Promotion and Relegation Is Coming to American Soccer, but Not the MLS

The system of promoting top teams to a higher division and dropping bottom teams to a lower one will start with the United Soccer League in 2027.

An MLS logo is displayed prior to the match between New York City FC and Orlando City at Yankee Stadium on March 8, 2025 in New York City. Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images

The 2025 Major League Soccer season is the 30th in the league’s history, and while it has made great strides in attempting to replicate its European counterparts, the MLS still lags behind several other top soccer leagues. One reason is its lack of promotion and relegation.

While there are no indications that the system is coming anytime soon for the league, American soccer will indeed adopt it with another professional league, the United Soccer League (USL).