What USL Implementing Pro-Rel Means for NISA, and Soccer in America

For many years, fans have been waiting for promotion and relegation finally being implemented in the United States. Some leagues have come and gone, and as of right now, no one has actually done it yet. In 2017, the National Independent Soccer Association launched, partnering with the NASL, and what could've been potentially the NPSL, to align and create the first open system in US Soccer history.

Since then however, the system has changed dramatically, as it does a lot in our country's soccer. The NASL folded, leaving NISA alone to navigate and bring the dream of an open system to life. Over the past 2 years, they've partnered with multiple regional leagues, including the EPSL, GCPL, among others. They created NISA Nation, a semi-pro league intended to help grow club's ambitions of going professional. All of this is now the groundwork of a potential open system.

But, the nature of soccer in this country has come into play. When one league does something, they're always rivaled by another. Soccer wars have been fought here since the 20s. When the USL found out NISA is planning to implement pro-rel, they decided to do it too. Competition is always happening in the system.

As reported by Jeff Rueter of the Athletic on July 21, the USL has proposed internal promotion and relegation, presumably between USL League One and the USL Championship. In the Winter Summit coming up in December, they're set to vote on whether or not it actually happens yet.

Many people would think this is groundbreaking, but it really isn't. The USL implementing pro-rel between just 2 league isn't an open system. An open system is pro-rel from the very top, to the very bottom, it's an alliance of leagues with the same ideologies. For one, the type of promotion and relegation the USL is proposing to it's board is solely internal. It's not an alliance of multiple different organizations, just one.

The effects that this could have on soccer would actually be wrong. USL would just be slapping the "open system" label on the changes potentially being made. It could give people the wrong idea of what pro-rel and open soccer really is. And the fact that USL is using this in a competitive way, is just another chapter of a soccer war.