The United Soccer League today announced conference alignment, as well as regular-season and playoff format for the Swope Park Rangers’ inaugural USL season in 2016.
Twenty-nine teams will take part in the league’s sixth season in the hunt for the competitions ultimate prize – the USL Cup.
Joining the Rangers as expansion franchises in 2016 are Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC and San Antonio.
The 2016 season will continue the USL’s two-conference format, with 14 teams in the Eastern Conference and 15 teams – including the Rangers – in the Western Conference. The regular season will span 30 games over 27 weeks, starting on March 25 and ending on September 25.
The team with the best regular-season record across the two conferences will claim the 2016 USL Regular Season Title – much like the Supporters’ Shield in MLS. The top eight teams in each conference will earn a spot in the 2016 USL Playoffs, where a single-elimination bracket will be implemented to crown two conference champions. Those two teams will then advance to the 2016 USL Championship, which will be hosted by the team with the superior regular-season record.
A full breakdown of Eastern and Western Conference alignment can be found below.
<strong>EASTERN CONFERENCE</strong> |
<strong>WESTERN CONFERENCE</strong> |
<p>Bethlehem Steel FC</p> |
<p>Arizona United SC</p> |
<p>Charleston Battery</p> |
<p>Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC</p> |
<p>Charlotte Independence</p> |
<p>LA Galaxy II</p> |
<p>FC Cincinnati</p> |
<p>OKC Energy FC</p> |
<p>Harrisburg City Islanders</p> |
<p>Orange County Blues FC</p> |
<p>Louisville City FC</p> |
<p>Portland Timbers 2</p> |
<p>FC Montreal</p> |
<p>Real Monarchs SLC</p> |
<p>New York Red Bulls II</p> |
<p>Rio Grande Valley FC</p> |
<p>Orlando City B</p> |
<p>Sacramento Republic FC</p> |
<p>Pittsburgh Riverhounds</p> |
<p>Saint Louis FC</p> |
<p>Richmond Kickers</p> |
<p>San Antonio</p> |
<p>Rochester Rhinos</p> |
<p>Seattle Sounders FC 2</p> |
<p>Toronto FC II</p> |
<strong>Swope Park Rangers</strong> |
<p>Wilmington Hammerheads FC</p> |
<p>Tulsa Roughnecks FC</p> |
<p>Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2</p> |
