TAMPA, Fla. - The United Soccer League announced Monday it will expand its regular season to 32 games in 2017, up from 30 in 2016.
The USL made the announcement following the league's annual Board of Governors mid-year meetings held last week in San Jose in conjunction with the 2016 MLS All-Star Game. The Board of Governors approved a 32-game schedule that will begin the weekend of March 24-26, contested in a span of not more than 30 weeks.
The competition structure is developed through the League’s Off-Field Competition Committee before a final recommendation is presented to the BOG's for voting.
The 32-game schedule will allow each team to play its conference opponents at least twice, one home and one away, with regional rivalries rounding out the schedule. Teams will not play an opponent more than three times in 2017.
The 2017 playoff format will mirror 2016 with the top eight teams in each conference qualifying for the postseason.
“After evaluating a number of proposals the League and its Competition Committee agreed on several changes that we felt would deliver value to our clubs through the extra home match,” said Jake Edwards, USL President. “Also, lengthening the season gives us greater flexibility to create a more balanced schedule with less midweek matches. We will continue to build our national footprint with a focus on regional rivalries and a roadmap to a three-conference alignment in the very near future."
