Major League Soccer is launching a new 20-team professional pathway league in 2022.
The venture announced on Monday will expand the sport to new markets and serve as an intermediate step between the MLS player academies and the MLS first teams.
“In addition to providing more opportunities for MLS-caliber players, the new league will develop a diverse talent pool of coaches, referees and front office executives while also attracting fans who previously were unable to support a local club in their hometown,” MLS president and deputy commissioner Mark Abbott said in a news release.
The league will begin play in late March 2022 and conclude with playoffs in the fall and a championship match in early December.
Further details, including the league’s name and logo and the participating franchises, will be unveiled throughout the next year.
–Field Level Media