With the 2026 USL season starting Saturday, players may strike if no new CBA is reached, though the USLPA has not officially called a strike.<\/p>\n
SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014 With the 2026 USL Championship season set to begin this weekend, players have authorized their union to call a strike if a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league is not reached.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the USL Players Association (USLPA)<\/a> clarified that no strike has been officially authorized at this time.\u00a0<\/p>\n ABC10 has reached out to Sacramento Republic FC and has not received a response; however, opening night remains on schedule as both sides continue to negotiate. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPlayers did last week authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike if they deem it appropriate,\u201d the USLPA told ABC10. \u201cAs it stands right now, the USLPA has NOT authorized a strike.\u201d<\/p>\n The union vote followed ongoing negotiations with the league that began in August 2024<\/a>; the previous CBA expired on December 31, 2025. The most recent bargaining session included a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.<\/p>\n
Several major issues<\/a> remain under discussion:<\/p>\n Contract Length: Players and the league have tentatively agreed to 12-month contracts, up from 10 months in the previous CBA.<\/p>\n Compensation: Low-tier players previously earned $26,000 to $31,000 per season. The league has proposed an increase to about $38,000, while the union is seeking roughly $43,400. These figures do not include bonuses or health insurance.<\/p>\n Health Insurance: The union wants a standardized health insurance plan across all teams, while the league prefers individual club discretion.<\/p>\n Buyouts: The league has proposed allowing teams up to three unilateral contract buyouts over two years, paying a portion of a player\u2019s salary. The union opposes this approach.<\/p>\n Player Licensing: The union is seeking higher payments for player image and likeness rights, requesting approximately $600,000, compared with the league\u2019s offer of $125,000.<\/p>\n Other areas of negotiation include expanded professional standards covering housing, travel, team meals, medical staffing, and training facilities.<\/p>\n The USL emphasized that it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement. \u201cWe have been negotiating in good faith with the USLPA for more than a year and remain committed to reaching a fair and sustainable collective bargaining agreement,\u201d the league told ESPN.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nKey Issues in Negotiations <\/p>\n