Why This Soccer League Needs Promotion and Relegation to Be Respected
The debate over whether Major League Soccer, MLS, needs a promotion and relegation system is one of the most persistent and polarizing in North American soccer discourse. Around the world, leagues operate with an open system, where teams rise and fall based on their performance. In the U.S., however, MLS follows a closed, franchise-based model similar to the NBA or NFL, where no team is relegated to finishing last, and entry into the league comes via expansion fees, not on-pitch results. While this model has helped stabilize the league’s growth since its founding in 1996, critics argue it stifles competition, limits club ambition, and disconnects MLS from the global football community.
Introducing promotion and relegation would revolutionize American soccer from top to bottom. Clubs in lower leagues like the USL Championship and USL League One would have a tangible goal beyond surviving financially — they could dream of competing in MLS based on merit. This shift could unleash a wave of investment in traditionally overlooked markets, giving rise to new fan bases and community-driven clubs. Supporters would experience the emotional rollercoaster of relegation battles and promotion pushes, adding drama to the league calendar and potentially increasing national interest in games beyond just playoff races and cup finals.
From a sporting perspective, relegation incentivizes clubs to perform at all times. Under the current MLS model, a team that fails to make the playoffs faces little consequence other than missing postseason revenue. With relegation in place, poor seasons would carry significant risk, forcing front offices to make smarter decisions regarding coaching hires, youth development, and roster building. On the flip side, clubs that dominate in the lower divisions could be rewarded with a platform to prove themselves against top-tier competition. In theory, this would raise the overall standard of the domestic game and increase the competitiveness across the entire American soccer pyramid.
However, implementing promotion and relegation in MLS would require fundamental changes to the league’s financial structure. Teams pay enormous expansion fees—ranging from $150 million to over $300 million — to join MLS, and relegating one of those franchises could risk lawsuits or destabilize ownership groups who banked on a guaranteed top-flight presence. Many USL clubs also lack the infrastructure, stadium capacity, or financial power to make an immediate leap to MLS standards. To bridge that gap, significant investment would be needed in second and third-tier leagues, from broadcast deals to youth academies and stadium development.
There’s also the matter of fan culture and market priorities. While die-hard soccer supporters in the U.S. may admire the European model, casual American sports fans are more accustomed to the security and parity of franchise leagues. Promotion and relegation can be thrilling, but also punishing — especially in a market where one bad year can tank a franchise’s long-term viability. For pro-rel advocates, these concerns are valid, but not insurmountable. They argue that a phased system, where MLS gradually integrates with USL under a controlled model, could introduce promotion and relegation without financial collapse.
Ultimately, the core question is one of identity. Should MLS continue on its current path — commercially successful, stable, but closed off? Or should it embrace a more competitive, globally familiar structure that rewards ambition and risk? The U.S. soccer ecosystem is maturing: grassroots programs are stronger, fan bases more passionate, and youth talent more plentiful than ever before. As the gap between divisions narrows and pressure from supporters increases, MLS may be forced to confront its place in the global game. Promotion and relegation may not be feasible today — but the idea is no longer a fantasy. It is a conversation that grows louder each season and one that could define the future of American soccer, or as it is more commonly known across the world, football.
