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List of United States soccer teams facts for kids

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North America has many exciting soccer leagues! These leagues are where professional and amateur teams play against each other. It's a bit like a pyramid, with the biggest leagues at the top and smaller ones below. Let's explore some of the main soccer leagues for both men and women across the United States, Canada, and even Mexico.

Major League Soccer (MLS): Top Men's Soccer League

The Major League Soccer (MLS) is the highest level of men's professional soccer in the United States and Canada. It's where many famous players compete! The league is divided into two groups: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Teams play games within their conference and against teams from the other conference.

MLS Eastern Conference Teams

MLS Western Conference Teams

USL Championship: Second Tier Men's Soccer

The USL Championship is a professional men's soccer league. It's considered the second level of soccer in the United States. Many teams in this league are connected to MLS teams, helping younger players develop their skills.

USL Championship Eastern Conference Teams

  • Atlanta United 2
  • Birmingham Legion
  • Charleston Battery
  • Charlotte Independence
  • Hartford Athletic
  • Indy Eleven
  • Loudoun United
  • Louisville City FC
  • Memphis 901
  • Miami FC
  • New York Red Bulls II
  • North Carolina FC
  • Philadelphia Union II
  • Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
  • Sporting Kansas City II
  • St. Louis FC
  • Tampa Bay Rowdies

USL Championship Western Conference Teams

  • Austin Bold FC
  • Colorado Springs Switchbacks
  • El Paso Locomotive FC
  • LA Galaxy II
  • Las Vegas Lights FC
  • New Mexico United
  • OKC Energy FC
  • Orange County SC
  • Phoenix Rising FC
  • Portland Timbers 2
  • Real Monarchs
  • Reno 1868 FC
  • Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
  • Sacramento Republic FC
  • San Antonio FC
  • San Diego Loyal
  • Tacoma Defiance
  • Tulsa FC

USL League Two: Developing Future Stars

USL League Two is a league for amateur and developing players. Many college players use this league to stay sharp during their off-season. It helps them get ready for a possible professional career. The league has many teams across different regions.

USL League Two Central Conference Highlights

  • Great Lakes Division: Includes teams like Chicago Fire Premier (a reserve team for the MLS Chicago Fire).
  • Heartland Division: Features teams such as Des Moines Menace and Thunder Bay Chill.

USL League Two Eastern Conference Highlights

  • Mid-Atlantic Division: Teams like Baltimore Bohemians and Ocean City Nor'easters.
  • Northeast Division: Includes Boston Victory and Ottawa Fury.
  • South Atlantic Division: Features teams like Carolina Dynamo and Nashville Metros.

USL League Two Southern Conference Highlights

  • Mid-South Division: Teams such as Austin Aztex and New Orleans Jesters.
  • Southeast Division: Includes Bradenton Academics and Orlando City U-23 (a reserve team for the USL Pro team Orlando City).

USL League Two Western Conference Highlights

  • Northwest Division: Teams like Portland Timbers U23's and Seattle Sounders U23's (reserve teams for MLS clubs).
  • Southwest Division: Features teams such as BYU Cougars and FC Tucson.

History of Women's Professional Soccer Leagues

Women's professional soccer in the U.S. has grown a lot over the years. There have been a few different top leagues. Each one helped build the path for the strong league we have today.

Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)

The first top-level women's league was the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). It started in 2001 and played for three seasons until 2003. It had teams like the Atlanta Beat and Boston Breakers.

Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)

After WUSA, the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league began in 2009. It was another attempt at a top professional league. WPS also played for three seasons, ending in 2011. Some teams from WPS, like the Boston Breakers and Chicago Red Stars, later joined newer leagues.

WPSL Elite: A Bridge League

When WPS ended, a temporary league called WPSL Elite was created in 2012. It was a mix of professional and amateur teams. This league helped keep women's professional soccer going while a new, stronger league was being planned.

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL): Current Top Women's League

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the current top professional women's soccer league in the U.S. It started in 2013 and is run by U.S. Soccer. The NWSL has grown steadily and is the longest-lasting professional women's soccer league in the country.

NWSL Teams

Professional Indoor Soccer: A Different Kind of Game

Indoor soccer is a fun and fast-paced version of soccer played inside a building, usually on a smaller field with walls. It's different from outdoor soccer played in big stadiums.

Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)

The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) is the main professional indoor soccer league in North America. It's unique because it includes teams from the United States and Mexico.

MASL Eastern Division Teams

  • Baltimore Blast
  • Harrisburg Heat
  • Syracuse Silver Knights
  • Waza Flo

MASL Central Division Teams

  • Cedar Rapids Rampage
  • Chicago Mustangs
  • Milwaukee Wave
  • Kansas City Comets
  • St. Louis Ambush

MASL Southwest Division Teams

  • Atletico Baja (Mexico)
  • Brownsville Barracudas
  • Las Vegas Legends
  • Saltillo Rancho Seco (Mexico)
  • Sacramento Surge
  • Turlock Express

MASL Pacific Division Teams

  • Dallas Sidekicks
  • Ontario Fury
  • San Diego Sockers
  • Sonora Suns (Mexico)
  • Tacoma Stars

Related Pages

  • United States soccer league system
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