United States soccer league system

United States soccer league system

USSF Division I soccer clubs of the United States and Canada (2024).
Country	United States
Sport	Soccer
Promotion and relegation	No
National system
Federation	United States Soccer Federation
Confederation	CONCACAF
Top division	Major League Soccer (men) National Women's Soccer League (women) USL Super League (women)
Second division	USL Championship (men)
Cup competition	U.S. Open Cup (men) Challenge Cup (women)
Soccer in the United States

The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer) defines professional leagues in three levels, called divisions, with all other leagues sanctioned by the USSF not having an official designated level or division.

For practical and historical reasons, some teams from Bermuda, Canada, and Puerto Rico (considered a separate country by FIFA) can also compete in these leagues. However, these teams are not eligible for the U.S. Open Cup and cannot represent the United States in the CONCACAF Champions Cup because they are not affiliated with U.S. Soccer.