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Tuesday, 22 Jun 2021
MLS launching new lower-tier league in 2022

Competition hoping to attract new owners and markets ahead of inaugural season. 

  • League to develop young players and bring soccer to cities without a pro team
  • Competition to kick off in late March next year, followed by playoffs in the autumn and championship match in early December
  • Name, logo and participating clubs to be unveiled over the course of 2021

Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced plans to launch a new lower tier professional league in 2022.

The new division will look to develop young players making their way from the MLS Next youth leagues to the professional ranks, in addition to bringing the sport to cities that currently do not have a professional soccer team.

Consisting of a mix of young talent and established professional players, the competition will be made up of MLS club-owned and operated teams, though organisers also hope to attract new owners and markets to join.

In addition, the league aims to give more professional opportunities on the technical and business side of the game, developing new jobs for coaches, referees and executives to become involved in the growth of soccer.

The division will also follow MLS’ commitment to activate programmes as part of the Soccer Upward Mobility initiative to develop talent and create opportunities for individuals from underrepresented groups.

  • USL announces return of the W League from 2022

Consisting of 20 MLS clubs, along with the potential for independently owned teams for the inaugural season in 2022, the league will begin in late March and conclude with playoffs in the autumn, followed by a championship match in early December.

According to The Athletic, the league will seek third division sanctioning.

In the coming months, the division’s leadership team will be hired to oversee the launch and ongoing management of the competition, which will be based in MLS’ New York City headquarters.

Further details, including the league’s name and logo, participating teams and application process for expansion clubs will be unveiled over the course of this year.

“We are excited to launch a new league to complete the professional pathway between our academies and the MLS first teams,” said MLS president and deputy commissioner Mark Abbott (pictured above).

“In addition to providing more opportunities for MLS-calibre players, the new league will develop a diverse talent pool of coaches, referees and front office executives while also attracting fans who previously were unable to support a local club in their hometown.”

The United Soccer League (USL) and USL League One currently operate below top tier MLS. A USL spokesperson said to ESPN: “The more pathways there are for young players across the country, the better. We wish MLS success in their efforts and look forward to continuing our work together to grow the sport of soccer in the United States.”









Transferred From SportsProMedia