The Future Of US Club Soccer At A Crossroads: Part Three – Could 2018 Look Like 2010 When It Comes to Division 2 Soccer in the United States?

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http://midfieldpress.com/2016/09/19/the-future-of-us-club-soccer-at-a-crossroads-part-three-could-2018-look-like-2010-when-it-comes-to-division-2-soccer-in-the-united-states/

The Future Of US Club Soccer At A Crossroads: Part Three – Could 2018 Look Like 2010 When It Comes to Division 2 Soccer in the United States?

by Chris Kivlehan - September 19, 2016

In 2010, the United Soccer Leagues and the Team Owner’s Association, a group of club owners who disagreed with the direction of USL, were at war.  The TOA broke off from USL and would go on to form the new North American Soccer League.  Intervening to save the 2010 season, the United States Soccer Federation forced clubs from both groups to participate a joint league called USSF-D2 for a year while it sorted out which group would be D2 and which would be D3 going forward.  Ultimately, the federation decided that NASL would be D2 and USL would be D3. 

Since then, the NASL and USL have had a contentious relationship, even though few people from the USL-TOA rift are still involved with either league.  While NASL got off to the faster start, USL has gained ground over the past few seasons on the backs of its affiliation partnership with Major League Soccer, similar to a war between two small nations where a faltering rival receives backing from a regional power that shifts the tide.  With USL now applying for D2 status, the USSF could take the opportunity to revise the system altogether, calling an end to this “soccer war.”