The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer) defines professional leagues in three levels, called divisions, with all other leagues sanctioned by the USSF not having an official designated level or division.
For practical and historical reasons, some teams from Bermuda, Canada, and Puerto Rico (considered a separate country by FIFA) can also compete in these leagues. However, these teams are not eligible for the U.S. Open Cup and cannot represent the United States in the CONCACAF Champions Cup because they are not affiliated with U.S. Soccer.
Structure
No professional league in any of the major pro sports leagues in the U.S. or Canada, including the professional soccer leagues, currently uses a system of promotion and relegation. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation (also known as the USSF or U.S. Soccer), oversees the league system and is responsible for sanctioning professional leagues. The leagues themselves are responsible for admitting and administering individual teams. Amateur soccer in the United States is regulated by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), the only amateur soccer organization sanctioned by the USSF. Automatic promotion and relegation between its leagues, as exists in many other national league systems, was considered by United Soccer League, but was never implemented; although voluntary promotion and relegation has occurred. Some amateur leagues sanctioned by the USASA also use promotion and relegation systems within multiple levels of their leagues. However, there has never been a merit-based promotion system offered to the USASA's "national" leagues, the NPSL and League Two.
College soccer in the United States is sanctioned by bodies outside the direct control of the USSF, the most important of which is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). See NCAA Division I women's soccer programs, NCAA Division I men's soccer programs, and NCAA Division II men's soccer programs for a list of college soccer programs in the United States.
General professional standards
The standards for Division I, II and III leagues are set by the USSF.
Market requirements
At least 75% of a league's teams must be based in the United States
At least a certain percentage of a league's teams must be based in markets with a certain population
Field and stadium requirements
All stadiums must have controllable ingress/egress
All outdoor leagues must be playing on FIFA-approved surfaces at least 70 yards by 110 yards in dimension Minimum required stadium fan capacity, dependent on league level Each team must have a lease to use its stadium for at least one full season no later than a certain date before each season begins
Financial viability
Minimum annual bond each team must pay to the league (or Federation), dependent on league level Each ownership group must display the ability to fund their team for a certain number of years At least a certain net worth for each team's principal owner
Standards summary table
League specifics
Men's Division I
Ownership requirements
League must have a minimum of 12 teams to apply. By year three, the league must have a minimum of 14 teams US-based teams must participate in all representative U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF competitions for which they are eligible (ex. U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League.) The majority owner must have a net worth of US$40 million, and the total ownership group must have a net worth of US$70 million. Both of these net worth requirements must be independent of both the club and the individuals' primary residence.
Market requirements
Teams located in at least the Eastern, Central and Pacific time zones in the continental United States. These three time zones are required because the majority of the large population centers are located in these time zones At least 75% of the league's teams must be based in markets with one million population All stadiums must be enclosed All league stadiums must have a minimum seating capacity of 15,000 Not later than 180 days prior to the start of each season, each team shall have a lease for at least one full season with its home stadium