The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors granted provisional Division 2 status on Friday to the North American Soccer League (NASL) and United Soccer League (USL) for the 2017 season.
The two leagues had both applied for Division 2 status, with the NASL looking to maintain its position as the sole second-tier professional league in the United States and Canada while the USL aimed to move up a rung on the organizational ladder.
“After an exhaustive process working with both leagues, in the best interest of the sport the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors has decided to grant provisional Division II status to the NASL and USL,” USSF president Sunil Gulati said in a statement.