The United Soccer League announced its alignment and regular-season and playoff formats for the 2016 season on Wednesday.
Six new expansion teams will join the league in 2016, bringing the USL field to 29 teams: Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, Swope Park Rangers and San Antonio. Helping USL’s rapid expansion has been an landmark developmental partnership that allows MLS franchises to choose to either field a reserve team in USL or partner with an existing franchise.
The USL will continue in a two-conference format: 14 teams in the Eastern Conference and 15 teams in the Western Conference. The 30-game regular season will run 27 weeks, kicking off on March 25 and finishing on Sept. 25.
Here is the conference breakdown:
<h3><strong>Eastern Conference</strong></h3><p>Bethlehem Steel FC<br>
Charleston Battery<br>
Charlotte Independence<br>
FC Cincinnati<br>
Harrisburg City Islanders<br>
Louisville City FC<br>
FC Montreal<br>
New York Red Bulls II<br>
Orlando City B<br>
Pittsburgh Riverhounds<br>
Richmond Kickers<br>
Rochester Rhinos<br>
Toronto FC II<br>
Wilmington Hammerheads FC</p> |
<h3><strong>Western Conference</strong></h3><p>Arizona United SC<br>
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC<br>
LA Galaxy II<br>
OKC Energy FC<br>
Orange County Blues FC<br>
Portland Timbers 2<br>
Real Monarch SLC<br>
Rio Grande Valley FC<br>
Sacramento Republic FC<br>
Saint Louis FC<br>
San Antonio<br>
Seattle Sounders FC 2<br>
Swope Park Rangers<br>
Tulsa Roughnecks FC<br>
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2</p> |
