Tyler Adams, a midfielder for the US men’s team, has expressed his support for the idea of bringing promotion and relegation to the MLS, saying it would improve the league’s competitiveness.
Promotion and relegation are models used by soccer leagues in almost every country around the world, including England, Spain, Germany, Brazil and Argentina, but since the league began in 1996, the idea has been maintained arm length by MLS.
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But Adams, who plays club football in Bournemouth and the British Premier League, said he saw the advantages of the system.
“I would like to see [promotion and relegation] With MLS, I think it will make the league more competitive in the US,” Adams, who captained USMNT at the 2022 World Cup, told USA Today this week.
“It adds a little more pressure and a little more nerve and excitement to the fans because everyone gives them more plays when they don’t play well.
Tyler Adams has expressed his support for his promotion and demotion in MLS. Omar Vega/Getty Images
Adams rose to the youth rank with the MLS Club New York Red Bulls before moving to Europe with RB Leipzig in 2019. He was relegated from the Premier League to the English Championship in 2023 at Leeds United.
Adams’ comments come when the United Football League (USL) club owners voted last month to implement a promotion and relegation system. This is the first time the system has been implemented in the US.
In February, USL confirmed plans to launch a Division One Men’s Professional league in 2027 to counter MLS within the US Football Federation’s sanctions standards.
USL said the league will operate separately from MLS despite working under the same sanctions as professional soccer leagues. The new league will offer a 3-tier pro system featuring Division One, as well as a second division called the USL Championship and the third division USL League 1.
MLS commissioner Don Gerber points out that the lack of promotions and relegation is a key driver for the league’s investment, with expansion fees rising to $500 million for the latest club San Diego FC. However, he has not completely ruled out any system that will exist in any way in the future.
