Every USL offseason is consequential, but this upcoming winter is uniquely important to the league. On and off the pitch, a set of looming storylines will impact the competitive face of the 2026 season – and maybe even the future of the USL itself.
Which topics should you be paying attention to over the next few months? I’ve got six big questions that will define the offseason.
Will we get more details on pro-rel and D1?
The USL announced the decision to found a new first-division league and to adopt a promotion and relegation system in the spring, but concrete details about those reforms have been scant. 2028 is the proposed start date for the new D1 tier, and ex-Premier League executive Tony Scholes will head up that league starting next summer. Meanwhile, USL leadership has mentioned the idea of promotion payments for rising clubs to improve their infrastructure.
