All articles tagged with #usl
Ted Lasso star Cristó Fernández made his U.S. pro soccer debut with El Paso Locomotive FC, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in a 2-0 loss to New Mexico United in a USL Cup match; after signing with El Paso in May following a two-month trial, Fernández spoke about chasing dreams and thanked the club, with a potential guest appearance as Dani Rojas teased for Ted Lasso Season 4.
Amid stalled negotiations ahead of the 2026 season, the USL emailed Championship players with guidance on crossing a potential picket line and resigning from the USL Players’ Association after players authorized a strike. The league says operations can continue under current terms while talks continue, while the USLPA decries the move as union-busting as negotiations, mediated by FMCS, continue.
After hours of bargaining, the USL and its clubs disclosed significant progress toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the USL Players Association, including 12-month compensation, higher minimum salaries (with Division One targets), mandatory health insurance, expanded housing and travel standards, increased medical staffing, stronger injury protections, and a framework for in-season buyouts, with both sides pledging continued negotiations to reach a fair, sustainable deal.
U.S. Soccer and MLS have announced that eight MLS teams and 11 MLS Next Pro teams will participate in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with increased financial incentives and travel reimbursements for participating teams. The tournament will also include lower division teams from USL and NISA. The format will feature 32 amateur clubs and 32 professional teams in the first round, with the winners advancing to subsequent rounds. MLS and U.S. Soccer are working together to enhance the tournament and grow soccer in the country, while USL clubs are committed to participating and treating the tournament with respect.
The United Soccer League (USL) CEO expressed disappointment with the handling of a dispute involving Major League Soccer (MLS) and the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which has caused uncertainty for the tournament's future. The issue arose when MLS announced its first teams wouldn't participate, leading to concerns about the impact on USL teams and the tournament's financial viability. The U.S. Soccer Federation's decision-making process and MLS' scheduling challenges have contributed to the ongoing disagreement, with the exact format for the 2024 tournament yet to be determined.
The 2024 U.S. Open Cup is set to proceed with potential limited MLS participation, causing disappointment among USL clubs and their president, Paul McDonough, who felt blindsided by the uncertainty and lack of leadership from U.S. Soccer. The tournament, which typically includes around 100 men's professional, semi-pro, and amateur clubs, has been marred by a power struggle and financial concerns, leading to potential changes in MLS involvement and the possibility of some USL teams choosing not to participate.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds, a Class AAA soccer team, are becoming a phenomenon, selling out five of their six home games this season and making it to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup. The team is currently second in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship league and has won six straight games. While the USL's single-elimination playoff format makes it difficult to predict if the Riverhounds will win a championship, the team has become a first-class organization and a perennial playoff team under owner Tuffy Shallenberger and coach Bob Lilley.
The USL Super League has announced plans to launch a women's professional league in 2024, with the intention of applying for Division I sanctioning by Sept. 1, 2023. The league hopes to launch with 10-12 teams, with eight initial markets already announced and four more to join in subsequent seasons. The league will differentiate itself from the NWSL by conforming to the international calendar and not having a college draft. Tim Tebow is among the planned team owners.