The United Soccer League (USL) clubs in the United States, have voted to implement a promotion and relegation system to become the first professional sports league in the U.S. to adopt the European model.

The USL said majority of the club owners were in favour of the change, and a three-tier professional system is set to be in place by the 2027-28 season when a new first division (USL Division One) is launched.

Although leagues in Europe and across the world have had promotion and relegation for decades, the model never caught on in the U.S. over fears of teams losing revenue if they finish bottom and are relegated to the lower division.

USL CEO Alec Papadakis said, “A new chapter in American soccer begins and the decision by our owners to approve and move forward with this bold direction is a testament to their commitment to the long-term growth of soccer in the United States” .

The top-tier Major League Soccer (MLS) is still a closed league with 30 teams, 15 in the Eastern Conference and 15 in the Western Conference, who remain in it no matter how poorly they perform.

The USL announced plans last month for a new Division One league which will also have a top-tier status.

The implementation of promotion and relegation in the USL will also rule out dead rubbers at the end of the season, where every game could be vital to survival.