Analysis: USL’s ambitions to bring Division One league to US Soccer landscape by 2027-28 is a calculated gamble

File photo courtesy Ed Thompson

In a media release sent on Thursday, United Soccer League (USL) announced a bold plan to add a Division One league to its already growing list of soccer entities in 2027-28.

While the news may have been a surprise to many, especially the timing of the announcement, those who have followed the league and its growth in the past 10 to 15 years, the statement aligns with sentiments league officials have shared for quite some time, especially as they’ve continued to express interest in developing a promotion and relegation system in the U.S. Soccer pyramid.

This is not an impulsive move.  It’s something that the USL been building towards for years.

“Today is a defining moment for the USL and the future of soccer in the United States,” said Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League.

“Creating a Division One league is a bold step forward, expanding access to top-tier competition, deepening the connection between our communities and taking another step in aligning with the structure of the global game. By uniting people through soccer and bringing Division One to more cities, we’re not just growing the sport — we’re creating lasting opportunities while building a more sustainable and vibrant soccer ecosystem in the U.S.”

In Pittsburgh, the question now is, will the Riverhounds SC be one of the teams that will be considered as part of this expansion?

With the club’s impressive growth in a short period of time during the past few seasons, with attendance numbers at an all-time high in 2023 and 2024, and as one of the USL’s longest standing franchises, the Pittsburgh market most certainly would be in leading consideration to be one of the 12 to 14 existing franchises that the USL would look at to begin this endeavor.

USL president and chief soccer officer Paul McDonough told The Guardian on Thursday that the league’s incoming creation is purely for its own ambitions.

“I don’t think of it as a threat to the MLS,” he said. “I think we’re just gonna go and do our business.”

In Thursday’s press release, USL hones in on growing the game in the U.S. as their primary objective, bringing higher level of soccer to many markets where Major League Soccer franchises don’t exist.

“The USL has long been committed to creating a structure that drives growth, opportunity, and long-term success in American soccer,” Papadakis added.

“The USL model empowers clubs with greater autonomy and fosters a dynamic, interconnected system — one that allows them to compete at the highest level while remaining deeply rooted in their communities. Around the world, top-tier clubs thrive in cities of all sizes, and we believe the same is possible here. The demand and infrastructure are in place, and the potential for growth is immense.”

The new league will have to be in compliance with U.S. Soccer’s Division One requirements, which would include:

• 12 teams (minimum)
• Stadium Capacity must be 15,000 or greater
• 75 percent of the clubs located in a large metro area (population exceeding 1 million people)
• In at least three (of the four) times zones in the United States

If existing franchises are going to provide the base of the USL’s step forward into Division One, then they have work to do.  Not too many (only two right now) meet the attendance standards. There are also a handful of the current USL Championship clubs that are not in metro areas that large (Pittsburgh safely fits in with 2.4 million).

The biggest hurdle for the Riverhounds is likely to be its home stadium.   The Hounds currently play at Highmark Stadium, which officially lists capacity at 5,000, but can make room to go a little over 6,000 when including standing room, Suites and other ticket sales.

In an exclusive interview with Pittsburgh Soccer Now, Riverhounds SC president Jeff Garner said that plans are already underway for expansion to Highmark Stadium, but it will be phased over the course of the coming years, with limited seating expansion coming in the early phases.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s Colton Coreschi also aptly pointed out that ownership net worth requirement also doubles, from $20 million to $40 million with move to Division One.  Riverhounds SC are owned by Tuffy Shallenberger, who’s net worth is unknown.

There are a lot of factors that will come into play that may curtail the USL’s ambitious Division One league implementation, but there’s momentum that they’re also counting on as well.

They’re banking on more momentum that the game will have in the U.S. following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The prospect of creating a professional sports system in the United States with promotion and relegation is also enticing and opens up all kinds of possibilities — both exciting and daunting.  Pro/Rel could add more juice and add an element of excitement that’s currently missing from U.S. sports landscape that immediately generates interest and intrigue.  The most daunting challenge will come with logistics that would come into play when clubs are moving up and down — as they’ll have to meet U.S. Soccer’s standards when moving up the ladder.

One thing I can say after Thursday’s announcement — it’s getting real now.  The USL is now officially on the clock.

They’ve been talking this up for years.  Now, we’ll have to wait and see how things progress.  Here in Pittsburgh, could this announcement mean potential expediting Highmark Stadium’s expansion?   As long as attendance and ticket sales continue to stay strong, the need to expand will continue to be an organizational priority.

Bottom line, it’s a calculated gamble by the USL.

We’ll be here watching to see in the coming years if it pays off.