For the first time, Backheeled is covering the ins and outs of USL League One 🏆 Here’s where all 18 teams stand ahead of the new season, from favorites to question marks. From @usltactics.com ⤵️

What does it take to build a USL roster? I talked to Fort Wayne FC’s Oliver Gage and the Richmond Kickers’ Darren Sawatzky about the scouting process – from the use of data to organizational structure and everything in between. www.backheeled.com/how-usl-club...

NEWSLETTER: The New York Cosmos are back, and head of soccer Giuseppe Rossi discussed where the project is heading. That, plus… 🟠 New faces in the Super League 🏝️ Miami FC’s upside ➕ More weekly news www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

🚨LIVE SHOW TONIGHT🚨 9pm ET/6pm PT ⬆️ The Pyramid is Defined 🧡 The Super League IS BACK 🏆 US Open Cup Round 1 Announced ✈️ Pedro Guimaraes is Off to Germany 🆓 More Free Agent News

The draw for the First Round of the 2026 @opencup.ussoccer.com has been announced. Two games will be features on CBS Sports Network, including #USL-2 champion @vermontgreenfc.bsky.social hosting @heartsofpine.bsky.social on Tuesday, March 17. #USOC2026 www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

USL's new first division league to launch in 2028 will be called USL Premier. (Naturally.) Completes pyramid with Championship and League One. Plan is to grow to 20 teams in USL Premier and 20 in the USL Championship. More details here. www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

On the surface, it’s business as usual in the USL Championship. Behind the scenes, CBA talks have been "frustratingly unproductive". Is a work stoppage brewing? @usltactics.com examines where negotiations stand on key topics, from hotels to healthcare ⤵️

NEWSLETTER: As the offseason barrels on, I’m diving into… 📍 Westchester’s local reload 🗽 Early stability for Brooklyn FC 💛 Fort Wayne, building a dark horse? ➕ More from across the USL Check in! www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

Some personal news: I’ve joined @us.theguardian.com as a soccer correspondent! Thrilled to join a newsroom I’ve long admired from afar. Still proudly based in Saint Paul, MN. Still covering the sport from all angles, on-field and off. Truly a dream job: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Which USL Club's Stadium is the Closest to a Taco Bell? @theuslshow.bsky.social medium.com/@rallen73/wh...

Which USL Club's Stadium is the Closest to a Taco Bell? @theuslshow.bsky.social medium.com/@rallen73/wh...

🚨SHOW TONIGHT🚨 9pm ET/6pm PT 📈 Briggs off to MLS 🛫 Hamouda to Werder Bremen ⚡️ Boise is For Real 👑 The King Goes to Portland 🥇Two Golden Boots in Pittsburgh 🎢 Brooklyn May be Fun

NEWSLETTER: Sean Suber is headed to Charleston, but why is it such a massive move? I break down one of the USL's premier defenders as he heads to the Lowcountry. That, plus a look at New Mexico's re-tool, Richmond's overhauled defense, and The Bone Temple. www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

We're nearly 365 days to the day since I posted this about Ange, and now I can bring it back for Thomas Frank. Unbelievable this club. Nothing ever changes.

It's not working, this project has zero future under Thomas Frank, he should've been sacked at the before January, this is the final straw. Glad the club didn't publicly back Frank in the matchday program before this game... Go beg Xabi Alonso to take the job and give him whatever he wants. #COYS

Yeah, after today's results, should've gone and gotten Carrick.

ICYMI: We’ve got seven new teams joining the USL fold this year, so I broke down the expansion class and previewed what’s coming in 2027 and beyond. www.backheeled.com/usl-expansio...

Some forwards saw their fortunes run cold in 2025 in the #USL-C, and it hit their goal totals. I took a look at some players who could be poised to rebound this year, and a couple who went well last year but could scale even greater heights. www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

NEWSLETTER: We’ve got a first batch of signings out of Boise and a big vibe change in Monterey, so how are those clubs going to look in 2026? That, plus more transfer breakdowns and inanity. www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

BREAKING: Mark Briggs, head coach of the Birmingham Legion, is departing the club, sources tell me and @joeclowery.bsky.social. Briggs is expected to join the staff at FC Dallas, where he’ll serve under former New Mexico United manager Eric Quill.

Farewell to the Thomas Frank era at Tottenham Hotspur if I had to guess. We'll always have that 2-0 win away at the Etihad, and...well, that was it. Go give it Michael Carrick until May.

My NFL playoff predictions ahead of the postseason beginning today:

Come find out how 2026 is going to go down with my annual USL predictions!

The CBA for players in the #USL-C has expired, but talks are set to resume Thursday. While there is some agreement on 12-month contracts & clubs offering health insurance to players, there's still some distance to be navigated on salary increases and player licensing. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

NEWSLETTER: With the USL Championship’s last CBA now expired, I recap how we got here. That, plus: ⭐️ League One signing catch-up 🚂 El Paso’s coaching hire 🧡 Halfway all-Super League picks www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

NEW: With the 2025 portion of the USL offseason in the books, I’m picking my favorite signings. From an under-the-radar member of Tampa Bay’s haul to a star prospect heading to the New York Cosmos, see what’s catching my eye. www.backheeled.com/best-usl-cha...

Start your 2026 right by checking in with The USL Show! We catch up on the latest about the now-expired Championship CBA and then reflect on the year that was. www.youtube.com/live/ATimRzY...

While I have not seen as many 2025 releases as @usltactics.com, I wanted to share my @letterboxd.social movie rankings from this year. All films were between 4 stars at the top and 3 stars at the end of the list.

Come for the USL free agents, stay for the 2025 movie reviews from the best in the business.

NEW: It's the end-of-year special for the newsletter. First up, I take nearly 400 USL free agents and rank them by position – who are the best players left on the market? Then, I get self-indulgent and comb through the year in movies. Check in! www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

On location for the 2-13 Giants at 2-13 Raiders! The Sickos Bowl! @sickoscommittee.org

Hockey tonight.

NEWSLETTER: The first half of the Super League campaign is in the books, so I check in with the action across the final weekend of 2025. That, plus a deep dive into various signings from across the Championship and League One. www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

Cool opportunity to see Lord Stanley’s Cup today.

Vincent is so astute tactically, and he couldn’t be a nicer guy. Really excited to see how he fares going forward. I just talked to him for Backheeled post-title, and I think that all comes through. www.backheeled.com/how-rob-vinc...

Lexington SC has acquired four-time #USL-C All-League First Team selection Aaron Molloy via transfer from the Charleston Battery. The record-setting transaction marks the first six-figure intraleague transfer fee in league history. www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

The #USL has announced the structure and schedule for the 2026 Prinx Tires #USLCup and unveiled Prinx Tires as the entitlement partner of the annual interleague cup competition. Get the groupings, full schedule, and key games for #USL-C and #USL-1 clubs. www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

And so is the 2026 #USL-1 Schedule! - 306-game regular season, largest in league history - Five newcomers vying for inaugural season success - New and returning rivalries highlight campaign www.uslleagueone.com/news_article...

The 2026 #USL-C Schedule is here! - 375-game regular season across 34 weeks - @brooklynfc.bsky.social & @sportingjax.bsky.social make debut - Notable rivalries highlight final day of regular season www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

NEWSLETTER: After a mixed 2025, San Antonio FC is making major offseason progress. I break down why Mikey Maldonado and Akeem Ward are key additions. That, plus: 🔵 DC Power in possession 🐎 Lexi Missimo’s return 📝 More signing news www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

A comparison of the USL1 league champion Elo ratings. 2024 Union Omaha remains my best team of all-time, but One Knoxville from this season is the second best team this league has ever seen (2023 NCFC being third).

A season progression comparison of Elo ratings of every single USLC champion since 2011. The marks of 2022 San Antonio (my best team of all-time), 2019 Real Monarchs, 2016 NYRBII and 2015 Rochester Rhinos are still tough to beat. @theuslshow.bsky.social

Avengers: Endgame felt special, but I saw Infinity War twice on opening day, once in the morning in 2D and in the evening in 4D when I studied in Glasgow. The theater was in a skyscraper, was surreal watching the film on the upper floors of the building. A 4D Avengers movie was awesome.

In 2018, the @tampabayrowdies.bsky.social made a mid-season coaching change and missed the #USL-C Playoffs. That offseason, the club began an overhaul that saw only nine players return, starting an extended run of silverware. Now, they're trying again. www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

The #USL-C has announced the home openers for the 2026 season, with @brooklynfc.bsky.social and @sportingjax.bsky.social hosting games as part of a 10-game slate of action kicking off on the weekend of March 7-8. www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

#USL-1 has announced the home openers for the 2026 season, with newcomers Sarasota Paradise and Athletic Club Boise set to meet on the opening night with @fortwaynefc.bsky.social also in action on opening weekend. www.uslleagueone.com/news_article...

We love to see a balanced schedule.

The 2026 #USL-1 season will feature 18 clubs in a single-table format, making it the biggest season in league history. The clubs will play a full home-and-home regular season schedule, kicking off on Saturday, March 7. www.uslleagueone.com/news_article...

The competition format for the 2026 #USL-C season has been announced, with 25 teams set to compete in the 34-week regular season. 13 clubs in the East, including new arrivals @brooklynfc.bsky.social and @sportingjax.bsky.social, 12 in the West. www.uslchampionship.com/news_article...

ICYMI: @theuslshow.bsky.social talked to Rob Vincent about all things Riverhounds. Go check it out! www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHIa...