New England’s Soccer Renaissance
Like many regions in the United States, New England is ready for the next stage of Soccer in North America
Speaking of New England, I had a blast speaking with Thomas from the Blazing Musket Podcast. For today’s episode, we talked about MLS, how I became an AFC Wimbledon fan, and all of the amazing soccer we have in the Carolinas.
The stage is set for a soccer renaissance in New England - and that was before today’s announcement that the United Soccer League is introducing promotion and relegation into the United States soccer pyramid.
In 2026, the United States (along with Canada and Mexico) will host the Men’s World Cup for the first time since 1994.
In addition to hosting the New England Revolution’s 30th season this year, Gillette Stadium will host seven World Cup matches in 2026, including a quarterfinal match as Foxboro Stadium did in 1994.
Also in 2026, White Stadium in Boston proper will host a new National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) squad, and Connecticut United will join MLS NEXT Pro, Major League Soccer’s Division III development league. Both MLS and independent MLS NEXT Pro teams introduce free player academies to their communities, a boon that’s standard in Europe but rare in American pro sports.
Domestic leagues are already preparing for a growth spurt. The United Soccer League (USL) announced they will be introducing a new Division I professional soccer league - the same tier as MLS - in addition to their existing leagues. Last year, USL launched the Super League, a Division I competitor to the NWSL, and today they announced a groundbreaking vote in favor of promotion and relegation that could change the way American audiences think about soccer.
European style promotion and relegation will offer New England’s smaller clubs - like the newly-formed Portland Hearts of Pine of the USL League One, or Rhode Island FC and Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship - the chance to advance to more prestigious leagues and tougher competition.
"We applaud USL’s announcement of intent to launch a Division One league, as the future of soccer is bright in the United States. Rhode Island FC and our stadium are well-positioned to be a part of this league, and we welcome exploring [joining Division One] when the time is right." said RIFC chairman Brett M. Johnson in a statement.
As a club that made the USL Championship final in its first year of play, Rhode Island FC is a candidate to play in a higher league.
Hartford Athletic’s statement read in part, “The announcement of a new Tier 1 men’s professional league marks another significant step forward for soccer in this country and is a testament to the USL’s ambitious vision. As a proud member of the USL Championship, we are excited about the league’s trajectory and the momentum behind soccer in the U.S. We have always believed in the strength of this league, the passion of our fans, and the potential for even greater heights.”
Portland Hearts of Pine is making their debut this year, but early signs point to a club that could have the support to win promotion to higher leagues. They recruited Maine native Patrick Dempsey to wear their new kits, sponsored by the Maine Office of Tourism. The club has generated enough excitement to sell 96% of their season ticket deposits, and the organization is focused on selling out their 6,300 seat Fitzpatrick Stadium every match.
All of this planning and expansion builds upon a strong amateur soccer foundation in the Northeast. Seven National Premier Soccer League teams and eight USL League Two teams call New England home. These teams give college soccer players a place to play in the spring and summer, giving them an additional development pathway.
One of those League Two teams, the Western Mass Pioneers, is on the resume of recent U.S. Men’s National Team addition Patrick Agyemang. Agyemang, who was chosen by Charlotte FC in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, is a product of New England’s soccer pipleline.
Agyemang grew up as the son of Ghanaian parents in Connecticut. He played youth soccer in East Hartford, amateur soccer with the Pioneers, and college soccer at Eastern Connecticut State University and the University of Rhode Island before being drafted by Charlotte. In less than a year, Agyemang made the leap from Charlotte’s reserve team to the First Team in less than a year, became Charlotte FC’s starting striker and top scorer in his second season, and was the standout player of this January’s USMNT camp with two goals in two appearances.
Another of those League Two teams, Vermont Green FC, shares both players and Virtue Field in Burlington with the reigning NCAA men’s soccer champions, the University of Vermont. The Green had a good run in last year’s Open Cup, and continue to sell out matches regularly. They’ve also attracted significant media attention for their environmental justice mission and their inspired approach to design and branding, and recruited World Cup Champion and Massachusetts native Sam Mewis to coach their women’s team.
This growth in New England and across the country means there are more opportunities for players and coaches, more development pathways for future star players, and in the future, an United States Soccer Federation with the talent to win a World Cup.
If the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) approves the USL’s promotion and relegation scheme, teams like Hartford, Portland, and Rhode Island will be more attractive destinations for local talent, who will have a clearer pathway to the top levels of the sport. New England fans outside of Boston will have more reasons to watch their local teams.
Investment and increased interest in the sport may in turn help more free and low-cost academies flourish. Right now, soccer parents whose kids want to play above the recreational level often have to pay thousands of dollars to play each year, and there are limited slots in the free MLS NEXT academies. If a family can’t afford the next level of club soccer, the scouts for the free academies may not see them play until high school.
A flourishing sport with more playing slots and more opportunities could mean New England has the chance to produce more standouts like Mewis and Agyemang, and the U.S. as a whole may finally produce enough talent in one generation to win a World Cup.
Of course, this potential isn’t limited to New England. You could find examples of all of the above across the country. Look at the past 48 hours in soccer news, and all of the excitement generated by simple things like raising the Open Cup prize purse to $1,000,000 million for the first time as the 110th edition of the tournament kicks off, and setting the stage for promotion and relegation.
If this week’s big news, and the exciting things happening in New England and across the country tell us anything, it’s that the future of soccer in North America is bright.