USL announces 2016 alignment, playoff format

TAMPA, Fla. (USL) – The United Soccer League today announced the alignment, regular season and playoff format for the 2016 USL Season, with 29 teams set to compete in the league’s sixth season in pursuit of the USL Cup.

Six new teams will join the USL in 2016, as Bethlehem Steel FC, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City B, Rio Grande Valley FC, the Swope Park Rangers and San Antonio are all set to compete in the new season.

The USL will continue in a two-conference format, with 14 teams making up the Eastern Conference and 15 teams making up the Western Conference. The 30-game regular season will be conducted over 27 weeks, which will kick off on March 25 and conclude on September 25.

Eastern Conference                                                        Western Conference
Bethlehem Steel FC                                                         Arizona United SC
Charleston Battery                                                          Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Charlotte Independence                                                LA Galaxy II
FC Cincinnati                                                                     OKC Energy FC
Harrisburg City Islanders                                               Orange County Blues FC
Louisville City FC                                                               Portland Timbers 2
FC Montreal                                                                      Real Monarchs SLC
New York Red Bulls II                                                      Rio Grande Valley FC
Orlando City B                                                                  Sacramento Republic FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds                                                  Saint Louis FC
Richmond Kickers                                                            San Antonio
Rochester Rhinos                                                             Seattle Sounders FC 2
Toronto FC II                                                                     Swope Park Rangers
Wilmington Hammerheads FC                                      Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

The team with the best record across both conferences will earn the 2016 USL Regular Season Title. The top eight teams in each conference will then advance to the 2016 USL Playoffs, which will see a single-elimination bracket crown two conference champions. The two conference champions will advance to the 2016 USL Championship.