The USL Championship stands as America’s premier Division II professional soccer league, representing a cornerstone of the United States soccer pyramid. Over the course of more than thirty years, the league has evolved into North America’s largest professional soccer competition, now featuring 24 teams divided into two conferences.
The USL Championship represents the backbone of professional soccer development in America, combining competitive excellence with sustainable business practices.
From its humble beginnings as a 12-team league to its current status as North America’s largest professional soccer competition, the Championship continues to serve as a vital bridge between amateur and top-tier professional soccer.
With continued expansion planned and record-breaking attendance figures, the league is well-positioned for continued growth and success in the American soccer landscape.
USL Championship History and Evolution
Foundation and Early Years
The USL Championship traces its roots to 1986, when it began as a men’s indoor soccer minor league before expanding into outdoor soccer in 1989. Originally known as the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL), the organization underwent multiple rebranding efforts before settling on its current structure
Modern Era Formation (2011-Present)
The current USL Championship was established in 2011 through the merger of two existing professional leagues, designed to ensure long-term stability of professional soccer in North America.
The inaugural season featured 12 teams divided into two six-team divisions, with founding members including storied franchises like Charleston Battery, Harrisburg City Islanders (now Penn FC), Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Richmond Kickers, and Rochester Rhinos.
The league’s first match took place on April 2, 2011, at City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia, where Richmond Kickers defeated Orlando City 1-1, with Stanley Nyazamba scoring the league’s first goal. Orlando City claimed the inaugural championship that same year.
Growth and Development
Over the past decade, the USL Championship has experienced remarkable expansion, growing from 12 founding teams to 24 active franchises as of 2025. The league received Division II sanctioning from U.S. Soccer in 2017, solidifying its position in American soccer’s hierarchy
Current Teams (2025 Season)
Eastern Conference (12 Teams)
- Birmingham Legion FC (Birmingham, Alabama) – Protective Stadium (47,100 capacity)
- Charleston Battery (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina) – Patriots Point Soccer Complex (3,900 capacity)
- Detroit City FC (Hamtramck, Michigan) – Keyworth Stadium (7,933 capacity)
- Hartford Athletic (Hartford, Connecticut) – Trinity Health Stadium (5,500 capacity)
- Indy Eleven (Indianapolis, Indiana) – Carroll Stadium (10,524 capacity)
- Loudoun United FC (Leesburg, Virginia) – Segra Field (5,000 capacity)
- Louisville City FC (Louisville, Kentucky) – Lynn Family Stadium (15,304 capacity)
- Miami FC (University Park, Florida) – Pitbull Stadium (20,000 capacity)
- North Carolina FC (Cary, North Carolina) – WakeMed Soccer Park (10,000 capacity)
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) – Highmark Stadium (5,000 capacity)
- Rhode Island FC (Pawtucket, Rhode Island) – Centreville Bank Stadium (10,500 capacity)
- Tampa Bay Rowdies (St. Petersburg, Florida) – Al Lang Stadium (7,227 capacity)
Western Conference (12 Teams)
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (Colorado Springs, Colorado) – Weidner Field (8,000 capacity)
- El Paso Locomotive FC (El Paso, Texas) – Southwest University Park (9,500 capacity)
- FC Tulsa (Tulsa, Oklahoma) – Oneok Field (7,833 capacity)
- Las Vegas Lights FC (Las Vegas, Nevada) – Cashman Field (9,334 capacity)
- Lexington SC (Lexington, Kentucky) – Lexington SC Stadium (7,500 capacity)
- Monterey Bay FC (Seaside, California) – Cardinale Stadium (6,000 capacity)
- New Mexico United (Albuquerque, New Mexico) – Rio Grande Credit Union Field (13,500 capacity)
- Oakland Roots SC (Oakland, California) – Oakland Coliseum (15,000 capacity)
- Orange County SC (Irvine, California) – Championship Soccer Stadium (5,000 capacity)
- Phoenix Rising FC (Phoenix, Arizona) – Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium (10,000 capacity)
- Sacramento Republic FC (Sacramento, California) – Heart Health Park (11,569 capacity)
- San Antonio FC (San Antonio, Texas) – Toyota Field (8,296 capacity)
Future Expansion
Several clubs are set to join the league through 2027:
- Brooklyn FC (2026)
- Sporting Club Jacksonville (2026)
- Santa Barbara Sky FC (2026)
- Buffalo Pro Soccer (2027)
- Atlético Dallas (2027)
Competition Format
Regular Season Structure
The 2025 season features a 34-game regular season running from March through October, with teams playing a balanced conference schedule.
Each team faces conference opponents twice (home and away), with remaining games against interconference opponents to create variety and national exposure.
Playoff Format
The USL Championship employs a single-elimination playoff system with the top eight teams from each conference qualifying for postseason play.
The playoffs culminate in the USL Championship Final, typically held in late November, featuring the Eastern and Western Conference champions.
Playoff Structure:
- Conference Quarterfinals: Seeds 1-8 from each conference
- Conference Semifinals: Winners advance with bracket reseeding
- Conference Finals: Determine conference champions
- USL Championship Final: East vs. West champion
Championship History
USL Championship Era Winners (2011-2024)
| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 3-0 | Rhode Island FC | Weidner Field | 8,023 |
| 2023 | Phoenix Rising FC | 1-1 (p) | Charleston Battery | Patriots Point | 5,094 |
| 2022 | San Antonio FC | 3-1 | Louisville City FC | Toyota Field | 8,534 |
| 2021 | Orange County SC | 3-1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Al Lang Stadium | 7,521 |
| 2019 | Real Monarchs SLC | 3-1 | Louisville City FC | Lynn Stadium | 7,025 |
| 2018 | Louisville City FC | 1-0 | Phoenix Rising FC | Lynn Stadium | 7,025 |
| 2017 | Louisville City FC | 1-0 | Swope Park Rangers | Louisville Slugger Field | 14,456 |
| 2016 | New York Red Bulls II | 5-1 | Swope Park Rangers | Red Bull Arena | 5,547 |
| 2015 | Rochester Rhinos | 2-1 (aet) | LA Galaxy II | Sahlen’s Stadium | 5,247 |
| 2014 | Sacramento Republic FC | 2-0 | Harrisburg City Islanders | Bonney Field | 8,000 |
| 2013 | Orlando City | 7-4 | Charlotte Eagles | Citrus Bowl | 20,886 |
| 2012 | Charleston Battery | 1-0 | Wilmington Hammerheads | Blackbaud Stadium | 4,963 |
| 2011 | Orlando City | 2-2 (p) | Harrisburg City Islanders | Citrus Bowl | 11,220 |
- 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Most Successful Clubs
Louisville City FC leads all active clubs with 2 championships (2017, 2018) and 4 final appearances. The defunct Orlando City SC also claimed 2 titles before joining the MLS.
Championship Titles by Club:
- Louisville City FC: 2 titles
- Orlando City SC: 2 titles (inactive)
- All other champions: 1 title each
All-Time Player Records
Career Goal Scoring Leaders
The USL Championship has produced numerous prolific scorers throughout its history. Current and former standouts include:
Top Career Goal Scorers:
- Cameron Lancaster – 80 goals in 166 appearances (113.9 mins/goal)
- Dane Kelly – 106 goals in 251 appearances (150.3 mins/goal)
- Hadji Barry – 79 goals in 152 appearances
- Neco Brett – 81 goals in 201 appearances
- Chandler Hoffman – 66 goals in 148 appearances
Current Season Leaders (2025)
Top Scorers:
- Cal Jennings (Charleston Battery) – 15 goals in 24 games
- Francisco Bonfiglio (Miami FC) – 13 goals in 23 games
- Phillip Goodrum (Louisville City FC) – 12 goals in 21 games
All-Time Appearances and Minutes
Regular Season Appearance Leaders:
- Kenardo Forbes holds the record with 303+ appearances
- Hugh Roberts (Monterey Bay FC) became the all-time minutes leader in 2023, surpassing 21,000 career minutes
Current Active Leaders Approaching Milestones:
- Joe Farrell (Hartford Athletic) – 249 appearances
- Augustine Williams (Pittsburgh Riverhounds) – 248 appearances
Single-Season Records
Goal Scoring Record:
Nick Markanich (Charleston Battery) set the new single-season goal-scoring record in 2024 with 27 goals, breaking the previous mark. His record-breaking 26th goal came against Tampa Bay Rowdies on September 21, 2024.
Assists Leader:
Kenardo Forbes holds the league record for career assists and has earned a record seven USL Championship All-League selections
Goalkeeper Records
Most Career Saves:
- Evan Newton – 573 saves
- Alex Tambakis – 548+ saves (active)
- Brandon Miller – 414 saves
Current Status and Performance
2025 Season Standings Leaders
Eastern Conference: Louisville City FC currently leads with 57 points from 24 games (17-6-1 record)
Western Conference: FC Tulsa tops the standings with 46 points from 24 games
Broadcasting and Media
The USL Championship maintains a national media partnership with ESPN, with all league matches broadcast on ESPN+ and select games on linear channels.
The league operates USL Productions, a state-of-the-art facility that produces over 1,000 matches and 2,000+ hours of original content annually.
League Impact and Development
The USL Championship serves as a crucial development pathway for American soccer, with numerous clubs featuring MLS reserve teams and independent professional franchises.
Several former USL Championship clubs have graduated to MLS, including Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact, Orlando City SC, FC Cincinnati, and Nashville SC.
The league’s sophisticated business model and strong ownership groups have enabled consistent growth, with current club owners holding stakes in teams across major North American sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, and Minor League Baseball.