The United Soccer League has announced its conference alignment heading into the 2018 season. The USL will contain 33 teams across two conferences in the upcoming season as the regular season expands to 34 games.
The Swope Park Rangers remain in the Western Conference for the third year of the club’s existence, and are rejoined in the West by cross-state Saint Louis FC – which is the only team to move conferences heading into 2018. The Western Conference will feature 17 teams in the new season, while the Eastern Conference comprise of 16 clubs.
Of the league’s expansion teams, Fresno FC and Las Vegas Lights FC will join the Western Conference, while ATL UTD 2, Indy Eleven, Nashville SC and North Carolina FC are placed in the Eastern Conference. Orlando City B and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 elected not to participate in the USL in 2018.
<strong>Western Conference</strong> |
<strong>Eastern Conference</strong> |
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC |
ATL UTD 2 |
Fresno FC |
Bethlehem Steel FC |
LA Galaxy II |
Charleston Battery |
Las Vegas Lights FC |
Charlotte Independence |
OKC Energy FC |
FC Cincinnati |
Orange County SC |
Indy Eleven |
Phoenix Rising FC |
Louisville City FC |
Portland Timbers 2 |
Nashville SC |
Real Monarchs SLC |
New York Red Bulls II |
Reno 1868 FC |
North Carolina FC |
Rio Grande Valley FC |
Ottawa Fury FC |
Sacramento Republic FC |
Penn FC |
Saint Louis FC |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds |
San Antonio FC |
Richmond Kickers |
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |
Tampa Bay Rowdies |
<strong>Swope Park Rangers</strong> |
Toronto FC II |
Tulsa Roughnecks FC |