If there’s one league in the United States that we might have some marginal knowledge of, it’s the USL Championship. This league is the second-tier of professional football after the MLS, although there’s no promotion/relegation system.
A good question to ask is: Why should we care?
I don’t know if you should, unless you live in close proximity to El Paso Locomotive FC or any of the other 23 teams in the league.
I simply became intrigued by it because of Orange County FC, which is currently eighth place in the Western Conference. This would technically would have been my “local club” when I grew up. It was founded in 1998 (who knew!) as Los Angeles Blues.
There are two conferences in the USL Championship: the aforementioned Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. Both are split into 12 teams, with the top eight advancing to the playoffs. That seems excessive.
It looks like they’re about halfway into the season. Here are the top four teams in each conference.
East: Charleston Battery, Louisville City FC, Louodon United FC, North Carolina FC
West: FC Tulsa, San Antonio FC, New Mexico United, Sacramento Republic FC.
I gotta say - it’s pretty bold to suggest an entire state like New Mexico is united around this one second-tier football club.
And if you’re asking where the defending champion Colorado Switchbacks FC are in the standings, I’ll tell ya: They’re in LAST.
Fitzie’s track of the day: How to Fight Loneliness, by Wilco
And now for your links:
The Athletic ($$): “The homegrown rule that will cost some Spurs players a place in the Champions League”
The Guardian: “Spain to face England in Euro 2025 final after Bonmatí’s extra-time strike sinks Germany”
Sky Sports: “Hugo Ekitike joins Liverpool: Eintracht Frankfurt striker completes £79m transfer to Premier League champions”