The United Soccer League (UFL) is about to start its second season after final yr’s merger of the USFL and the XFL.
The 2025 season begins on March twenty eighth and concludes the common season on June 1, adopted by a two-week postseason consisting of XFL and USFL convention title video games and the 2025 UFL Championship Sport on June 14. All video games can be aired on FOX, ABC, and ESPN.
FOX Sports activities half-owns the league, with the remaining shares divided by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Companions. The eight-team league is knowledgeable soccer entity through which the league owns the entire groups, however every membership has its personal head coach and assistant coaches, plus their very own GM. Every group performs 10 video games with none bye weeks.
RELATED: 2025 UFL SEASON SCHEDULE
Whereas every group performs in their very own stadium positioned of their respective metropolis, all gamers reside and apply in Arlington, Texas, throughout the week, after which are flown to their “house” metropolis the day earlier than the sport after which fly again after the competition has concluded. Principally, each match aside from those performed in Arlington seems like a highway sport for each group and each participant.
There are three rule adjustments for this yr. Having invented the XFL kickoff and carried out by the NFL this previous season, the UFL is adopting this fashion of play to align with the NFL’s model. One other rule change permits a coach a second problem if the primary problem is profitable. Lastly, the onside kick has been eradicated. They’re now utilizing the previous XFL model through which the kickoff group will have the ability to retain possession of the ball with a fourth down and a 12-yard scrimmage play from its personal 28-yard line.
After the 2024 season, 77 gamers signed with the NFL, of whom 21 had been on NFL rosters on opening week.
The roster measurement for every membership is 50 gamers, with 45 energetic on sport days. In the course of the low season, the UFL gamers ratified an settlement establishing the UFPA as their participant’s union. The pay scale is $65,000 to $122,000 per season, with most gamers incomes $73,000. Playoff cash is further. In 2024, UFL gamers on the energetic roster earned $5,500 per week.
This league has closed the hole with the Canadian Soccer League whose minimal contract is $70,000, with the highest-paid participant making $600,000 a season. Area Soccer League athletes make between $20,600 and $64,000 per yr. The NFL minimal is $795,000, which advances to $870,000 and $940,000 by the third yr.
After the maiden UFL season, there was some chatter about enlargement, nevertheless it was determined to concentrate on the core group of groups and construct every membership’s fanbase as a substitute. Nonetheless, the league has said they’re enthusiastic about including new groups in 2026 and 2027. It isn’t sure if they’ll merely deliver again some former XFL or USFL cities, such because the Jersey Generals, Tampa Bay Vipers, Seattle Sea Dragons, or the New Orleans Breakers.
Different cities may very well be Oakland, which had the Invaders within the USFL, Salt Lake Metropolis, which had the Stallions within the AAF, and Norfolk, Virginia, which has been the house of the Virginia Destroyers within the second model of the UFL.
It must be famous the UFL shouldn’t be an NFL-rival league that’s in competitors for rookie and veteran gamers, coaches, and front-office executives. It’s strictly a developmental entity through which gamers can nonetheless be paid to play the sport with the hopes that they are going to be invited to NFL coaching camps and hopefully make a roster within the established league.
The UFL shouldn’t be a farm system. It isn’t tied to the NFL or the CFL apart from it’s a automobile for each of those main leagues to have the ability to take a look at improvements associated to guidelines and expertise. The UFL can be a coaching floor for referees, assistant coaches, and entrance workplace personnel who can reduce their tooth at a job that might get them employed with an NFL or CFL membership in the future.
The Cleveland Browns are well-represented on this yr’s UFL schedule. Many former gamers and coaches are preserving their dream alive of being paid to play soccer, hoping that somebody will discover their efforts and consider of their skills as soon as once more.
Arlington Renegades
Head Coach: Bob Stoops
GM: Rick Mueller
Stadium: Choctaw Stadium (previously The Ballpark in Arlington)
Seating capability: 25,000
Dwelling of: North Texas FC (MLS)
File final season: 3-7-0
Accolades: 2023 XFL Champions
Former Browns:
S Brady Breeze
WR Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi
Okay Lucas Havrisik
LB Storey Jackson
DE Chris Odom
Birmingham Stallions
Head Coach: Skip Holtz
GM: Paul Roell
Stadium: Protecting Stadium
Seating capability: 47,100
Dwelling of: Birmingham Legion FC (MLS), UAB Blazers soccer
File final season: 9-1-0
Accolades: 2022 USFL Champions, 2023 USFL Champions, 2024 UFL Champions
Former Browns:
DT Perrion Winfrey
WR Davion Davis
WR Austin Watkins
DT Marvin Wilson
DC Defenders
Head Coach: Reggie Barlow
GM: Von Hutchins
Stadium: Audi Discipline
Seating capability: 20,000
Dwelling of: D.C. United (MLS), Washington Spirit (NWSL)
File final season: 4-6-0
Accolades:
Former Browns:
Gregg Williams – Defensive Coordinator
Okay Matt McCrane
Houston Roughnecks
Head Coach: C.J. Johnson
GM: Will Lewis
Stadium: House Metropolis Monetary Stadium (previously TDECU Stadium)
Seating capability: 40,000
Dwelling of: College of Houston Cougars soccer
File final season: 1-9-0
Accolades:
Former Browns:
DT Glen Logan
Memphis Showboats
Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt
GM: Dave Razzano
Stadium: Simmons Financial institution Liberty Stadium (previously Liberty Bowl)
Seating capability: 50,000
Dwelling of: College of Memphis Tigers soccer
File final season: 2-8-0
Accolades:
Former Browns:
DT Josiah Bronson
Michigan Panthers
Head Coach: Mike Nolan
GM: Steve Kazor
Stadium: Ford Discipline
Seating capability: 65,000
Dwelling of: Detroit Lions
File final season: 7-3-0
Accolades:
Former Browns:
RB Nate McCrary
S Kai Nacua
San Antonio Brahmas
Head Coach: Wade Phillips
GM: Marc Lillibridge
Stadium: Alamodome
Seating capability: 64,000
Dwelling of: College of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners soccer
File final season: 7-3-0
Accolades:
Former Browns:
WR Marquez Stevenson
QB Kellen Mond
QB Kevin Hogan
CB Grasping Williams
St. Louis Battlehawks
Head Coach: Anthony Becht
GM: Dave Boller
Stadium: The Dome at America’s Middle (previously Trans World Dome)
Seating capability: 67,277
Dwelling of: Battlehawks
File final season: 7-3-0
Accolades:
Former Browns:
Bruce Gradkowski – Offensive Coordinator
LB Willie Harvey
UFL
LINK: GET TO KNOW THE LEAGUE
LINK: FULL ROSTERS
LINK: FULL COACHING STAFFS
LINK: BROADCAST INFORMATION
LINK: TICKET INFO FOR EVERY TEAM
LINK: RULE CHANGES FOR 2025
LINK: UFL EXPANSION PROCESS
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