December 11 – The USL League One, the new third tier professional league that starts play end March next year, has released its 2019 fixture season schedule, that will see its 10 teams playing 28 games each.
The 140-game season will be played March 29-October 5 with the end-of-season play-offs starting October 11-13.
The teams competing in League One are South Georgia Tormenta FC, FC Tucson, Greenville Triumph SC, Forward Madison FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, Toronto FC II, Orlando City B, Lansing Ignite FC, North Texas SC and the Richmond Kickers.
There will be no promotion for winners to the USL’s higher league which has designated second tier status in the US behind the USL and features a number of MLS second teams and development clubs. MLS sides Orlando City and Toronto FC have opted for teams in League One.
League One will open with South Georgia Tormenta FC hosting Greenville Triumph SC in the league’s first game of the season from Erk Russell Park in Statesboro, Georgia, on March 29. The next day, North Texas SC will host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, the Richmond Kickers will face off against Lansing ignite FC at City Stadium and FC Tucson will travel to play Orlando City B.
The top four teams will playoff with the winners of the semi-finals meeting in the League One Final to be played between October 17-21.
USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in August that the league has a target of 24 teams by 2021, the league’s third season, with discussions already ongoing with ownership groups for the 2020 season.
The USL is likely to have a rival in the third tier league marketplace with the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) also planning to start play in 2019 with a 12-team division – though the USSF has still to sanction the league.
So far Philadelphia, Connecticut, Charlotte and Atlanta have been announced as locations which FC 1904 in San Diego expected to join.
NISA’s league model differs from that of the USL in that it will run its season in line with the European August to May season with a winter break. It also differs from other US leagues in that it will not be a closed franchise league and will work towards a promotion and relegation model.
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