Soccer in the United States has experienced steady growth during recent decades, developing from a small environment to an active one, from the tiny local youth leagues to the renowned Major League Soccer. The US soccer pyramid is thus an organized structure for all different professional, semi-professional, and amateur leagues in the country. The US soccer pyramid, however, does not keep a system of promotion and relegation, like the European soccer system. This setup, coupled with ongoing work by the U.S. Soccer, aims to develop the sport from top to bottom.
US Soccer Pyramid Explained
The following is the order of the major soccer leagues for men in the United States.
- Professional 1st Division
- Professional 2nd Division
- Professional 3rd Division:
- Semi-Professional/ High-level Amateur 4th Division
- Other lower-level Amateur Leagues
- Recreational Games
Major League Soccer is in the top of US soccer pyramid. It is considered the first division league in the United States. MLS is the top-flight professional league in the country and has big international stars like Lionel Messi. The leagues below MLS are the United Soccer League (USL) Championship and USL League One, the professional soccer’s second and third divisions league. While they might still fit into that overall US soccer pyramid, there is no avenue for promotion or relegation from USL clubs to MLS. Many soccer fans argue that this system causes a serious hindrance to developing the sport in USA.
The fourth tier comprises the highest level of amateur leagues: USL League Two, the National Premier Soccer League, and the United Premier Soccer League. These leagues are the breeding grounds for young talented players, helping to bridge the gap from youth academies onto professional teams. In addition, U.S. Soccer organizes youth soccer league around leagues like the MLS Next to further develop the country’s best youth players in a competitive environment.
Where women’s soccer is concerned, the NWSL represents the top of the pyramid, strengthened by numerous expansion plans for leagues such as the USL Super League. This competition will start soon and further strengthen the pyramid. The list below shows the order of the proposed major soccer leagues for women in the United States.
- Professional 1st Division League (NWSL)
- Amateur 1st Division (Not yet started but planned to begin on August 2024)
- Semi-Professional/ College League
The American Soccer Pyramid is Unique
The US soccer pyramid differs from the European structure; there’s no promotion or relegation in the States. That means in most countries, based on performance, teams have a merit-based way of earning their right to go up the divisions or even face relegation should they perform poorly. However, most leagues in the US are closed and fixed, meaning clubs will always remain within their divisions. This system is very much similar to the other American sports leagues such as the NBA and NFL. Though it has been a contention among fans and experts in soccer.
Others say a promotion/relegation system would increase competitiveness and, as such, raise the overall quality of soccer across the nation. The debate continues as the U.S. Soccer works toward finding ways to improve the US soccer pyramid. For now, though, the American soccer pyramid is a closed one, free of the troubles of falling down divisions and free to focus on their development.
U.S. Soccer’s Development Efforts
In the last couple of years, the U.S. Soccer organized the pyramid and developed it to become more modern. Perhaps one of the biggest innovations up to now is MLS Next, the elite competition for youth soccer. This competition gathers the best young academies from the country under one roof. This league allows many young players to easily transition from youth to professional soccer. Academies and leagues like USL League Two further extend the pipeline for young talent development.
The USL Championship and the newer MLS Next and USL Academy allow players to move smoothly up the US soccer pyramid from youth to first-team professional levels.
“This line of advancement from youth to pro soccer is important for the long-term success of the sport in this country,” said Taylor Twellman, analyst and former player. “But we still have to solve the gaping hole, which is the promotion and relegation system, to increase competitiveness.”
Historical Development of Soccer in the USA
Soccer has a relatively short and complicated history in the US compared to other countries. The first professional soccer league, called the American Soccer League, was formed in 1921. However, for most of the 20th century, soccer in USA faced organizational problems. The 1966 FIFA World Cup, shown for the first time on color television, again re-awakened interest in it. After this, a spate of leagues was founded, one of them the NASL, which is now obsoleted. Major League Soccer finally began in 1996, after the 1994 World Cup in the US, with a new beginning for soccer in America.
From its inaugural season, MLS has grown from 10 teams to 29, and as the league signs international superstars, worldwide interest increases.
However, until the 2010s, MLS and USL began to take deeper interest when USL was sanctioned as the second and third divisions, giving greater depth to a player development system.
The Future of Soccer in USA
The future of soccer in the United States looks great. There is high excitement about the sport in the country, especially with the hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, further expansion of the MLS and USL, and development of the youth soccer structure. This presents a fertile environment that grooms talent for growth at all levels.
Yet, the US soccer pyramid may stay closed, with word spreading for its reform. A system of promotion and relegation can improve the competitive structure, probably further increasing fans’ and players’ involvement in the match. While soccer is becoming more popular in the United States, the U.S. Soccer may use some other creative ways to further develop the system. For the time being, however, the focus is on perfecting the current structure and capitalizing on the sport’s recent popularity.
Indeed, the US soccer pyramid provides a unique but evolving pathway afforded to professionals and youngsters. With the U.S. Soccer actively refining the system, the prospects for soccer in the United States are enviable.
