TAMPA/INDIANAPOLIS – The USL Championship today announced its competition structure for the 2022 season. The league’s 27 teams will be divided into two conferences – Indy Eleven will remain in the now 14-team Eastern Conference, while the Western Conference will consist of 13 squads (see lists below).
A 34-game regular season will be played from March 11 to Oct. 15, 2022. The home openers and full schedule for the 2022 USL Championship season will be announced in January 2022.
Every team will play each of its conference foes twice – once at home, once away. For Eastern Conference clubs, the remaining eight games will be against interconference opponents – four at home, four away. For Western Conference clubs, the remaining 10 games will be against a combination of interconference and intraconference opponents – five at home, five away.
"I want to thank my fellow Competition and Strategy Executive Committee members for their insight and collaboration in working through the competition format, playoff format and the overall schedule for the 2022 season,” stated Greg Stremlaw, Indy Eleven President and Chief Executive Officer. “After managing through changes to the number of participating clubs in the Championship and to the overall sport ecosystem, I believe we provided the best recommendations to the USL Board of Governors for a competitive season next year.”
At the conclusion of the regular season, the top seven teams in each conference will qualify for the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs. The first overall seed in each conference will receive a bye to the Conference Semifinals of the playoffs. The bracket will be reseeded following the Conference Quarterfinals to ensure the first overall seed in each conference plays against the lowest-seeded remaining opponent. The USL Championship Playoffs will remain a single-elimination format, culminating in the 2022 USL Championship Final on a to be determined date between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14, 2022.
“We are pleased and eager to see the Championship in a traditional two-conference alignment in 2022,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “This regular season format increases the importance of each intra-conference match while also providing the variety and intrigue of more cross-conference matchups. The schedule footprint allows our teams time to compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and finish the playoffs prior to call-ups for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
USL Championship debutants Detroit City FC and Monterey Bay F.C. will join the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively. Detroit City will be the league’s northernmost club, with its nearest conference opponents being Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (291 mi.), Indy Eleven (322 mi.), and Louisville City FC (363 mi.). Monterey Bay counts five California neighbors among its conference opponents, including Oakland Roots SC (116 mi.) and Sacramento Republic FC (186 mi).
2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlanta United 2
Birmingham Legion
Charleston Battery
Detroit City FC
Hartford Athletic
Indy Eleven
Loudoun United FC
Louisville City FC
Memphis 901 FC
The Miami FC
New York Red Bulls II
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Tampa Bay Rowdies
FC Tulsa
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
El Paso Locomotive FC
LA Galaxy II
Las Vegas Lights FC
Monterey Bay F.C.
New Mexico United
Oakland Roots SC
Orange County SC
Phoenix Rising FC
Rio Grande Valley FC
Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC
San Diego Loyal SC
Season Ticket Memberships for Indy Eleven’s 2022 campaign are now on sale – with one of the numerous benefits available including complimentary season tickets for the inaugural season of the Eleven’s new USL W League squad. Fans can also place deposits to secure discounted tickets and exclusive gameday experiences for groups of 10 or more and one of the many Premium Hospitality options at Carroll Stadium. To learn more and lock in your seats in 2022, visit https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets.
TAMPA/INDIANAPOLIS – The USL Championship today announced its competition structure for the 2022 season. The league’s 27 teams will be divided into two conferences – Indy Eleven will remain in the now 14-team Eastern Conference, while the Western Conference will consist of 13 squads (see lists below).
A 34-game regular season will be played from March 11 to Oct. 15, 2022. The home openers and full schedule for the 2022 USL Championship season will be announced in January 2022.
Every team will play each of its conference foes twice – once at home, once away. For Eastern Conference clubs, the remaining eight games will be against interconference opponents – four at home, four away. For Western Conference clubs, the remaining 10 games will be against a combination of interconference and intraconference opponents – five at home, five away.
“I want to thank my fellow Competition and Strategy Executive Committee members for their insight and collaboration in working through the competition format, playoff format and the overall schedule for the 2022 season,” stated Greg Stremlaw, Indy Eleven President and Chief Executive Officer. “After managing through changes to the number of participating clubs in the Championship and to the overall sport ecosystem, I believe we provided the best recommendations to the USL Board of Governors for a competitive season next year.”
At the conclusion of the regular season, the top seven teams in each conference will qualify for the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs. The first overall seed in each conference will receive a bye to the Conference Semifinals of the playoffs. The bracket will be reseeded following the Conference Quarterfinals to ensure the first overall seed in each conference plays against the lowest-seeded remaining opponent. The USL Championship Playoffs will remain a single-elimination format, culminating in the 2022 USL Championship Final on a to be determined date between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14, 2022.
“We are pleased and eager to see the Championship in a traditional two-conference alignment in 2022,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “This regular season format increases the importance of each intra-conference match while also providing the variety and intrigue of more cross-conference matchups. The schedule footprint allows our teams time to compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and finish the playoffs prior to call-ups for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
USL Championship debutants Detroit City FC and Monterey Bay F.C. will join the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively. Detroit City will be the league’s northernmost club, with its nearest conference opponents being Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (291 mi.), Indy Eleven (322 mi.), and Louisville City FC (363 mi.). Monterey Bay counts five California neighbors among its conference opponents, including Oakland Roots SC (116 mi.) and Sacramento Republic FC (186 mi).
2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlanta United 2
Birmingham Legion
Charleston Battery
Detroit City FC
Hartford Athletic
Indy Eleven
Loudoun United FC
Louisville City FC
Memphis 901 FC
The Miami FC
New York Red Bulls II
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Tampa Bay Rowdies
FC Tulsa
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
El Paso Locomotive FC
LA Galaxy II
Las Vegas Lights FC
Monterey Bay F.C.
New Mexico United
Oakland Roots SC
Orange County SC
Phoenix Rising FC
Rio Grande Valley FC
Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC
San Diego Loyal SC
Season Ticket Memberships for Indy Eleven’s 2022 campaign are now on sale – with one of the numerous benefits available including complimentary season tickets for the inaugural season of the Eleven’s new USL W League squad. Fans can also place deposits to secure discounted tickets and exclusive gameday experiences for groups of 10 or more and one of the many Premium Hospitality options at Carroll Stadium. To learn more and lock in your seats in 2022, visit https://www.indyeleven.com/tickets.
