USA: MLS announces launch of a new professional football league dedicated to young players in 2022

Major League Soccer (MLS) is set to create a new professional football league in the United States in 2022, which will be dedicated to young players, positioned below the USL Championship (second division) and will "complete the player pathway, while also bringing the excitement and passion of professional soccer to cities that currently do not have a professional team," according to the North American league on 21/06/2021.

The new "development league", which has no official name as of 24/06/2021, will consist of 20 MLS clubs with the participation of "independently owned teams" possible "for the inaugural season in 2022," said MLS. The league will start at the end of March and will be concluded in the autumn via playoffs and a championship game "in early December."

"We are excited to launch a new league to complete the professional pathway between our academies and the MLS first teams. In addition to providing more opportunities for MLS-caliber players, the new league will develop a diverse talent pool of coaches, referees and front office executives while also attracting fans who…