{"id":782964,"date":"2026-07-25T02:37:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T02:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/782964\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T02:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T02:37:13","slug":"about-the-professional-leagues-in-the-united-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/782964\/","title":{"rendered":"About the Professional Leagues in the United States"},"content":{"rendered":"

I go into a mild depression right after the World Cup ends. It\u2019s the tournament that turned me on to the Beautiful Game. I love International Soccer for all of the chaos it brings. But; over the last 8 years I\u2019ve learned one thing about the game, Soccer never stops. It pauses here and there, but there is so much Soccer to root for here in the good ole\u2019 USA. It also desperately needs support.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about the domestic options on the Men\u2019s side for professional soccer in here in the US.<\/p>\n

Major League Soccer<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a podcast called \u201c25 Stories that Made MLS<\/a>\u201d that explains the early days of Major League Soccer. It\u2019s fascinating stuff. After the 1994 World Cup, MLS was set to kick-off in an attempt to create a first Division of soccer here in the US in 1995. The project almost died several times and the brothers break down how it survived in those early years. Early MLS stories are some of the best stories we have to offer the Soccer world and I\u2019ve always enjoyed that aspect of it.<\/p>\n

The pros for supporting MLS are many. They are getting better and better at developing young players in the US. The academies are still young, but they are starting to deliver quality that we\u2019ve never exported out of the Country. The young players\u2019 need the domestic support to grow in their careers and more eyeballs on the American game only helps them develop. The stadiums are also fantastic. There are so many good Soccer-specific stadiums across the Country in MLS now. Stadiums like Kansas City, FC Dallas, Alliance Field, and so many more, are legitimate Soccer destinations in the Country. Then throw in the chance to see legitimate stars like Messi, Sonny, Lewandowski, and Antoine Greizmann.<\/p>\n

Another pro for supporting is the parity of the league. People that support mostly MLS on the club level have a pretty good point here. In the Top 5 Leagues in Europe, you see the same clubs winning over and over and go on dominate runs. The chances of Man City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern, etc. winning the league is quite high. In MLS, 10 different Clubs have won the cup in the last 15 years. So the wealth is spread as far as title winning goes. The playoffs include a Wild Card round which is just one game and done. Then a first round that is a best-of-three series, and then single elimination from the Conference Finals through the MLS Cup final. In that format, anything could happen and as Soccer fans know, the best team doesn\u2019t always win 100% of the games.<\/p>\n

Plenty to root for there.<\/p>\n

For me, I do not actively support MLS. After the 2010 World Cup, I fell in love with Premier League soccer. While I do not particularly like the term \u201cEurosnob\u201d \u2013 especially since I actively support Lower Division soccer in this Country \u2013 I mainly follow European leagues and thus can be labeled a Eurosnob. But all that\u2019s to say that I do not like supporting MLS because it is a closed system.<\/p>\n

A closed system (meaning no promotion\/relegation) was essential for the survival of that league as they started, but the fact that they are not working towards aligning with the rest of the world (except Mexico now) in that capacity, is a detriment to the National Team\u2019s progress. How many players get discovered during promotion campaigns abroad? Entire rosters\u2019 get a crack at the next level to prove themselves. How cool is that?<\/p>\n

The kids that play MLSNext Pro, which MLS is attempting to stand up as a farm system ala MLB, do not have that opportunity unless someone at the gate chooses them to walk through it. If MLS is keen on poo-poo-ing the US Open Cup, how about a cup competition that allows their youth system to play up a level? (I\u2019m also pro MLSNP teams in the Open Cup\u2026).<\/p>\n

America has produced some great leagues, but let\u2019s be honest, there\u2019s so many games at the end of the season that are meaningless. Going to see two teams well outside the playoff hunt play for nothing is never a good viewing experience. Whereas watching relegation battles are just as entertaining as watching Title runs.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t enjoy the fact that a lot of the same Ownership names you hear in MLS are the same names you hear in NFL. Another professional game, where families are priced out of tickets, concessions cost a fortune, and there\u2019s no relegation scare to light a fire under an Owner\u2019s ass to improve the product on the field. It\u2019s always a bit ironic to me that in a country that prides itself on being capitalistic in nature – where the strong survive \u2013 that we feel the need to protect the financial interest of MLS Owners. But; I\u2019m just a millennial standing on a soapbox here so don\u2019t let me sour you on anything. Anyone watching any domestic soccer is a good thing for the sport.<\/p>\n

But while you\u2019re here, let\u2019s talk about the other option here.<\/p>\n

United Soccer League<\/p>\n

United Soccer League has quickly gone from upstart, tiny, and unorganized league to serious player in the Professional soccer space. They have a US-Sanction 2nd division league (USL Championship), 3rd division league (USL League One), and 4th division league (USL League Two). They are actively building their 1st division (USL Premier League) and are targeting a 2027-2028 launch. Technically \u2013 being a 1st division league would put them at the same level as MLS. But, there is certainly a quality gap between the two leagues (although there are lots of lots of ballers in USL). At the time that this league launchings, the USL system will simultaneously implement a promotion and relegation system within their first 3 divisions.<\/p>\n

Of course \u2013 there are some skeptics for this plan. First of all, it\u2019s tough for USL Championship and USL League One teams to make money. Average attendance in the Championship is 5.5K and in League One it is about 3k. The league seems to generate buzz online in the soccer space but outside of a few teams, people aren\u2019t supporting like they need to in order for clubs to be profitable.<\/p>\n

While there are plenty of issues to be ironed out in the USL Headquarters \u2013 check out my interview with the USL PA Executive Director Connor Tobin for more on this<\/a> \u2013 I am a USL supporter. I love the grit that you see on the fields at the USL level. I love that league has matured and players\u2019 minimum salary has been raised to $34k and $42k but if the league is to survive long term, it needs more support so that players\u2019 can be paid a wage that won\u2019t let them leave soccer too young. Maybe USL can start sharing more of those expansion fees\u2026(which is a whole other issue with USL).<\/p>\n

All of that to say. There are some really freakin\u2019 cool projects in the USL space. AC Boise<\/a> selling out their brand new stadium (converted old horse track grandstands), Pittsburgh Riverhounds building a new stadium in preparation for Division 1, New York Cosmos<\/a> (or I should say Paterson Cosmos) playing in an century old refurbished stadium, and so many more. I love the size of the cities that are entering USL and doing well, and they are untapped markets from a National Team perspective. More professional soccer in the Country is important. Full stop.<\/p>\n

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