Negotiations Between USL and USLPA Progress Towards New Collective Bargaining Agreement

The United Soccer League (USL) and the USL Players Association (USLPA) are scheduled to resume discussions on Thursday regarding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for players in the USL Championship. However, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations have indicated that the two parties are still far apart on several critical issues.

These discussions occur alongside USL’s initiative to establish a new Division 1 league that would sit above the USL Championship, as well as plans to implement a system of promotion and relegation by 2028. The previous CBA expired on December 31, 2025.

Central to the negotiations are issues concerning player compensation and benefits, particularly for those at the lower end of the pay scale. Reports suggest that both the USL and the union have tentatively agreed to a standard contract duration of 12 months, an increase from the previous 10-month term. This change addresses a significant concern for the USLPA, as being a professional soccer player is viewed as a year-round commitment.

Another point of contention is health insurance for players. While the previous CBA did not require clubs to provide health insurance, approximately 80% of teams opted to do so. Sources indicate that there is a mutual understanding that some form of health insurance should be made available by every team. However, the USLPA advocates for a standardized insurance policy across the USL Championship, whereas the league prefers to leave this decision to individual clubs.

Currently, if a player sustains an injury during a game or practice, they must file a worker’s compensation claim in their state of residence. Should a player live in a jurisdiction without available worker’s compensation, the team is responsible for providing access to a comparable policy.

Until a new CBA is finalized and ratified, the league continues to operate under the terms of the previous CBA regarding both contract duration and health insurance provisions. Reports to ESPN reveal that many proposed contracts lack health insurance coverage.

In a statement to ESPN, the USLPA noted, “Clubs are currently free to issue 2026 player contracts under existing terms, without the baseline professional standards that are still being negotiated. As a result, one-fifth of Championship clubs are still executing contracts that do not include any options for health insurance, and roughly half of the 2026 contracts we have reviewed are for terms shorter than 12 months.”

The most significant challenge in the negotiations revolves around player compensation. The previous CBA included a two-tier structure for lower-paid players, allowing teams to sign up to six players on a “flex minimum” contract at $26,000 for the season, which could encompass salary, bonuses, health insurance, and housing allowances. Other players were offered a “contract minimum” of $31,000.

The current negotiations have the league proposing a slight increase of over 20% from the contract minimum, raising it to approximately $38,000 annually. In contrast, the USLPA is advocating for a 40% increase to $43,400 per season, not accounting for health insurance and bonuses, which would be additional benefits on top of the base salary. Housing allowances would still be included in the contracted amount, with the number of flex contracts per team also under discussion.

The USL has refrained from commenting on these negotiations but sources suggest that the union’s proposals represent too significant an increase to be feasible in one CBA. The league argues for a gradual, “stair-step” approach, maintaining that over 90% of players currently earn above the existing contract minimum.

Additionally, a major hurdle remains regarding the licensing of player image and likeness rights. Under the current CBA, the USLPA receives $25,000 from the league for licensing. The union is now seeking to increase this amount to approximately $600,000, comparable to the earnings of players in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. The league, however, wishes to limit this figure to around $125,000.