The United Soccer League (UFL) is about to start its third spring season, which can start on this upcoming Friday, March 27, and can conclude with a championship recreation on June 13.
All video games might be aired on ABC, FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Community, and FS1. Streaming companions are the ESPN app, FOX One, and DAZN. The league owns all eight golf equipment, with the coalition owned by FOX Sports activities, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, RedBird Capital Companions, and Mike Repole of Impression Capital.
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Whereas every crew performs in its personal stadium situated in its 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 apart from those performed in Arlington (Dallas) looks like a street recreation for each crew and each participant.
With a CBA in place till after the 2026 season, UFL gamers are paid $6,205 per week (up from $5,500) and signed to one-year offers with extra advantages together with year-round medical health insurance, weekly housing stipends, and bonuses for efficiency. Week 1 rosters are pared down from 64 gamers to 43.
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By nature, the UFL is a developmental league. Additionally it is a coaching floor for referees who wish to degree up from the school ranks and take a look at the skilled ranks when the autumn soccer season isn’t in session. The UFL is a spot to experiment with guidelines, such because the XFL kickoff that the NFL has adopted. This 12 months, the excitement is the four-point area purpose of kicks transformed from 60+ yards.
After the 2025 UFL season, NFL golf equipment invited 160 UFL gamers for exercises and signed 102 to take part of their coaching camps. In Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, 46 UFL athletes have been on an NFL roster, both on the primary roster, apply squad, or on some sort of harm listing.
Rule modifications for the 2026 UFL season:
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“Tush push” play is banned.
Punts are solely allowed on the offense’s aspect of the sphere. Because of this after a crew crosses the 50-yard line, it’s prohibited from punting.
Any area purpose transformed from 60-yards or longer is price 4 factors.
Defensive move interference is now a spot foul, identical to the NFL, as a substitute of 15-yards like in school soccer.
The one-point kicked further level is reinstated just like the NFL, however from the 15-yard line. The 2-point run/move PAT will stay on the two-yard line, whereas the three-point run/move PAT will stay from the eight-yard line.
If a defensive PAT is returned, as a substitute of being a two-point play, it will likely be regardless of the kicking crew was attempting to attain, so both one, two, or three factors.
The kickoff will go from the usual school model to the XFL model utilized by the NFL.
Kickoffs that fail to fall into the “touchdown zone” will start on the 40-yard line.
Receivers solely want one foot in bounds for a accomplished catch as a substitute of the NFL model of two.
Coaches now solely get one problem per recreation.
After final season, three UFL groups have been moved to different cities. There was some chatter about growth, nevertheless it was determined to concentrate on the core group of groups, relocate the franchises that weren’t drawing nicely, together with stadium points, and construct every membership’s fanbase as a substitute.
The Cardinals are well-represented on this 12 months’s UFL schedule. Many former gamers and coaches are preserving their dream alive of being paid to take part in professional soccer with the hope that somebody will discover their efforts and imagine of their abilities as soon as once more.
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Head Coach: A.J. McCarron
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Stadium: Protecting Stadium
Seating capability: 47,100
Dwelling of: Birmingham Legion FC (MLS), UAB Blazers (school soccer)
Document final season: 7-3-0
Accolades: 2022 USFL Champions, 2023 USFL Champions, 2024 UFL Champions
OG Zack Johnson
TE Jordan Thomas
DE T.J. Carter
CB Steven Gilmore, Jr.
Columbus Aviators
Head Coach: Ted Ginn, Jr.
Stadium: Historic Crew Stadium
Seating capability: 19,968
Dwelling of: Columbus Crew 2 (MLSNP)
Document final season: 6-4-0
Notes: Was the “Michigan Panthers” final 12 months (Detroit)
QB Jalen Morton
C Cohl Cabral
TE Alize Mack
DT Patrick Jenkins
LB Tre’Von Johnson
Head coach Ted Ginn, Jr.
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OC coach Todd Haley
Dallas Renegades
Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel
Stadium: Toyota Stadium (Frisco, TX)
Seating capability: 23,900
Dwelling of: FC Dallas (MLS), Frisco Faculty District, Frisco Bowl
Document final season: 5-5-0
Accolades: 2023 XFL Champions, modified identify from “Arlington” to “Dallas”
DT Kevin Robust
CB Bobby Worth
DC Defenders
Head Coach: Shannon Harris
Stadium: Audi Subject
Seating capability: 20,000
Dwelling of: D.C. United (MLS), Washington Spirit (NWSL), DC Energy (USLS)
Document final season: 6-4-0
Accolades: 2025 UFL Champions
Okay Matt McCraneDE Myjai Sanders
C Lamont Gaillard
OT Trey Wedig
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CB Michael Ojemudia
CB Ekow Boye-Doe
Head Coach: Kevin Sumlin
Stadium: Shell Vitality Stadium
Seating capability: 20,656
Dwelling of: Houston Sprint (NWSL), Houston Dynamo FC (MLS), Texas Southern (school soccer)
Document final season: 5-5-0
Notes: Final 12 months performed because the “Roughnecks”
WR Jontre Kirklin
DT Rashard Lawrence
Head Coach: Chris Redman
Stadium: Lynn Household Stadium
Seating capability: 15,304
Dwelling of: Racing Louisville FC (NWSL), Louisville Metropolis FC (USLC)
Document final season: 2-8-0
Notes: Final 12 months performed because the “Memphis Showboats”
WR JaVonta Payton
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C Doug Kramer
Head Coach: Anthony Becht
Stadium: Inter&Co Stadium
Seating capability: 25,500
Dwelling of: Orlando Metropolis SC (MLS), Orlando Delight (NWSL), Florida Cup
Document final season: 1-9-0
Notes: Final 12 months performed because the “”
LB Keshawn Banks
LB Chris Garrett
Head coach Anthony Becht
ST/DB coach Martin Bayless
St. Louis Battlehawks
Head Coach: Ricky Proehl
Stadium: The Dome at America’s Middle (previously Trans World Dome)
Seating capability: 67,277
Dwelling of: Battlehawks
Document final season: 8-2-0
Accolades: 2024-2025 UFL “XFL Division” Champs
WR Hakeem Butler
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WR Andy Isabella
LB Pita Taumoepenu
C Honest Haynesworth
CB Luq Barcoo
CB Michael Ojemudia
Head coach Ricky Proehl
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