Recently the USL applied to USSF for Division 2 status. The application was approved and USL has been sanctioned as a second division league in the U.S. Soccer structure. MLS as the first division, USL as the second division and USL plans to start a Division 3 league as well for 2019.
This led to a lot of speculation that some of the MLS owned teams in the USL may drop down to the third division when it starts. There have also been a number of rumors flying around that Sporting Kansas City’s ‘B’ team, the Swope Park Rangers would drop to D3 or possibly even move to another city where they might draw more fans as stand-alone team.