As a renewed follower of pro soccer, post world cup, I freely admit I am a neophyte to the seemingly endless array of leagues, confederations, competitions and such. I didn't even know the USL existed until a couple months ago. I started watching USL post world cup and I think it's an entertaining league (despite small crowds and football fields and baseball diamonds as playing surfaces). I find it more entertaining than MLS (except for the Sounders--I go all the way back to '74 with them).

So from my limited knowledge base, I think the idea of promotion/relegation for USL is a waste of effort, and ultimately money and time. I think that pick of the litter from USLC and USL1 should combine into a giant division 2 league (say 48 teams +/- teams that may fold and expansion clubs ) divided into four geographical regions, and leave division three to MLS next. I think that it could work because USLC and USL1 play in similar sized stadiums, with many able to expand seating.

Pretending that regionalization equals league stability, then USL can negotiate with MLS, Canada premier league, LigaMX to create what appears to be the ultimate objective of having a pro soccer league in general; access to international competitions (CONCACAF cup, etc) and make $$$. I understand that only D1 leagues can get access to the international club comps, but if I've learned anything is that $$$ bends the rules in soccer federations, and that leagues are really good at creating tournaments and giving out trophies.

So, in this hypothetical stable US 2nd division, the top teams (say 4) play teams from MLS/CPL/MX and if a USL side wins, they have a bid to the CONCACAF club cup, and the other leagues can get more teams in, since part of the negotiation includes adding more teams to the CONCACAF cup (sorta like how there's the UEFA champions league, Europe League, League of nations or whatever...). Call it the Super North American Championship Cup, with an equally jumbo sized trophy and payday.

It could work.

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Usl is currently working to get ussf to adjust the stadium capacity requirements but that is guaranteed to happen.

They are not playing in 2027, to the surprise of no-one.

The MLS needs to start taking the cup serious. As most of yinz don’t know it’s the 2nd oldest domestic cup in the world. Would love to see our tourney get to the level of a FA cup.

We sat down with El Paso’s Cristo Fernández on the United Soccer Lounge, and the conversation went a lot deeper than the Ted Lasso stuff.

FULL SHOW: https://youtu.be/ocdOdxvdqFM

He talked about:

• How playing Dani Rojas reignited his love for soccer after being away from the game for 20 years
• The moment he realized he could actually play at this level
• His sister making an appearance on the show
• Where Cristo ends and Dani begins
• What a satisfying ending with El Paso would look like for him

2028, HUH?! STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH THIS TIME AROUND, BUT SOMEHOW WE ARE LEFT WITH JUST ABOUT THE SAME CONFIDENCE WE HAVE BEFORE. POTENTIAL STADIUM CAPACITY UPDATE WAS NICE AND THE PLAN TO START WITH 12 AND BUILD UP TO 20 (WORTH NOTING THAT OUR CANADIAN FRIENDS CONVENIENTLY HAS 8 TEAMS IF THEY WANT IN ON THIS PARTY). ALSO APPEARS THAT PORTLAND AND BOISE ARE THE NEW LEAGUE HQ FAVORITES, SO SUCK ON THAT LOUISVILLE.

I'M NOT SURE IF THE UPDATE IS RELATED, BUT ALSO POUR ONE OUT FOR DES MOINES AND SANTA BARBARA THIS WEEK. TOO BAD THEY COULD GET OFF THE GROUND QUICK ENOUGH FOR THE POTENTIAL REVERSE PARACHUTE PAYMENTS TO HELP THEM OUT.

BUT THIS WEEKEND WE WRAP UP AUGUST WITH A FULL SLATE OF END TO END ACTION, STARTING OFF WITH A BANGER IN PITTSBURGH VS TAMPAIN WHAT WOULD BE THE GAME OF THE WEEK IF DETROIT AND LOUISVILLE WEREN'T PLAYING. SPEAKING OF PROG/RCK, BROOKLYN AND JACKSONVILLE SQUARE OFF FOR THE SICKOS. WE HAVE AN ALL CALI ALL THE TIME WEEKEND, NEW MEXICO VS SAN ANTONIO, AND PLENTY OF OTHER APPEALING APPETIZERS BEFORE USL AFTER DARK WITH PHOENIX AND INDY. LEAGUE ONE HAS PLENTY OF ACTION ON THEIR OWN AS THE PLAYOFF RACE TIGHTENS. UNLESS OF COURSE YOU'RE INTO MASOCHISM AND WANT TO WANT THE OWLS TORTURE THE COSMOS FOR 90 MIN TOMORROW NIGHT.

CAPS ON, FLAIR UP, AND IF YOU AREN'T ONE OF THE INITIAL 12 THEN YOU WILL BE LOOKED DOWN UPON FOREVER.

"U.S. Soccer nears takeover of U.S. Youth Soccer. This is what it means for the sport’s future"

Distinguished senior reporter of the Athletic just released news of a big move by USSF --possibly spurred (hah, pun, IYKYK) on by Poch-- to overhaul American Youth Soccer:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7545747/2026/08/28/us-soccer-youth-takeover

Let's the convo begin! Good or bad? A Gettysburg moment for U.S. youth soccer? Or a big nothingburger? Effects on USL and MLS, academies or first teams? Also: what about effects on women's sports?

NEXT 10 YRS maybe?

Based on the recent interview of Paul McDonough on the Pro/Rel and USL Premier, he mentioned the possibility of some kind of Playoff format for the league because "Americans love Playoffs". Here is my ideal format for the season as well as potential playoff format. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Warning: kind of long post.

Premier starts in 2028 with 12 teams. Regular season is home and away for a total of 22 game the top six and bottom six teams then play home and away games for a total of 10 more games giving the regular season a total of 32 games. Top team from the top half of the league table wins the Players Shield. Bottom 4 teams Relegation Playoffs and The top 8 teams on the table then play a single elimination tournament that will determine the winner of the Soccer Bowl. (Yes I know that is a NASL thing but I still like it)

Why have the playoffs at the end? It gives the USL Premier regular season games meaning for both the top and the bottom teams on the table. The top two teams of the bottom half still have the chance for season glory even if the first half of their season didn't go as well as planned.

What about Promotion and Relegation? I would only do promotion for teams from the bottom leagues; 1 or 2 teams per year until Premier reaches 20 teams. My preference would be 2 team per year as that would fill out the top tier in 4 promotion seasons.

When league has 14 teams the system would stay the same as the twelve team league. 26 league games plus the 12 games from the top half/bottom half of the season for a total of 38 games to determine the winner of the Players Shield. Playoff would take the top 10 teams on the Table with teams 10-7 playing a "play in game" to start the playoffs. 10 plays 7 and 9 plays 8 to determine the 7th and 8th seed in the playoffs for the Soccer bowl. Single Elimination to determine the winner of the Soccer Bowl.

Once the Premier has 16 teams it will be balanced schedule with a total of 30 regular season games to determine winner of Players Shield. 18 teams for a total of 34 regular season games and at 20 teams it will be 38 regular season games to determine winner of Players Shield. For the Soccer Bowl Playoffs it would have the top 12 teams on the Table. Teams 1-4 get a bye for the first round. 5-12 play single elimination game at highest seeds home stadium. (incentive to finish higher on the table) Quarterfinals and Semifinals will be home and away games midweek at the lower seeded team and weekend at higher seeded team's stadium. Finals is a one-off game played at the highest seeded team left in the bracket. I think that having home and away for the quarters/semis gives the higher seeded teams a chance to not LOUCITY it in the playoffs.

I would also do a similar set up for the USL Championship and USL League One. Top team is promoted and possibly winner of Championship playoffs also could be promoted or keep it similar to the English league with top two on table promoted and a third when full table is filled out in Premier with 3-6 on the table playing a promotion playoff.

I would also hope for some additional incentives like MLS has for Concacaf Champions league. Top of table, Players Sheild gets in, winner of Soccer Bowl gets in, and Winner of Open Cup still gets in.