The USL Championship began its 2026 season over the weekend amid ongoing negotiations between the second-tier U.S. men’s league and its players association to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.
Players voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in late February, but so far games are still moving forward. Athletes stood still for the first 60 seconds of matches over the weekend as fans cheered on their protest and broadcasts cut to the stands.
The league and union remain far apart on several key issues including minimum compensation, health insurance, and NIL rights. A federal mediator joined recent discussions to replace the CBA that expired last year. (Those terms are still continuing during labor talks.) Similar to the WNBA’s negotiations, USL players want to see league-wide professional standards established.
“Even though things are progressing, the pace at which it’s progressing isn’t quick enough for the players,” USLPA president and Colorado Springs Switchbacks defender Duke Lacroix told Front Office Sports on Monday. “The sentiment across the entire player pool is that that floor needs to rise significantly higher across the board.”
As far as a strike goes, Lacroix said players are still willing to compete amid negotiations, but “nothing is off the table at this point.”
“The players are aware, the players are communicating, and the players are united in the steps forward that we’re doing together,” Lacroix said.
The league and union held a call to discuss the path forward on Monday, and scheduled a bargaining session for Wednesday afternoon.
“Our focus remains on returning to the bargaining table and finalizing an agreement that supports the players, strengthens the league’s future, and ensures the game remains accessible to fans and communities across the country,” a USL spokesperson told FOS on Tuesday.
USL president of competition and administration Brett Luy told ESPN last week, “We need a willing dance partner here.”
The two sides have been negotiating a new CBA since August 2024. Last year, USL announced a new Division One tier starting in 2028 that would sit above the USL Championship, which is currently the highest U.S. men’s league before MLS, called USL Premier. The new system would feature promotion and relegation of clubs, mirroring soccer leagues in Europe.
