Scholes’s appointment signals a high-profile leadership role to guide the launch of USL Premier.

USL President Paul McDonough describes launch plans as building a scalable, multi-tier pathway with promotion and relegation to open opportunities for clubs, players, fans, and investors.

USL Premier will operate alongside MLS as a first-division competition, with ongoing work on a new collective bargaining agreement and finalizing pro-rel standards with U.S. Soccer.

A core long-term objective is implementing promotion and relegation across the system to boost competitive integrity and keep every match meaningful for clubs, players, and investors.

Tony Scholes, the former Premier League chief football officer, will join USL Premier as President after his duties in England conclude this summer, signaling international ambition.

The USL Championship will shift to a 20-team single-table format, while USL League One remains regional; playoff details have not been disclosed.

Leadership emphasizes building a long-term structure to grow men’s soccer in the U.S. and provide a stable framework for national-level competition.

The move aligns with a rising U.S. soccer profile ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, aiming to capitalize on growing participation and fan interest.

USL CEO Alec Papadakis says USL Premier is a central element of a scalable, community-rooted system designed to grow the game and unlock opportunities for clubs, players, fans, and investors.

The announcement presents USL Premier as a cornerstone of a community-rooted, multi-tier system intended to expand opportunities across the ecosystem.

USL announces a new top-tier Division One, USL Premier, aiming for a 2028 launch with 20 national teams and promotion-relegation from the start.

Several current USL Championship clubs—Louisville City, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Sacramento Republic, Detroit City, Miami FC, and possibly OKC Energy—are signaling plans to join USL Premier, with eight Championship clubs expected to move up initially and four to six new expansion teams for the first season.