List of soccer clubs in the United States

This is a list of soccer clubs in the United States. For clarity, teams based outside the United States that play in USSF-recognized leagues are also listed below, with their home country noted.

Men's soccer clubs

There are three professional leagues of soccer teams sanctioned by the Professional Division of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer). The top level league is Major League Soccer (MLS). The second level is the North American Soccer League (NASL). The United Soccer Leagues operate several lower divisions including the United Soccer League (note the lack of a plural), a third division league; and a lower national amateur league, the Premier Development League. The National Premier Soccer League is another nationwide semi-professional league below the third division.

Major League Soccer (MLS)

MLS currently has 20 clubs with three more clubs planned by 2018. MLS plans to have 24 operational clubs by 2020.[1] With expansion clubs confirmed for Atlanta (2017), Minneapolis–Saint Paul (2017), and Los Angeles (2018), markets in consideration for the final expansion team include Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Miami.[2][3]

North American Soccer League (NASL)

North Carolina
Locations of NASL clubs. Existing clubs; Future clubs

United Soccer Leagues (USL)

USL is the parent organization for the United Soccer League (USSF Division III), the Premier Development League (PDL), and the youth Super Y-League.

United Soccer League

Premier Development League (PDL)

USA States with PDL teams are highlighted in red, Canadian Provinces with PDL teams are in dark red

National Premier Soccer League (NPSL 2015)

College soccer (NCAA)

Division I
Division II
Division III

Women's soccer clubs

The pro division of U.S. Soccer first sanctioned a 1st division women's league, the Women's United Soccer Association, in 2001. However, due to overwhelming debts, it suspended operations on September 15, 2003 after 3 seasons of play. In 2009, the replacement/revival of WUSA, Women's Professional Soccer, began play. Between the demise of WUSA and launch of WPS, two leagues served as de facto top-level leagues, the Women's Premier Soccer League and the W-League, part of the United Soccer Leagues.

Like its predecessor, WPS would last only three seasons. Following a 2011 season marked by conflict between the league and franchise owner Dan Borislow, plus heavy debts, the league first postponed its 2012 season before completely folding that May. During the 2012 season, the semi-professional WPSL Elite served as the de facto top level league.

In late 2012, U.S. Soccer announced that it would start a new professional women's league, which would soon be named the National Women's Soccer League, for the 2013 season. The NWSL launched on schedule in March 2013. In addition to U.S. Soccer's operational and financial role, further financial support is provided by the Canadian Soccer Association and Mexican Football Federation (specifically, both federations pay the league salaries of many national team members, as does U.S. Soccer).

National Women's Soccer League

Locations of teams for the 2016 National Women's Soccer League season.

Current teams

Women's Premier Soccer League

Indoor soccer clubs

Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Major League Soccer to expand to 24 teams by 2020 season, says Commissioner Don Garber". MLSsoccer.com.
  2. ↑ David Goldman/AP. "MLS Expansion: Latest involving Sacramento, Minneapolis, Las Vegas bids - SI.com". SI.com.
  3. ↑ "Dec. 6: Twin Cities groups learn MLS expansion is months away - StarTribune.com". Star Tribune.
  4. ↑ http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/02/17/mls-expansion-minnesota-united-2017-atlanta-st-louis-sacramento-miami
  5. ↑ http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/02/17/mls-expansion-minnesota-united-2017-atlanta-st-louis-sacramento-miami
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Sunshine Conference Expands to Seven Teams" (February 9, 2011). wpsl.info. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
Official websites
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