What United Soccer League Changes Mean for Oakland Roots SC
USL club owners voted to implement promotion and relegation by 2028 as they prepare to launch a new Division One league in the 2027-28 season. Oakland Roots SC is enthusiastic about the changes and is determined to prove Oakland’s status as a world-class first division city.
Published on March 29, 2025
On March 27, United Soccer League (USL) club owners approved the implementation of a promotion and relegation system, effective by 2028. This move paves the way for launching a new Division One league in the 2027-28 season, modeled after European pyramids like England’s Premier League, to allow successful teams to move up while underperforming teams are relegated.
Tommy Hodul, VP of Public Relations at Oakland Roots SC, expressed excitement about proving Oakland’s capability as a world-class first division city. As USL CEO Alec Papadakis emphasized, the decision allows more American communities to aspire to compete at the highest levels of soccer. Oakland Roots SC will showcase these changes when they take on the Las Vegas Lights at the Oakland Coliseum on March 29.