The US soccer model is currently missing a bit of spark. The soccer model is different from any soccer model used in Europe as it lacks a system of promotion and relegation. The U.S. Soccer Federation is the governing body that approves any professional league. Currently, the leagues are divided into three main divisions: MLS (Division 1), USL Championship (Division 2), and USL League One, National Independent Soccer Association, and MLS Next Pro (Division 3). The USL Championship president recently expressed his opinion on the concept of promotion and relegation contemplating a shift to the European soccer model.

The USL Championship is working to bring the relegation and promotion concept to their division. The introduction of this concept will not only make the league more interesting but also find its relevance rooted in the history of soccer. As the President of the USL Championship stated work is underway.

Promotion/Relegation: A much-needed addition to the current model

With the popularity growing among soccer fans in the US the leagues and associations have also started to focus more on what’s missing in their league. The owners want to take their leagues to the highest level keeping a match with their European counterparts. Though this will take a long time to fruition, the President of the USL Championship states they have started to contemplate the idea of bringing it into their league.

The President of USL Championship, Jeremy Alumbaugh, talks about the potential addition of the concept as he said, “Promotion/Relegation is a hot topic, and it gains a lot of interest from media, from fans, from people all over, and rightfully so. It’s got everything, it’s got drama, it’s got storylines, it has a lot of things that a lot of places can experience.”

Alumbaugh further added, “At the same time, it’s complicated. There’s a lot of factors that go into it. There’s a lot of things to consider. So, we’re going to spend time [last month] talking about those things.”

USL Championship President Jeremy Alumbaugh on potentially adding promotion and relegation to USL:

“Pro/Rel is a hot topic, and it gains a lot of interest from media, from fans, from people all over, and rightfully so. It’s got everything, it’s got drama, it’s got storylines, it…

— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) September 29, 2023

It sure is a complicated process, for a country that has just started to witness a surge in soccer fans and enthusiasm. Hence, it will take time for the thought to take flight.

But why was the concept never introduced in the first place? We know what makes it challenging to inscribe such an idea now but wasn’t there ever a thought put to it?

Will there ever be a change in the U.S. Soccer model?

Just a few decades ago, the United States found itself at a crossroads when it came to professional soccer. The game struggled to find footing in a nation laden with other sports. That’s when Major League Soccer (MLS) decided to take a bold step by introducing a unique single-entity business model for its teams – a game-changer.

Over the past 20 years, this innovative approach has been the catalyst for the remarkable growth of MLS. What started with a modest 10 teams has now bloomed into a robust league with 29 teams, and there’s no sign of slowing down. Yet, amidst all this progress, there’s a conspicuous absence in the U.S. Soccer model – the concept of promotion and relegation.

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Why the hesitation? Well, introducing promotion and relegation in American soccer isn’t as simple as kicking a ball into a net. It would necessitate not only a fundamental shift in MLS’s business model but also a mandate and implementation from U.S. Soccer, the sport’s governing body.

So, while the idea of promotion and relegation is the norm in soccer leagues around the globe, it remains a hotly debated and elusive dream within the American soccer sphere. Do you think U.S. Soccer will ever introduce the concept of promotion and relegation? Let us know in the comments below.