CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation will oversee a second division league this year, temporarily ending a dispute between the United Soccer League and the North American Soccer League.
The USSF last week refused to sanction either the USL or NASL, saying both were unable to meet the minimum requirement of eight viable teams.
The second division this year will have two six-team conferences, with Austin, Minnesota, Portland (Ore.), Puerto Rico, Rochester and Tampa Bay in the USL Conference, and Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver in the NASL Conference.
The agreement announced Thursday is for the 2010 season only. The USSF said it will develop new standards for second division leagues.