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USL League One

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"USL1" redirects here. For the league that existed from 2005 to 2010, seeUSL First Division.

USL League One
Organizing bodyUnited Soccer League
FoundedApril 2, 2017;7 years ago(2017-04-02)
First season2019
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid3
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
League cup(s)USL Cup
Current champion(s)North Carolina FC(2023)
Current regular
season title		Union Omaha(2023)
Most championshipsGreenville Triumph SC
North Carolina FC
North Texas SC
Union Omaha
South Georgia Tormenta FC
(1 title each)
Most regular
season titles		Union Omaha(2 titles)
Top goalscorerEmiliano Terzaghi(55)
TV partners
Websitewww.uslleagueoneEdit this at Wikidata
Current:2024 USL League One season
United Soccer Leaguedivisions
Men's leagues
Women's leagues
Youth leagues

USL League One(USL1) is a professional men'ssoccerleague in the United States that had its inaugural season in2019.TheDivision III leagueis operated byUnited Soccer League,the same group that operates the Division IIUSL Championshipand other leagues. As of 2024,the league has 12 teams who play 22 regular season games, followed by playoffs. All teams also participate in theUSL Cup,adding an additional eight games, followed by knockout rounds.

History[edit]

TheUSL Championshipwas granted second division sanctioning by theUnited States Soccer Federationin January 2017, leaving the third tier of American soccer unoccupied. From 1996 to 2009, theUnited Soccer Leagueoperated leagues at the lower divisions under various names, including theUSL Second Divisionin the third tier.[1]On April 2, 2017, the USL announced that it would launch a new third division league in 2019, with a minimum of eight clubs and relaxed requirements compared to the second division USL.[2][3]The new league had the temporary nameUSL Division III(USL D3).[2]The league announced that they would target cities with a population of 150,000 to one million, mostly in cities currently without a professional team.[4]

In the following months, the league began searching for cities and markets in which to locate new member teams. A tour of prospective cities in the southeastern United States was conducted by the league's vice president from April to May 2017,[5]followed by a visit to North Carolina and a similar tour of the Midwest in late May.[6][7]After the closing of the southeastern tour, the league announced a possible plan forTormenta FC,aPremier Development Leagueteam fromGeorgia,to join the league.[8]

The unveiling of the first founding member,South Georgia Tormenta FC,took place on January 25, 2018.[9]This was followed byFC Tucsonon February 6,[10][11]Greenville Triumph SCon March 13,[12][13]andMadison, Wisconsinon May 17.[14]Toronto FC IIof the USL was announced on July 2,[15]andChattanooga, Tennesseewas announced on August 1.[16]Three USL Championship teams,Penn FC,theRochester Rhinosand theRichmond Kickers,also announced plans to move to League One by 2020 due to financial difficulties.[17][18][19]On October 2, 2018, the tenth and final founding member was revealed to be the reserve team of FC Dallas. Four days later, the club unveiled its branding asNorth Texas SC.

The league filed for Division III status with theUSSFon August 14, 2018. Ten founding teams were listed in the application.[20][21]On December 14, 2018, USSF voted to provisionally sanction League One as a Division 3 league for 2019.[22][non-primary source needed][better source needed]The league currently shares Division III status withMLS Next Proand theNational Independent Soccer Association.[23]

The first League One game was played on March 29, 2019, whenTormenta FCdefeatedGreenville Triumph SC1–0 before a crowd of 3,519 atEagle Fieldin Erk Russell Park.Alex Morrellscored the first goal in the 72nd minute.[24][25]At the end of the season,Lansing Ignite FCfolded.[26]

For the 2020 season,Union Omahajoined the league.[27]Additionally, theNew England RevolutionandInter Miami CFplaced reserve teams in the league, bringing the total number of teams to 12.[28]

On June 21, 2021,Major League Soccerannounced the creation of a new professional soccer league,MLS Next Pro,which began play in 2022 and would host all of MLS's reserve teams along with some independent teams.[29]Fort Lauderdale CF,New England Revolution II,North Texas SCandToronto FC IIall joined MLS Next Pro after the2021 League One season.[30]Former League One sideOrlando City Bjoined MLS Next Pro for the inaugural 2022 season following a hiatus that began after the club completed the2020 League One season.[30]Rochester New York FC,formerly known as Rochester Rhinos, announced on December 5, 2021, that the club would be joining MLS Next Pro as its first independent club.[31]Rochester had announced in 2018 their intentions to join League One for the 2020 season, though stadium delays and other financial issues kept the club on hiatus for four years.[32][33]On October 5, 2021, the USL announced it had awarded Le xing ton Pro Soccer an expansion team for the 2023 season. It would be League One's first club based in Kentucky.[34]The club's identity was revealed asLe xing ton Sporting Clubon March 22, 2022.[35]

Central Valley Fuego FC,Charlotte IndependenceandNorthern Colorado Hailstorm FCbegan play in 2022.[36][37][38]On June 3, 2022, USL announced that they had granted a group based out ofWilmington, North Carolinathe exclusive rights to pursue a League One expansion team for the area with the goal of joining in 2024. Wilmington had been the home of long time USL clubWilmington Hammerheads FC,who played in various USL leagues from 1996 until 2017.[39]On July 12, 2022, USL announced that a newly formed club,Santa Barbara Sky FC,would be joining League One for the 2024 season,[40]though their debut would later be delayed until 2025.[41]The Sky would be the league's second club in California, joining Central Valley Fuego. Following the conclusion of the 2022 regular season,FC Tucsonannounced a self-relegation back toUSL League Two.[42]Shortly after FC Tucson announced their self-relegation,One Knoxville SCannounced they would turn professional and join League One for 2023, following a successful debut season that saw them reach the USL League Two conference finals.[43]On October 7, 2022, the league announced that an expansion team inSpokane, Washington,namedSpokane Velocity.[44]On December 8, 2022, it was announced that USL League Two clubLane United FCacquired exclusive rights to pursue a League One franchise inLane County, Oregon.[45]

Over the course of autumn 2023, the league announced three more expansion teams: one inPortland, Maine,[46]namedPortland Hearts of Pine,[47]one inSherman, Texas,namedTexoma FC,[48]and one inLancaster, California,[49]namedAV Alta FC.[50]The league announced a further three expansion teams in early 2024, first inNaples, Florida,later unveiled asFC Naples,[51]followed by teams inEugene, Oregon,[52]andMount Vernon, New York,the latter named Westchester SC.[53]All six of these teams are scheduled to begin play in the 2025 season. The Eugene team will be operated by the same group behind Lane United FC, but the team identity will be completely rebranded.[54]

Teams[edit]

The league has 12 teams participating in the 2024 season.[20]

Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joined Head coach
Current teams
Central Valley Fuego FC Fresno, California Fresno State Soccer Stadium 1,000 2020 2022 United StatesJermaine Jones
Charlotte Independence Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 10,500 2014 2022 United StatesMike Jeffries
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC East Ridge, Tennessee CHI Memorial Stadium 2,500 2018 2019 EnglandScott Mackenzie
Forward Madison FC Madison, Wisconsin Breese Stevens Field 5,000 2018 2019 United StatesMatt Glaeser
Greenville Triumph SC Greenville, South Carolina Paladin Stadium 16,000 2018 2019 BermudaRick Wright
Le xing ton SC Le xing ton, Kentucky[a] Toyota Stadium 5,000 2021 2023 EnglandDarren Powell
Le xing ton SC Stadium 7,500
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC Windsor, Colorado 4Rivers Equipment Stadium 2,500 2021 2022 LibyaÉamon Zayed
One Knoxville SC Knoxville, Tennessee Regal Stadium 3,000 2021 2023 ScotlandMark McKeever
Union Omaha Papillion, Nebraska Werner Park 9,023 2019 2020 EnglandDominic Casciato
Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia City Stadium 6,000 1993 2019 United StatesDarren Sawatzky
Spokane Velocity FC Spokane, Washington ONE Spokane Stadium 5,100 2021 2024 EnglandLeigh Veidman
South Georgia Tormenta FC Statesboro, Georgia Tormenta Stadium 5,300 2015 2019 ScotlandIan Cameron
  1. ^Team based in Le xing ton, but is playing 2024 home games in nearbyGeorgetown, Kentuckyuntil their permanent stadium is completed.

Future clubs[edit]

Team City Stadium Capacity Founded Joining Head coach
Planned expansion teams
AV Alta FC[50] Lancaster, California Lancaster Municipal Stadium 5,300 2023 2025 United StatesBrian Kleiban
FC Naples[51] Naples, Florida Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium 5,000 2024 2025 vacant
Portland Hearts of Pine[47] Portland, Maine Fitzpatrick Stadium 6,000 2023 2025 vacant
Santa Barbara Sky FC[40] Santa Barbara, California Harder Stadium 17,000 2022 2025 vacant
Texoma FC[48] Sherman, Texas Historic Bearcat Stadium 6,500 2023 2025 vacant
USL Eugene[52] Eugene, Oregon Civic Park Stadium 3,500 2024 2025 vacant
Westchester SC[53] Mount Vernon, New York Memorial Field 3,900 2024 2025 vacant

Location map[edit]

class=notpageimage|
USL League One clubs
Current clubFuture club

Former teams[edit]

Club City Stadium Capacity Joined Final season Fate Ref.
Fort Lauderdale CF Fort Lauderdale, Florida DRV PNK Stadium 18,000 2020 2021 Moved toMLS Next Pro [30]
Lansing Ignite FC Lansing, Michigan Cooley Law School Stadium 7,527 2019 2019 Folded [26]
New England Revolution II Foxborough, Massachusetts Gillette Stadium 20,000 2020 2021 Moved toMLS Next Pro [30]
North Carolina FC Cary, North Carolina WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000 2021 2023 Moved toUSL Championship [55]
North Texas SC Arlington, Texas Choctaw Stadium 48,114 2019 2021 Moved toMLS Next Pro [30]
Orlando City B Kissimmee, Florida Osceola County Stadium 5,400 2019 2020 Moved toMLS Next Pro [30]
Toronto FC II Toronto, Ontario BMO Training Ground 1,000 2019 2021 Moved toMLS Next Pro [30]
FC Tucson Tucson, Arizona Kino North Stadium 3,200 2019 2022 Moved toUSL League Two [56]

Timeline[edit]

Texoma FCSanta Barbara Sky FCPortland Hearts of PineFC NaplesAV Alta FCSpokane VelocityOne Knoxville SCLexington SCNorthern Colorado Hailstorm FCCharlotte IndependenceCentral Valley Fuego FCNorth Carolina FCUnion OmahaNew England Revolution IIFort Lauderdale CFFC TucsonToronto FC IITormenta FCRichmond KickersOrlando City BNorth Texas SCLansing Ignite FCGreenville Triumph SCForward Madison FCChattanooga Red Wolves SC

Champions[edit]

Teams that no longer participate in USL League One are initalics.

Season Playoff champions Players' Shield[a]
2019 North Texas SC North Texas SC
2020 Greenville Triumph SC[b] Greenville Triumph SC
2021 Union Omaha Union Omaha
2022 South Georgia Tormenta FC Richmond Kickers
2023 North Carolina FC Union Omaha
  1. ^Known as "Regular season champions" from 2019 to 2022
  2. ^The 2020 Final was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.Greenville was awarded the championship based on points per game.

USL League One Finals[edit]

Season Champions Score Runners–up Venue Attendance MVP
2019 North Texas SC 1–0 Greenville Triumph SC Toyota Stadium 3,245 Arturo Rodríguez(NTX)
2020 Greenville Triumph SC Cancelled[57] Union Omaha Legacy Early College Field N/A N/A
2021 Union Omaha 3–0 Greenville Triumph SC Werner Park 5,221 Damià Viader(OMA)
2022 South Georgia Tormenta FC 2–1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Optim Sports Medicine Field 3,045 Kazaiah Sterling(TRM)
2023 North Carolina FC 1–1 (5–4 PK) Charlotte Independence WakeMed Soccer Park 4,487 Raheem Somersall(NCA)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Kennedy, Paul (March 30, 2017)."USL: A new Division III league in works for 2019".Soccer America.RetrievedDecember 8,2017.
  2. ^ab"USL to Launch Third-Division League in 2019"(Press release).United Soccer League.April 2, 2017.RetrievedDecember 8,2017.
  3. ^Straus, Brian (March 30, 2017)."USL will launch second league in 2019 to occupy U.S. Soccer's Division 3".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedDecember 8,2017.
  4. ^"About".USL.April 25, 2017.RetrievedApril 25,2017.
  5. ^"USL DIII VP Short reflects on southeast expansion tour".USL D3.May 10, 2017.RetrievedJuly 23,2017.
  6. ^"Short Shares Thoughts on North Carolina Visits".August 8, 2017.RetrievedAugust 11,2017.
  7. ^"USL DIII Expansion Tour Visits Midwest".USL D3.May 22, 2017.RetrievedJuly 23,2017.
  8. ^"Tormenta FC to explore USL DIII possibilities".USL D3.May 5, 2017.RetrievedJuly 23,2017.
  9. ^"Tormenta FC joins USL Division III for 2019".January 25, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 25,2018.
  10. ^"FC Tucson Leads USL Division III'S West Coast Expansion".United Soccer League (USL). February 6, 2018.
  11. ^"FC Tucson moves to USL Division III, becomes professional team".Arizona Daily Star.February 6, 2018.
  12. ^"USL Division III Welcomes Greenville as Founding Member".United Soccer League (USL). February 6, 2018.
  13. ^"Greenville's Pro Soccer Team To Be Called Greenville Triumph Soccer Club".Greenville Triumph Soccer Club. August 9, 2018.
  14. ^Staff, USL DIII (May 17, 2018)."Madison Unveiled as Fourth USL Division III Founding Member".USL Championship.
  15. ^Staff, USL DIII (July 2, 2018)."USL Division III Names Toronto FC II as Founding Member".USL League One.
  16. ^Staff, USL DIII (August 1, 2018)."Chattanooga Welcomed as Newest USL Division III Founding Member".USL League One.
  17. ^"Rochester Approved for USL Division III"(Press release). Rochester Rhinos. August 22, 2018.
  18. ^"Kickers Named a USL Division III Founding Member".usld3.United Soccer Leagues. September 11, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 12,2018.
  19. ^"Penn FC to join USL League One in 2020"(Press release). October 8, 2018.
  20. ^ab"USL Division III Files Sanctioning Paperwork to U.S. Soccer".United Soccer League (USL). August 14, 2018.
  21. ^"USL Division III submits sanctioning request to U.S. Soccer with 10 teams".Paul Kennedy.SoccerAmerica. August 14, 2018.
  22. ^Goff, Steven [@soccerinsider] (December 14, 2018)."U.S. Soccer Federation's board of directors has voted to provisionally sanction @USLLeagueOne as a Division III pro league in 2019. #usl"(Tweet).RetrievedDecember 14,2018– viaTwitter.
  23. ^Kivlehan, Chris (February 17, 2019)."Breaking: NISA Sanctioned By USSF, To Start In August".Midfield Press.RetrievedJune 4,2019.
  24. ^"Gameday Report: March 29, Week 1".USL League One. March 29, 2019.
  25. ^"Tormenta takes down Greenville".Mike Anthony.March 30, 2019.
  26. ^ab"Lansing Ignite FC Ceases Operations".USLLeagueOne.USL League One. October 21, 2019.RetrievedOctober 21,2019.
  27. ^"Omaha Unveiled as USL League One's Newest Club".May 1, 2019.
  28. ^USLLeagueOne Staff (October 9, 2019)."Inter Miami FC, New England Revolution Launch League One Clubs".USL League One.RetrievedOctober 9,2019.
  29. ^Bonagura, Kyle (June 21, 2021)."Major League Soccer to launch development league in 2022".ESPN.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
  30. ^abcdefg"MLS NEXT Pro unveils 21 clubs for inaugural season starting March 2022".mlssoccer.Major League Soccer.December 6, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
  31. ^FC, RNY."Rochester New York FC".RNY FC.RetrievedOctober 22,2022.
  32. ^"Premier League star Jamie Vardy named co-owner of Rochester Rhinos".RochesterFirst.June 15, 2021.RetrievedOctober 22,2022.
  33. ^"Episode 151: Pat Ercoli (President Rochester Rhinos) Part 2 from Uncle Sam's Soccer Podcast".stitcher.RetrievedSeptember 23,2019.
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  35. ^USLLeagueOne com Staff (March 22, 2022)."Le xing ton Sporting Club Reveal Brand Identity".USL League One.RetrievedOctober 22,2022.
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  37. ^"Charlotte Independence to Compete in USL League One Starting in 2022".uslleagueone.USL League One. December 2, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
  38. ^"United Soccer League Welcomes Northern Colorado FC to League One".uslleagueone.USL League One. January 12, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
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  40. ^abUSLLeagueOne com Staff (July 12, 2022)."Santa Barbara Sky FC to Join USL League One".USL League One.RetrievedOctober 22,2022.
  41. ^Sandoval, Diego (March 12, 2024)."Santa Barbara Sky FC Officially Announces Plans to Begin Play in 2025 | Sports".Noozhawk.RetrievedMay 9,2024.
  42. ^"FC Tucson to join USL League Two in 2023".October 18, 2022.RetrievedOctober 18,2022.
  43. ^"One Knoxville SC to join USL League One in 2023".October 20, 2022.RetrievedOctober 20,2022.
  44. ^Robinson, Erin (October 7, 2022)."United Soccer League men's, women's pro teams coming to Spokane in 2024".KXLY kxly.RetrievedMay 10,2024.
  45. ^USLLeagueOne com Staff (December 8, 2022)."Lane United FC acquires exclusive rights to pursue professional USL franchises".USL League Two.RetrievedDecember 9,2022.
  46. ^"Portland, Maine granted USL League One franchise".USL League One.September 7, 2023.RetrievedMay 9,2024.
  47. ^ab"Portland men's pro soccer team unveils name: Hearts of Pine".Press Herald.April 27, 2024.RetrievedMay 10,2024.
  48. ^ab"USL Texoma announces plans to bring professional soccer to region".USLLeagueOne.October 23, 2023.RetrievedOctober 24,2023.
  49. ^"USL Antelope Valley announces plans to bring professional soccer to Lancaster, Calif".USLLeagueOne.October 4, 2023.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
  50. ^abCaiuch, Eduard (May 18, 2024)."AV Alta FC, equipo de tercera división en USL, busca llenar un vacío en Antelope Valley".Los Angeles Times en Español(in Spanish).RetrievedMay 20,2024.
  51. ^ab"USL League One announces USL Naples as new expansion club for 2025".USLLeagueOne.January 17, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 17,2024.
  52. ^ab"USL Eugene announces plans to bring professional soccer to Eugene, Ore".USLLeagueOne.April 18, 2024.RetrievedApril 18,2024.
  53. ^ab"Westchester SC granted USL League One franchise, aims to kick off in 2025".USL League One.May 9, 2024.RetrievedMay 9,2024.
  54. ^Ashton, Alex (June 20, 2024)."USL League One 2025 Expansion Updates".Beyond The 90'.RetrievedJune 21,2024.
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  57. ^"USL League One Final Cancelled, Greenville Named 2020 Title-Winners".USLLeagueOne Staff. October 29, 2020.RetrievedOctober 29,2020.

External links[edit]

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