The United Soccer League is kicking things up a notch with plans to introduce a Division I men's league that may just give Major League Soccer a run for its money. Phoenix Rising FC, which currently competes in the second-tier USL Championship, has got the industry buzzing as a potential flagship franchise in this new soccer enterprise. While the league aims to premiere in 2027, all eyes are on which cities will make the cut for the initial 12 franchises, which are expected to largely hail from metros with populations tipping over the 1 million mark — a criterion that Phoenix comfortably meets, ABC15 reported.
Phoenix Rising's leap to top-tier glory has long been stifled by the lack of an indoor stadium and the steep $500 million MLS franchise fee. Despite these previous setbacks, the club's ambition remains undampened. "Phoenix Rising has aspired to be one of the top professional soccer clubs since its founding," Dr. Pablo Prichard, Phoenix Rising owner and CEO, emphasized in a statement relayed by the Business Journal.
Currently, Phoenix Rising fans rally at a 10,000-seat stadium that could be scaled to fulfill USL's 15,000-person capacity requirement for Division I contenders. The team's lease deal with the city, now extended through at least 2029, means they can continue to host matches at their existing grounds on 3801 E. Washington Street while they work on longer-term stadium solutions. This aligns neatly with the USL's ambition for its Division I league to mirror the international soccer calendar — playing from August through May, which neatly sidesteps the scorching Phoenix summer, according to info from the Business Journal.
Financial muscle is also part of USL's criteria, requiring primary team owners to tote an individual net worth of $40 million and ownership groups to amp it up to a combined $70 million. Reports from The Athletic hint at multiple USL Championship teams, including Phoenix, Louisville, Sacramento, Indianapolis, and Las Vegas, eyeing positions in the upcoming Division I league. With the whispers of a possible future merger between this new league and MLS, the new USL Division I league could well shape the future landscape of professional soccer in the U.S., as detailed by sources like the Sports Business Journal and ABC15.
