USL Championship

The USL Championship (also known as USLC) is a professional soccer league for men in the United States. It started in 2011 and is the second-best level of professional soccer in the country, just below Major League Soccer.

USL Championship

Founded	2011
Country	United States
Level on pyramid	2
Most championships	Cups: Louisville City (2) Shields: Orlando City (2)
Website	Official Site

The league is managed by the United Soccer League, and their main office is in Tampa, Florida. The USL Championship was created by combining two smaller leagues, USL First Division (USL-1) and USL Second Division (USL-2), after the 2010 season.

This combination happened because neither USL-1 nor the North American Soccer League (NASL) were officially recognized as Division II leagues by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). They had to play in a temporary league called USSF Division 2 Pro League for a while. The goal of putting these leagues together was to make the overall soccer situation better in the United States. They thought it would make soccer more stable and popular.

Teams

These teams below played in the USL Championships during the 2023 season.^[1]

Team	Location	Stadium	Size	Created	Joined	Head coach
Eastern Conference
Birmingham Legion FC	Birmingham, Alabama	Protective Stadium[lower-roman 1]	47,100	2017	2019	Tom Soehn
Brooklyn FC	Brooklyn, New York	Maimonides Park	7,000	2023	2026	-
Charleston Battery	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina	Patriots Point Soccer Complex[lower-roman 2]	3,900	1993	2011	Ben Pirmann
Detroit City FC	Hamtramck, Michigan	Keyworth Stadium[lower-roman 1]	7,933	2012	2022	Trevor James
Hartford Athletic	Hartford, Connecticut	Trinity Health Stadium[lower-roman 2]	5,500	2018	2019	Omid Namazi
Indy Eleven	Indianapolis, Indiana	Carroll Stadium[lower-roman 1]	10,524	2013	2018	Mark Lowry
Sporting Club Jacksonville	Jacksonville, Florida	Hodges Stadium[lower-roman 2]	12,000	2022	2026	Liam Fox
Loudoun United FC	Leesburg, Virginia	Segra Field[lower-roman 2]	5,000	2018	2019	Ryan Martin
Louisville City FC	Louisville, Kentucky	Lynn Family Stadium[lower-roman 2]	11,700	2014	2015	Danny Cruz
Miami FC	University Park, Florida	Pittbull Stadium[lower-roman 1]	20,000	2015	2020	Lewis Neal (interim)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Highmark Stadium[lower-roman 2]	5,000	1998	2011	Bob Lilley
Rhode Island FC	Pawtucket, Rhode Island[lower-roman 3]	Centreville Bank Stadium[lower-roman 2][2]	5,000	2019	2024[3]	Khano Smith
Tampa Bay Rowdies	St. Petersburg, Florida	Al Lang Stadium[lower-roman 4]	7,227	2008	2017	Robbie Neilson
Western Conference
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC	Colorado Springs, Colorado	Weidner Field[lower-roman 2]	8,000	2013	2015	Stephen Hogan
El Paso Locomotive FC	El Paso, Texas	Southwest University Park[lower-roman 4]	9,500	2018	2019	Brian Clarhaut
Las Vegas Lights FC	Las Vegas, Nevada	Cashman Field[lower-roman 2]	9,334	2017	2018	Isidro Sanchez
Lexington SC	Lexington, Kentucky	Lexington SC Stadium[lower-roman 2]	7,500	2021	2025	Masaki Hemmi
Monterey Bay FC	Seaside, California	Cardinale Stadium[lower-roman 2]	6,000	2021	2022	Frank Yallop
New Mexico United	Albuquerque, New Mexico	Rio Grande Credit Union Field[lower-roman 4]	13,500	2018	2019	Eric Quill
Oakland Roots SC	Oakland, California	Oakland Coliseum[lower-roman 4]	5,000	2018	2021	Noah Delgado
Orange County SC	Irvine, California	Championship Soccer Stadium[lower-roman 2]	5,000	2010	2011	Morten Karlsen (interim)
Phoenix Rising FC	Phoenix, Arizona	Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium[lower-roman 2][4]	10,000	2014		Juan Guerra
Sacramento Republic FC	Sacramento, California	Heart Health Park[lower-roman 2]	11,569	2012	2014	Mark Briggs
San Antonio FC	San Antonio, Texas	Toyota Field[lower-roman 2]	8,296	2016		Alen Marcina
FC Tulsa	Tulsa, Oklahoma	Oneok Field[lower-roman 4]	7,833	2013	2015	Blair Gavin

Expansion teams

Team	City	Stadium	Capacity	Founded	Joining	Head coach
Atlético Dallas[5]	Dallas, Texas	Cotton Bowl	90,000	2024	2027
USL Pro Iowa[6][7]	Des Moines, Iowa	Pro Iowa Stadium[lower-roman 2]	6,300	2022	TBD[8]
Milwaukee Pro Soccer[9]	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Iron District Stadium[lower-roman 2]	8,000	2022	TBD
Ozark United FC[10][11]	Rogers, Arkansas	TBD	5,000	2023	2027
Reno Pro Soccer[12]	Reno, Nevada	TBD	6,000	2025	2027
Santa Barbara Sky FC[13]	Santa Barbara, California	Harder Stadium[lower-roman 2]	17,000	2023	2027

Notes

1. A stadium where sports other than soccer are played
2. A stadium that is used mostly for soccer.
3. Will play at this stadium until a stadium for the team is built in Pawtucket.

Not playing right now

Club	Location	Stadium	Size	Joined	Last Played	Notes
OKC Energy FC	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Oklahoma City Stadium	7,500	2014	2021	Planned 2028 return, waiting on new stadium [14]

Former teams

Club	Location	Stadium	Size	Joined	Last season	MLS partner	Where are they now
Antigua Barracuda FC	St. John's, Antigua	Stanford Cricket Ground	5,000	2011	2013	None	Folded
Atlanta United 2	Kennesaw, Georgia	Fifth Third Bank Stadium	8,318	2018	2022	Atlanta United	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Austin Bold FC	Austin, Texas	Circuit of the Americas	5,000	2017	2021	None	Folded
Austin Aztex	Austin, Texas	House Park	6,500	2015		Columbus Crew SC	Folded
Charlotte Eagles	Charlotte, North Carolina	Dickson Field	5,006	2011	2014	None	Moved to Premier Development League[lower-roman 1]
Charlotte Independence	Charlotte, North Carolina	Memorial Stadium	10,500	2014	2021	None	Moved to USL League One[15]
FC Cincinnati	Cincinnati, Ohio	Nippert Stadium	33,800	2015	2018	None	Moved to Major League Soccer
Dayton Dutch Lions	West Carrollton, Ohio	DOC Stadium	3,000	2011	2014	Columbus Crew SC	Moved to Premier Development League[lower-roman 1]
FC Montreal	Montreal, Quebec	Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard	3,500	2015	2016	Montreal Impact	Folded by MLS parent club
F.C. New York	Queens, New York	Belson Stadium	2,168	2011		None	Moved to National Premier Soccer League
Fresno FC	Fresno, California	Chukchansi Park	12,500	2017	2019	None	Relocated to Monterey County, California, became Monterey Bay FC
LA Galaxy II	Carson, California	Dignity Health Sports Park	10,000	2014	2022	LA Galaxy	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Nashville SC	Nashville, Tennessee	First Tennessee Park	10,000	2016	2019	None	Moved to Major League Soccer
New York Red Bulls II	Montclair, New Jersey	MSU Soccer Park	5,000	2015	2022	New York Red Bulls	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Memphis 901 FC	Memphis, Tennessee	AutoZone Park[lower-roman 2]	10,000	2018	2025	None	Folded
North Carolina FC	Cary, North Carolina	Sahlen's Stadium	10,000	2018	2025	None	On break, wanting to join USL Division One[16]
Orlando City B	Orlando, Florida	Orlando City Stadium	3,500	2016	2017	Orlando City SC	Moved to USL League One[17]
Orlando City SC	Bay Lake, Florida	ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex	5,500	2011	2014	Sporting Kansas City	Moved to Major League Soccer; USL rights transferred to Louisville
Ottawa Fury FC	Ottawa, Ontario	TD Place Stadium	24,000	2017	2019	Montreal Impact	Folded; USL rights transferred to Miami[18]
Penn FC	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	FNB Field	6,187	2011	2018	None	Folded
Philadelphia Union II	Chester, Pennsylvania	Subaru Park	18,500	2015	2020	Philadelphia Union	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Phoenix FC	Tempe, Arizona	Sun Devil Soccer Stadium	3,400	2013		None	Folded; replaced by Arizona United SC[lower-roman 3]
Portland Timbers 2	Hillsboro, Oregon	Hillsboro Stadium	7,600	2015	2020	Portland Timbers	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Puerto Rico United[lower-roman 4]	Aguada, Puerto Rico	Aguada Stadium	4,000	2011		None	Moved to Liga Nacional (PR)
Real Monarchs	Herriman, Utah	Zions Bank Stadium[lower-roman 5]	5,000	2015	2021	Real Salt Lake	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Reno 1868 FC	Reno, Nevada	Greater Nevada Field[lower-roman 6]	9,013	2017	2020	San Jose Earthquakes	Folded
Rio Grande Valley FC	Edinburg, Texas	H-E-B Park[lower-roman 7]	9,400	2015	2023	None	Folded
River Plate Puerto Rico[lower-roman 4]	Fajardo, Puerto Rico	Roberto Clemente Stadium	12,500	2011		None	Moved to Puerto Rico Soccer League
Richmond Kickers	Richmond, Virginia	City Stadium	22,000	2011	2018	D.C. United	Moved to USL League One
Rochester Rhinos	Rochester, New York	Marina Auto Stadium	13,768	2011	2017	New England Revolution	Moved to MLS Next Pro[19]
Saint Louis FC	Fenton, Missouri	West Community Stadium[lower-roman 5]	5,500	2014	2020	None	Folded
San Diego Loyal SC	San Diego, California	Torero Stadium	6,000	2020	2023	None	Folded
Sevilla Puerto Rico[lower-roman 4]	Juncos, Puerto Rico	Josué Elevadito González Stadium	2,500	2011		None	Moved to Liga Nacional (PR)
Sporting Kansas City II	Kansas City, Kansas	Children's Mercy Park[lower-roman 5]	18,467	2016	2021	Sporting Kansas City	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Tacoma Defiance	Tacoma, Washington	Cheney Stadium[lower-roman 6]	6,500	2015	2021	Seattle Sounders FC	Moved to MLS Next Pro
Toronto FC II	Toronto, Ontario	Lamport Stadium	9,600	2014	2018	Toronto FC	Moved to USL League One
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2	Vancouver, British Columbia	Thunderbird Stadium	3,500	2015	2017	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	Moved to MLS Next Pro
VSI Tampa Bay FC	Plant City, Florida	Plant City Stadium	6,700	2013	2013	None	Folded
Wilmington Hammerheads FC	Wilmington, North Carolina	Legion Stadium	6,000	2011	2016	Toronto FC & New York City FC	Moved to PDL[lower-roman 1]

1. Known as USL League Two (USL2) since the 2019 season
2. Baseball park
3. Renamed as Phoenix Rising FC in 2016.
4. Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico tried to play in the USL's first season but had money problems after joining the league had to leave the league.
5. Soccer specific stadium
6. Baseball park

Timeline

Before MLS second teams left

‡ Puerto Rico clubs Puerto Rico United, River Plate Puerto Rico, and Sevilla Puerto Rico began play in the league, but in May 2011 United Soccer Leagues announced that the teams would not finish the season due to financial difficulties.^[20]

After MLS second teams left