The United Soccer League Players Association has voted to authorize a strike as negotiations with the league over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement continue.
According to reports, roughly 90 percent of union members rejected the league’s most recent proposal and granted the bargaining committee authority to call a strike if a deal is not reached before the 2026 season begins. The previous CBA expired on December 31, 2025.
Negotiations between the USL and the USLPA have been ongoing since August 2024. Key issues in dispute include minimum salaries, health insurance standards, contract buyout provisions, and broader player rights protections. One of the primary sticking points has been the league’s reported proposal to allow unilateral contract buyouts, along with limitations tied to insurance and compensation guarantees.
The USL Championship season is scheduled to kick off in early March, placing increased urgency on both sides to reach an agreement. A strike would disrupt preseason preparations and could delay the start of league play if no resolution is reached.
Strike authorization does not automatically mean a work stoppage will occur. It gives union leadership leverage in negotiations and the ability to act if talks break down.
The outcome of these discussions will have implications beyond a single season. With the USL continuing to expand and position itself as a growing force in American soccer, the resolution of this labor dispute will shape the league’s labor standards and competitive structure moving forward.