The System
For nearly 25 years USL has successfully evolved and navigated a dynamic and expanding soccer market in North America. USL, by virtue of its system of soccer leagues, offers the most extensive footprint of elite level soccer in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
USL’s business model presents a unique characteristic to the USL brand; providing as the only organization offering a vertically integrated system of soccer leagues in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean ranging from the elite youth to the professional level. Additionally, USL provides a variety of business models through its various league levels for every type of investor and market size. Each From Brooklyn to Seattle in the U.S., Vancouver to Quebec City in Canada, and Hamilton to Bayamon in the Caribbean, USL provides a soccer entertainment experience for avid fans and families across a variety of cities and towns across North America.
In its third decade of operation, after being founded in 1986, United Soccer Leagues continues to grow in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean. The largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community. This vision and commitment to develop a soccer nation by fans, investors, administrators, coaches, and players has created the foundation for the growth of the sport, while presenting affordable, exciting family entertainment in over 100 cities and towns on the continent.
USL First Division
Exceptional competitive soccer lives in the USL First Division, USL’s highest level of professional soccer in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean. The 2009 campaign features an 11-team format playing 30 regular season matches, 15 home and 15 away. The USL First Division schedule is augmented by participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, Nutrilite Canadian Championship, and various domestic and international exhibitions. In 2009, Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC New York were respectively named the 12th and 13th teams of the USL First Division. The development of stadiums and world-class players from over 35 countries provides affordable family entertainment for over one million fans each year.
USL Second Division
One level below the USL First Division lives in the USL Second Division, the foundation of professional soccer in the United States. The 2009 campaign features a 9-team format playing a regional schedule consisting of 20 regular season matches, 10 home and 10 away. The USL Second Division schedule is augmented by participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and various exhibitions. USL Second Division Conferences in the West and Midwest will be developed in 2011. The league is the birthplace of professional players that aspire to reach the highest levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city.
USL Premier Development League
The top U23 men’s league in North America lives in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the development ground for elite players. The 2009 campaign features 68 amateur and professional teams within four conferences, consisting of 16 regular season matches, 8 home and 8 away. The schedule is augmented by participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and various exhibitions. Players enrolled in colleges or universities have the ability to compete on amateur-based PDL teams throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city.
USL W-League
Exceptional competitive women’s soccer lives in the USL W-League, USL’s highest level of women’s soccer in the US and Canada. The 2009 campaign features 37 amateur and professional teams within three conferences playing 12 or 14 regular season matches. Players enrolled in colleges or universities have the ability to compete on amateur-based W-League teams throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is recognized throughout the world for providing elite competition for women’s players, while providing affordable family entertainment to many fans in each of the team locations.
USL Super-20 League
The only U20 men’s and women’s North American amateur league lives in the USL Super-20 League. Created in 2006, the league provides the opportunity for the top 17-20 year olds to compete in high-level competition, as well as affords the opportunity for Premier Development League and W-League clubs to establish a reserve team system. The 2009 campaign features nearly 80 teams competing in four conferences, consisting of 8-10 regular season matches throughout the summer months. Many clubs within the various USL leagues, Major League Soccer, and established premier youth clubs field USL Super-20 League teams.
USL Super Y-League
The future of soccer lives in the USL Super Y-League, a professionalized youth academy system that is the first step for developing elite youth soccer players in North America. Affiliated with US Soccer, the league is designed for talented youth players destined for professional or international careers. The league contains the youth academies of USL First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League, W-League, and Major League Soccer clubs, as well as many of the established premier youth clubs. Through Olympic Development Program status events such as the North American Finals and National ODP Camps, the nation’s top players are identified for selection to US National Team Programs. The 2009 campaign features over 485 teams within the U13 – U17 boys and girls age groups competing within 10 geographic divisions of the U.S. and Canada.
