How Many Major Football Clubs Are in the USA in 2026?
Major League Soccer has 30 clubs in 2026, with 27 based in the United States and three in Canada. Below MLS, the USL Championship has 25 clubs and USL League One has 17 clubs. The National Women's Soccer League has expanded to 16 clubs. Because the United States also has reserve, developmental, amateur, college and independent competitions, there is no single useful number that represents every football club in the country.
Quick Answer: List of Football Clubs in USA 2026
If you are looking for the main professional football clubs in the USA, start with Major League Soccer. MLS has 30 clubs in 2026, but only 27 are located in the United States; Toronto FC, CF Montréal and Vancouver Whitecaps FC are Canadian.
The U.S. men's professional system also includes the USL Championship at Division II and USL League One at Division III. Women's professional football is led by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which has 16 clubs in 2026.
This page focuses on professional first teams and the major national leagues. Youth academies, college teams and the large amateur soccer system are outside the main list.
Is Football Called Soccer in the USA?
Yes. In the United States, the sport known internationally as football is normally called soccer. The word “football” in everyday American conversation usually refers to American football.
Therefore, searches for “football clubs in USA” and “soccer clubs in USA” normally refer to the same association-football teams covered in this guide.
For comparison with European club systems, you can also explore our list of football clubs in England and list of football clubs in Spain.
USA Professional Football League Structure in 2026
Professional soccer in the United States is organized differently from the open promotion-and-relegation pyramids used in countries such as England and Spain. The men's system includes separate sanctioned professional divisions, while women's football has its own Division I competitions.
| League | Level | 2026 Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| MLS | Men D1 | 30 total / 27 USA |
| USL Championship | Men D2 | 25 |
| USL League One | Men D3 | 17 |
| NWSL | Women D1 | 16 |
MLS is the men's top flight. U.S. Soccer identifies the USL Championship as Division II and USL League One as one of the Division III competitions. MLS NEXT Pro is also part of the professional developmental structure and is discussed later in this guide.
List of MLS Football Clubs in USA 2026
There are 27 U.S.-based MLS clubs in 2026. MLS itself has 30 clubs, split evenly between the Eastern and Western Conferences, but three members are Canadian: CF Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Each MLS club is scheduled to play 34 regular-season matches in 2026: 17 at home and 17 away.
| Club | State / District |
|---|---|
| Atlanta United | Georgia |
| Austin FC | Texas |
| Charlotte FC | North Carolina |
| Chicago Fire FC | Illinois |
| FC Cincinnati | Ohio |
| Colorado Rapids | Colorado |
| Columbus Crew | Ohio |
| D.C. United | Washington, D.C. |
| FC Dallas | Texas |
| Houston Dynamo FC | Texas |
| Inter Miami CF | Florida |
| LA Galaxy | California |
| Los Angeles FC | California |
| Minnesota United FC | Minnesota |
| Nashville SC | Tennessee |
| New England Revolution | Massachusetts |
| New York City FC | New York |
| Red Bull New York | New Jersey |
| Orlando City SC | Florida |
| Philadelphia Union | Pennsylvania |
| Portland Timbers | Oregon |
| Real Salt Lake | Utah |
| San Diego FC | California |
| San Jose Earthquakes | California |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Washington |
| Sporting Kansas City | Kansas |
| St. Louis CITY SC | Missouri |
Which MLS clubs are based in Canada?
The three Canadian MLS clubs in 2026 are CF Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. They compete in MLS but are not included in the 27-club U.S. table above.
USL Championship Football Clubs in USA 2026
The USL Championship is the Division II men's professional league in the United States. Its 2026 field contains 25 clubs, including 2026 additions Brooklyn FC and Sporting JAX.
| Club | State |
|---|---|
| Birmingham Legion FC | Alabama |
| Brooklyn FC | New York |
| Charleston Battery | South Carolina |
| Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Colorado |
| Detroit City FC | Michigan |
| El Paso Locomotive FC | Texas |
| FC Tulsa | Oklahoma |
| Hartford Athletic | Connecticut |
| Indy Eleven | Indiana |
| Las Vegas Lights FC | Nevada |
| Lexington SC | Kentucky |
| Loudoun United FC | Virginia |
| Louisville City FC | Kentucky |
| Miami FC | Florida |
| Monterey Bay FC | California |
| New Mexico United | New Mexico |
| Oakland Roots SC | California |
| Orange County SC | California |
| Phoenix Rising FC | Arizona |
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Pennsylvania |
| Rhode Island FC | Rhode Island |
| Sacramento Republic FC | California |
| San Antonio FC | Texas |
| Sporting JAX | Florida |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | Florida |
USL League One Football Clubs in USA 2026
USL League One operates at Division III. The league expanded to 17 clubs for the 2026 season, its largest field to that point.
Five clubs entered League One in 2026: Athletic Club Boise, Corpus Christi FC, Fort Wayne FC, New York Cosmos and Sarasota Paradise.
| Club | State |
|---|---|
| Athletic Club Boise | Idaho |
| AV ALTA FC | California |
| Charlotte Independence | North Carolina |
| Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | Tennessee |
| Corpus Christi FC | Texas |
| Fort Wayne FC | Indiana |
| Forward Madison FC | Wisconsin |
| Greenville Triumph SC | South Carolina |
| FC Naples | Florida |
| New York Cosmos | New York |
| One Knoxville SC | Tennessee |
| Portland Hearts of Pine | Maine |
| Richmond Kickers | Virginia |
| Sarasota Paradise | Florida |
| Spokane Velocity FC | Washington |
| Union Omaha | Nebraska |
| Westchester SC | New York |
The 2026 League One format gives every club a full home-and-away league schedule against the other 16 teams, producing a 32-match regular-season league slate.
Women's Professional Football Clubs in USA 2026
A complete view of football clubs in the USA should also include women's professional football. The National Women's Soccer League expanded to 16 clubs in 2026 with the arrival of Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC.
Each NWSL club plays a 30-match regular season in 2026.
| Club | State |
|---|---|
| Angel City FC | California |
| Bay FC | California |
| Boston Legacy FC | Massachusetts |
| Chicago Stars FC | Illinois |
| Denver Summit FC | Colorado |
| Gotham FC | New Jersey |
| Houston Dash | Texas |
| Kansas City Current | Missouri |
| North Carolina Courage | North Carolina |
| Orlando Pride | Florida |
| Portland Thorns FC | Oregon |
| Racing Louisville FC | Kentucky |
| San Diego Wave FC | California |
| Seattle Reign FC | Washington |
| Utah Royals FC | Utah |
| Washington Spirit | Washington, D.C. |
USL Super League Clubs
The United States also has the Division I women's Gainbridge Super League. Nine clubs competed in its 2025/26 season, which ran into 2026:
- Brooklyn FC
- Carolina Ascent FC
- Dallas Trinity FC
- DC Power FC
- Fort Lauderdale United FC
- Lexington SC
- Spokane Zephyr FC
- Sporting Club Jacksonville
- Tampa Bay Sun FC
What About MLS NEXT Pro and Other U.S. Football Clubs?
The professional landscape does not stop with MLS, the USL Championship and USL League One. MLS NEXT Pro is a Division III developmental competition containing MLS reserve teams as well as independent clubs.
The league reached 30 clubs for 2026. U.S. Soccer identified Connecticut United FC, Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC as its three independent clubs at the start of the season, while most of the remaining teams are connected to MLS organizations.
Below the major professional competitions are additional semi-professional, amateur, development and youth structures such as USL League Two, USL W League, NPSL, UPSL, MLS NEXT academies and regional competitions.
That is why a search for the total number of “football clubs in USA” can produce very different answers depending on whether the source is counting only first-division clubs, all professional teams, reserve teams, youth academies or amateur organizations.
Which U.S. States Have the Most MLS Football Clubs?
California has the largest concentration of U.S.-based MLS clubs in 2026, with four. Texas follows with three.
- California – 4: LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, San Diego FC and San Jose Earthquakes.
- Texas – 3: Austin FC, FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo FC.
- Florida – 2: Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC.
- Ohio – 2: FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew.
Other MLS markets stretch from Seattle and Portland in the Pacific Northwest to Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston and New York on the eastern side of the country.
Does USA Football Have Promotion and Relegation?
No automatic promotion and relegation currently connects MLS, the USL Championship and USL League One.
This is one of the biggest differences between professional soccer in the United States and traditional European league pyramids.
In England, for example, league position can move a club between divisions at the end of a season. In the United States, MLS, the USL Championship and USL League One operate as separate league structures rather than one open ladder based purely on promotion and relegation.
Compare the difference directly with our English football clubs and league structure guide.
How to Follow Reliable U.S. Football Club Information
Club membership, expansion plans, branding and league formats can change. For the most reliable current information, check the official league or club website before relying on old team lists.
This is particularly important in U.S. soccer because expansion clubs and new markets are regularly announced before they actually begin league play.
You can also read our guide to the best football transfer news websites and reliable sources for ways to separate confirmed club information from rumors.
FAQs About Football Clubs in USA
How many MLS football clubs are in the USA in 2026?
There are 27 U.S.-based MLS clubs in 2026. MLS has 30 clubs overall, with the remaining three located in Canada.
What are the three Canadian MLS clubs?
They are CF Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
What is the biggest football league in the USA?
Major League Soccer is the men's Division I professional league and the highest level of the U.S. men's professional league structure.
What is the second division of soccer in the USA?
The USL Championship is the Division II men's professional league.
What is Division III soccer in the USA?
USL League One and MLS NEXT Pro are major Division III professional competitions in the U.S. system.
How many USL Championship clubs are there in 2026?
The 2026 USL Championship field contains 25 clubs.
How many USL League One clubs are there in 2026?
USL League One has 17 clubs in its 2026 season.
How many NWSL teams are there in 2026?
The NWSL has 16 clubs in 2026 following the addition of Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC.
How many professional football clubs are there in the USA?
There is no single useful number unless the definition is specified. A count may include men's first teams, women's teams, reserve teams, developmental clubs and other professional competitions. For that reason, this guide reports league membership separately instead of presenting a misleading single total.
Is soccer the same as football?
Yes. Soccer is another name for association football. In the United States, “soccer” is the normal term because “football” usually refers to American football.
Does MLS have promotion and relegation?
No. MLS does not currently use automatic promotion and relegation with the USL Championship or other lower professional divisions.
Related Football Guides
Continue exploring football leagues, clubs and reliable sources:
- List of Football Clubs in England
- List of Football Clubs in Spain
- Best Football Transfer News Websites
- Explore Football Articles
- Explore Sports Articles
- Waridi Blog Homepage
Conclusion: Football Clubs in USA in 2026
The list of football clubs in USA is much broader than MLS alone. In 2026, MLS has 27 U.S.-based clubs, while the USL Championship contributes 25 Division II teams and USL League One fields 17 Division III clubs. Women's professional football is also expanding, with the NWSL operating as a 16-club league.
The key difference from many European systems is structure: American professional soccer is divided among separate leagues rather than one automatic promotion-and-relegation pyramid.
Because U.S. soccer continues to add clubs and markets, this page should be reviewed whenever a new season begins. For more country-by-country club guides, visit the Waridi Blog football section.
Data Sources & Research Notes
Last reviewed: August 9, 2026.
League counts, club lists and competition structure were checked against primary league and governing-body sources. Expansion teams that have been announced for future seasons are not counted as active 2026 clubs unless they are competing in the relevant 2026 season.
- Major League Soccer – 2026 Competition Guidelines
- USL Championship – Official League Information and 2026 Teams
- USL League One – 2026 Competition Format and Club List
- U.S. Soccer – 2026 Professional Soccer Overview
- NWSL – Official 2026 League and Club Information
- USL Super League – 2025/26 Clubs and Competition Format