rico | Josué Elevadito González Stadium | 2,500 | 2011 | None | Moved to Liga Nacional (PR) | |
| Sporting Kansas City II | Kansas City, Kansas | Children's Mercy Park[lower-roman 5] | 18,467 | 2016 | 2021 | Sporting Kansas City | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Tacoma Defiance | Tacoma, Washington | Cheney Stadium[lower-roman 6] | 6,500 | 2015 | 2021 | Seattle Sounders FC | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| Toronto FC II | Toronto, Ontario | Lamport Stadium | 9,600 | 2014 | 2018 | Toronto FC | Moved to USL League One |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Thunderbird Stadium | 3,500 | 2015 | 2017 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Moved to MLS Next Pro |
| VSI Tampa Bay FC | Plant City, Florida | Plant City Stadium | 6,700 | 2013 | 2013 | None | Folded |
| Wilmington Hammerheads FC | Wilmington, North Carolina | Legion Stadium | 6,000 | 2011 | 2016 | Toronto FC & New York City FC | Moved to PDL[lower-roman 1] |
- 1 2 3 Known as USL League Two (USL2) since the 2019 season
- ↑ Baseball park
- ↑ Renamed as Phoenix Rising FC in 2016.
- 1 2 3 Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico tried to play in the USL's first season but had money problems after joining the league had to leave the league.
- 1 2 3 Soccer specific stadium
- 1 2 Baseball park
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
sswas used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
Timeline
Before MLS second teams left
‡ Puerto Rico clubs Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico began play in the league, but in May 2011 United Soccer Leagues announced that the teams would not finish the season due to financial difficulties.[20]
After MLS second teams left
References
- ↑ "USL Championship announces 2023 alignment, season format". uslchampionship.com. December 20, 2022.
- ↑ "Rhode Island FC Announces Partnership with Bryant University for 2024 USL Championship Season". Rhode Island FC. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Stadium groundbreaking moves Rhode Island toward 2024 debut in USL Championship". USL. August 12, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Phoenix Rising FC stadium to be moved to east side of Phoenix". Soccer Stadium Digest. November 16, 2022.
- ↑ Staff, USLSoccer com (2024-11-19). "United Soccer League welcomes USL Dallas to the USL Championship". USL Championship. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ "United Soccer League Welcomes Pro Iowa to USL Championship". USLChampionship.com Staff. January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ↑ Jett, Tyler (January 27, 2022). "USL Championship awards long-sought pro soccer franchise to Des Moines' Krause Group". Des Moines Register. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ↑ "Pro Iowa Stadium, Global Plaza completion and first kick confirmed for 2025". Pro Iowa. June 6, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ↑ "Kacmarcik Enterprises and Milwaukee Pro Soccer Agree to Join USL Championship in 2025, Bringing Highest Level of Pro Soccer in Wisconsin to Iron District in 2025". Milwaukee Pro Soccer. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ USLChampionship com Staff (2023-07-12). "Professional Soccer Landing in Northwest Arkansas". USL Championship. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
- ↑ "Pro soccer teams coming to Northwest Arkansas | What to know". 5newsonline.com. July 12, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
- ↑ Krajewski, Jim. "Reno officially lands USL soccer team. Stadium renderings unveiled". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ Bogert, Tom (2024-11-13). "USL Championship's Memphis 901 FC to transfer rights to Santa Barbara: Sources". GiveMeSport. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ "Club Statement From Energy FC". OKC Energy FC. November 18, 2022. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Charlotte Independence to Compete in USL League One Starting in 2022". USLLeagueOne.com Staff. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ↑ "NCFC won't play USL Championship next season". ESPN.com. 2025-11-04. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ Staff, USL DIII (September 6, 2018). "Orlando City B Becomes USL Division III Founding Member". Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- ↑ "The Miami FC Joins the USL Championship". miamifc.com. December 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Jamie Vardy: Leicester City striker becomes co-owner of American football club Rochester Rhinos". Sky Sports. June 15, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ↑ "USL reforms Agreement with PRSL". United Soccer Leagues. May 10, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.