United Soccer Leagues (USL)
The United Soccer Leagues (USL) were founded in 1986 as the Southwest Indoor Soccer League. In 1989 with the addition of an outdoor season the league became known as the Southwest Independent Soccer League. The name changed again in 1990 to the Sunbelt Independent Soccer League, again in 1991 to the United States Interregional Soccer League, and again in 1995 to the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues. They league finally became known as the United Soccer Leagues in 1999.
The United Soccer Leagues is the largest organization of elite soccer leagues in North America. At the professional level, the USL consists of:
The USL also has many amateur divisions, which are:
- The USL Premier Development League- U23 North American men's amateur soccer
- The USL W-League - North American women's amateur soccer
- The USL Super-20 League - U20 North American men's and women's amateur soccer
- The USL Super Y-League - North American boy's and girl's elite youth amateur soccer
Following is a brief synopsis of the USL First and Second Divisions and a listing of all USL First and Second Division teams.
USL First Division
USL First Division At-A-Glance
- Season: 28 games (April through September including playoffs)
- Teams: 12
- Events:
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
- Various exhibitions
- Current Champions: 2006 - Vancouver Whitecaps
USL First Division Teams
- Atlanta Silverbacks - Atlanta, Georgia
- Charleston Battery - Charleston, South Carolina
- Miami FC - Miami, Florida
- Minnesota Thunder - St. Paul, Minnesota
- Montreal Impact - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Portland Timbers - Portland, Oregon
- Puerto Rico Islanders - Bayamon, Puerto Rico
- Rochester Raging Rhinos - Rochester, New York
- Seattle Sounders - , Washington
- Toronto Lynx - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Vancouver Whitecaps - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Virginia Beach Mariners - Virginia Beach, Virginia
USL Second Division
USL Second Division At-A-Glance
- Season: 20 games (April through August including playoffs)
- Teams: 9
- Events:
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
- Various exhibitions
- Current Champions: 2006 - Richmond Kickers
USL Second Division Teams
- Charlotte Eagles - Charlotte, North Carolina
- Cincinnati Kings - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Harrisburg City Islanders - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Long Island Rough Riders - Uniondale, New York
- New Hampshire Phantoms - Hampstead, New Hampshire
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds - Washington, Pennsylvania
- Richmond Kickers - Richmond, Virginia
- Western Mass Pioneers - Ludlow, Massachusetts
- Wilmington Hammerheads - Wilmington, North Carolina
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