Why Promotion/Relegation Would Change the MLS
Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, has grown dramatically since its inception in 1996. From 10 original teams to over 30 clubs today, the league has seen rising attendance, increased broadcast deals, and a steady influx of international stars. Yet, one crucial element remains absent from the American game: promotion and relegation.
In most major soccer leagues around the world—from the English Premier League to Argentina’s Primera División—promotion and relegation are integral to the competition. Teams at the bottom of the top division face the risk of dropping down a tier, while successful lower-division clubs earn the chance to rise. It’s a system that rewards ambition, punishes complacency, and drives dramatic narratives across every level of the sport.
So why doesn’t MLS adopt it? And what would change if it did?
Let’s explore how promotion and relegation would fundamentally alter the landscape of North American soccer.
1. Increased Competition and Accountability
In the current closed-league MLS structure, there is no punishment for finishing last. Teams can underperform for years without facing the existential threat of relegation. This safety net can inadvertently foster mediocrity and reduce the urgency to improve.
Introducing promotion and relegation would raise the stakes for every match. Teams at the bottom would have to fight to avoid the drop, while mid-table clubs couldn’t afford to coast. This sense of pressure and accountability would likely lead to improved performances, smarter investments, and more strategic decision-making across the board.
2. A True Pathway for Lower-League Clubs
Currently, clubs in the USL Championship, USL League One, and NISA operate with limited opportunity for upward mobility. Even if they build competitive teams, draw large crowds, and develop top talent, they cannot ascend to MLS.
Promotion and relegation would unlock a meritocratic system. Ambitious lower-tier clubs could dream of climbing the ladder to the top division, just as Bournemouth did in England or Union Berlin in Germany. It would reward smart management, grassroots development, and community support.
And for MLS clubs, the risk of being overtaken would mean greater vigilance and effort.
3. Fan Engagement and Local Loyalty
Relegation battles and promotion pushes are some of the most thrilling elements in world football. Fans of bottom-dwelling teams watch nervously each week, while supporters of lower-league clubs dream big.
In the U.S., local clubs outside MLS struggle for relevance. But with the potential for promotion, fans could rally behind their hometown teams knowing that success could lead to national recognition.
Imagine Detroit City FC, Sacramento Republic, or Charleston Battery fighting their way into MLS. The narrative potential is enormous, and fan engagement would skyrocket as more cities found a stake in the national soccer story.
4. Youth Development and Club Identity
A promotion/relegation system would encourage clubs to invest more in player development. With performance directly tied to survival, developing talent from within becomes even more critical.
European and South American clubs thrive on academies. Ajax, Barcelona, and Boca Juniors have all built global brands through player development. In a pro/rel MLS system, American clubs could follow suit, emphasizing identity, long-term planning, and sustainable growth.
It could also attract greater international interest in American youth development, potentially raising the overall standard of U.S. Soccer.
5. Financial Parity and Strategic Spending
One argument against pro/rel is financial instability. Relegated clubs lose TV money and sponsorships, which can lead to layoffs and budget cuts. However, that risk also promotes smarter spending.
MLS currently uses a single-entity structure with salary caps and designated player rules to ensure parity. Promotion/relegation could encourage more strategic investment. Clubs would spend according to their ambitions, market size, and sporting philosophy.
Revenue-sharing models and parachute payments (used in the EPL) could help relegated teams adjust while preserving competitive balance.
6. Global Integration and Credibility
Globally, the American soccer system is viewed as an outlier. The closed-league model, franchise fees, and lack of pro/rel are often cited as barriers to international credibility.
Implementing promotion and relegation would align MLS more closely with global norms. It would validate the U.S. system in the eyes of foreign fans, players, and investors.
This could enhance MLS’s standing in the global market and attract more top-tier talent who respect the competitive integrity of leagues with pro/rel.
7. Richer Storylines and Media Value
In global football, the end of the season is often more exciting at the bottom than the top. Relegation fights produce raw emotion and unforgettable moments. In the U.S., the absence of this dynamic leaves a narrative void.
Adding pro/rel would instantly multiply the number of meaningful games each season. Media companies would gain new stories, broadcasters would have more high-stakes matches to promote, and fans would stay engaged longer.
This could drive up TV ratings and increase the overall value of media rights—a win for the league, clubs, and fans.
8. Obstacles and Opposition
Of course, implementing promotion and relegation in MLS isn’t without hurdles.
Franchise Model: MLS owners have paid hundreds of millions in expansion fees. Relegation threatens the value of these investments, and owners will fiercely resist anything that puts their status at risk.
Lack of Infrastructure: Not all lower-tier clubs have the stadiums, resources, or fanbases to operate at MLS levels.
Broadcast Contracts: Current TV deals are based on the predictability of fixtures. Broadcasters may be hesitant to commit to a system where big-market teams can vanish.
Cultural Adjustment: American sports fans are accustomed to playoffs and closed leagues. Pro/rel is a foreign concept that would require public education and cultural adaptation.
These challenges are real, but not insurmountable. With proper planning, phased implementation, and stakeholder collaboration, a tiered system could be built that protects investments while enhancing competition.
9. A Phased Approach: How It Could Work
Rather than a sudden overhaul, MLS could introduce promotion and relegation gradually:
Phase 1: Strengthen USL and other lower leagues with investment, standards, and partnerships.
Phase 2: Introduce a second division under the MLS umbrella (MLS2), possibly with 10-12 teams.
Phase 3: Trial promotion and relegation between MLS and MLS2, with parachute payments and financial safeguards.
Phase 4: Expand the system to include USL and independent clubs, contingent on infrastructure and financial health.
This approach allows time for adjustment while keeping the long-term vision intact.
10. What American Soccer Stands to Gain
In the end, promotion and relegation is not just about competition—it’s about culture. It’s about the belief that any club, from any corner of the country, can rise to the top on merit.
It’s about making every game matter.
It’s about unleashing the full potential of American soccer by tapping into the grassroots, empowering communities, and honoring the game’s global spirit.
It’s about elevating MLS from a growing domestic league to a truly dynamic, open, and world-class competition.
Promotion and relegation would change everything. And perhaps, that’s exactly what American soccer needs.
