USL, players association agree on 5-year CBA
The United Soccer League (USL) has been looking up at Major League Soccer (MLS) since the latter began play in 1996, but the USL took a huge step in overtaking the MLS as the top men’s soccer league in the United States when it announced this past Friday that the league and the USL Players Association (USLPA) ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for not only the USL Championship, but the USL Premier, which is scheduled to begin play in 2028.
The USL released a statement with the following changes, which will affect the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Championship. The Hounds have been proactive in becoming one of the original teams of the USL Premier, which will be the new top-tier in the USL. Pittsburgh and owner Tuffy Shallenberger, a Connellsville native, made the announcement last August of the expansion of F.N.B. Stadium to a capacity of 15,000, which meets the minimum standard that is set forth by the U.S. Soccer’s Pro League Standards for Division One sanctioning.
When the USL Premier begins play in 2028, a system of promotion and relegation will be employed, which is a practice that is run by the majority of domestic soccer leagues in the world. The MLS doesn’t feature promotion and relegation.
The release by the USL stated that the new CBA is effective immediately and runs through the 2030 season, with provisions to extend. It follows the tentative agreement on key terms reached by the USL and USLPA in May.
The new CBA will feature 12-month player contracts for USL Championship teams, which was set at 10 months.
The USL Championship will provide its players with a minimum base compensation, inclusive of the value of housing or a housing stipend, of $42,000 in 2026 and increase annually over the term of the agreement. When the USL Premier launches in 2028, the compensation for players will begin at $67,500, but it will follow the same parameters in relation to housing and annual increase over the term of the agreement. The CBA established a separate entry-level contact structure for early-career players.
The new CBA will also expand healthcare, medical and professional standards, group licensing and commercial rights and player prize money.
“This collective bargaining agreement is a significant step forward for the USL and our players and reflects the shared commitment on both sides to continue growing the game and advancing professional standards,” said USL President and CEO Paul McDonough in the new release that was provided by the league. “It provides long-term stability for our players, clubs and leagues, and greater confidence to invest in the future of the USL. Importantly, USL Premier will launch under an established labor agreement, giving the league certainty from day one as we continue pursuing our broader ambitions for the USL and the game.”
MIAMI FC SCORES LATE GOAL TO STEAL VICTORY FROM HOUNDS
Miami FC scored about as late a goal in stoppage time as one could in stealing two points from Pittsburgh in a 2-2 draw on Sunday at Pittsburgh Stadium in Miami.
The Riverhounds were clinging to a 2-1 lead in stoppage time, but the home team continued to earn corner kicks, and finally broke through in the 100th minute when Daltyn Knutson headed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for the game-winning goal.
Arney Rocha lifted a high ball into the box from the left, and with numbers thrown forward, the Miami center back was able to finish.
Pittsburgh (10-9-5) still remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 35 points, and would host a playoff match at F.N.B. Stadium in the regular season ended today, but the Riverhounds would be tied with Detroit FC for third place if they were able to close out the match.
The Hounds have six matches remaining in the regular season, while Detroit has eight. The two teams will meet on Sept. 19 at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Mich., which is an enclave of Detroit.
Pittsburgh won the first meeting this season, 2-1, on April 18 at F.N.B. Stadium.
Miami (5-10-8) needed the point much more than the Hounds, as the club from South Florida is ninth in the conference standings with 23 points. Eighth-place Rhode Island holds onto the final playoff berth with 29 points.
The match was scheduled to be played on Saturday evening, but due to thunderstorms in the area, the start was pushed back to Sunday morning at 11.
Pittsburgh head coach Rob Vincent was unavailable for the contest due to serving a one-game suspension for the red card he was shown during the Hounds’ scoreless draw against Tampa Bay on Aug. 29 at F.N.B. Stadium.
Pittsburgh’s coaching staff and players were unavailable for comment following Sunday’s match, as the delay forced the team to fly out of South Florida as soon as possible.
The morning kickoff led to a sluggish start, which isn’t always a negative for the defensive-minded Hounds, but Eliot Goldthorp came through with the first shot of the match in the 25th minute for the visitors.
Sam Bassett and Charles Ahl had two dangerous balls into the box as Pittsburgh pressed forward with halftime approaching, but the home team opened the scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time after the first 45 minutes were played when Rodrigo da Costa positioned himself into the right side of the box, and sent a pass to Rocha, who sent a soft touch in from the front of the net and past Hounds keeper Nico Campuzano and a 1-0 lead.
Pittsburgh took advantage of the extra stoppage time, as hydration breaks allowed for extended minutes to be added on, and Trevor Amann converted from the penalty spot on a ball that he sent to the bottom left corner for his 11th goal of the season (seventh in league play) in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
The Hounds were awarded the opportunity when Amann was fouled in the box while attempting to get on the end of a Danny Griffin cross. Miami FC protested the call, but Amann was given the chance.
The home club forced Campuzano into stopping two of his five shots on target early in the second half, but Bassett put Pittsburgh up 2-1 in the 60th minute when he sent a low finish through traffic from inside the box for the goal.
The sequence to Bassett’s tally began with a corner kick. Ahl sent the second ball back into the box, and Owen Mikoy’s header struck the woodwork and ricocheted to the top of the box. Griffin retrieved the rebound and fed the ball to Bassett for the finish.
Miami keeper Eloy Room made one save, as the visitors were only able to muster three shots on target.
Bassett was named the “Modelo Man of the Match” after scoring and leading his team with three chances created and six total crosses. The midfielder won 3 of 5 duels and earned a pair of free kicks.