Promotion Or Relegation? MLS League In Talks Over Changes 

Relegation may be introduced to MLS as the league is exploring the idea of creating a second league with movement between the divisions.

MLS Next Pro’s reserve teams will become independent teams that are eligible to play in another league as part of MLS’s goal to expand the number of clubs throughout the nation. The league wants to take advantage of the fact that the United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup, which is why the suggested adjustments are being made.

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Charles Altchek, president of MLS Next Pro, said to AFP: “Looking ahead to the World Cup in 2026 we want to be in as many markets as we can be that want professional soccer.”

He added: “There’s a lot of opportunity, a lot of open markets, a lot of great cities that don’t have professional soccer in the US. We are a little ways from that but when you start to 40 teams playing, you’ve got some scale there. Would you consider adding a second division? If you get to that point, could we come up with some really creative, competitive formats between the divisions? Certainly between division two and three within Next Pro. And then the question is what could you come up with that’s really creative that could include division one?”

Relegation and promotion could finally be added to the game in the US with the addition of more teams and a new division. Since the league’s founding in 1996, there has never been a relegation since the teams who compete in the division are now set.

In the upcoming year or so, the new MLS developments will not be introduced. The first game of the 2024 season, between Real Salt Lake and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, will take place on February 21.