The USL Championship final is the post-season championship match of the USL Championship, the second tier of professional men's soccer in the United States. The winner is crowned champion in the same manner as in other North American sports leagues (i.e. via a playoff following a regular season).
Unlike most soccer leagues, but much like North American sports leagues, the USL champion does not earn promotion into Major League Soccer, due to the fixed membership structure found in the league.
As of 2026, the USL Championship final is typically held in late-November and features the Eastern Conference champion and Western Conference champion. The predecessor to the USL Championship final was the A-League Championship and the USL-1 Championship.
Champions A-League era (1996–2004) SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upBox Score1996California Jaguars1–1 Richmond Kickers1997Milwaukee Rampage1–1 Carolina Dynamo1998Rochester Raging Rhinos3–1Minnesota Thunder1999Minnesota Thunder2–1Rochester Raging Rhinos2000Rochester Raging Rhinos3–1Minnesota Thunder2001Rochester Raging Rhinos2–0Hershey Wildcats2002Milwaukee Rampage2–1 (2OT)Richmond Kickers2003Charleston Battery3–0Minnesota Thunder2004Montreal Impact2–0Seattle Sounders
USL-1 era (2005–2009) SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueAttendance Box Score2005Seattle Sounders1–1 Richmond KickersQwest Field8,0112006Vancouver Whitecaps3–0Rochester Raging RhinosPAETEC Park9,5472007Seattle Sounders4–0Atlanta SilverbacksStarfire Sports Complex4,8932008Vancouver Whitecaps2–1Puerto Rico IslandersSwangard Stadium5,8222009Montreal Impact3–23–1Vancouver WhitecapsSwangard StadiumSaputo Stadium5,88613,034
USL Championship era (2010–present) SeasonChampionsScoreRunners–upVenueAttendanceMVPBox Score2011Orlando City2–2 Harrisburg City IslandersCitrus Bowl11,220Sean Kelley (ORL)2012Charleston Battery1–0Wilmington HammerheadsBlackbaud Stadium4,963Jose Cuevas (CHB)2013Orlando City7–4Charlotte EaglesCitrus Bowl20,886Dom Dwyer (ORL)2014Sacramento Republic2–0Harrisburg City IslandersBonney Field8,000Rodrigo López (SAC)2015Rochester Rhinos2–1 LA Galaxy IISahlen's Stadium5,247Asani Samuels (ROC)2016New York Red Bulls II5–1Swope Park RangersRed Bull Arena5,547Brandon Allen (NYRB)2017Louisville City FC1–0Swope Park RangersLouisville Slugger Field14,456Paolo DelPiccolo (LOU) 2018 Louisville City FC1–0 Phoenix Rising FC Lynn Stadium 7,025 Luke Spencer (LOU) 2019 Real Monarchs SLC3–1 Louisville City FC Lynn Stadium 7,025 Konrad Plewa (SLC) 2020 No champion due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Orange County SC 3–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Al Lang Stadium 7,521 Ronaldo Damus (OCO) 2022 San Antonio FC 3–1 Louisville City FC Toyota Field 8,534 Santiago Patiño (SAFC) 2023 Phoenix Rising FC 1–1 Charleston Battery Patriots Point 5,094 Rocco Ríos Novo (PHX)2024Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC3–0Rhode Island FCWeidner Field8,023Juan Tejada (COS)2025Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC0–0 FC TulsaOneok Field9,507Eric Dick (PIT)
Records and statistics
USL Championship titles ClubWinnerRunner-upYears wonYears runner-up Louisville City FC 2 2 2017, 2018 2019, 2022 Orlando City SC 2 0 2011, 2013 Charleston Battery 1 1 2012 2023 Phoenix Rising FC 1 1 2023 2018 Sacramento Republic FC 1 0 2014 Rochester Rhinos 1 0 2015 New York Red Bulls II 1 0 2016 Real Monarchs SLC 1 0 2019 Orange County SC 1 0 2021 San Antonio FC 1 0 2022 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1 0 2024 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1 0 2025 Harrisburg City Islanders 0 2 2011, 2014 Swope Park Rangers 0 2 2016, 2017 Wilmington Hammerheads FC 0 1 2012 Charlotte Eagles 0 1 2013 LA Galaxy II 0 1 2015 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0 1 2021Rhode Island FC012024FC Tulsa012025
Winner USL Cup championsBoldPlayers' Shield championsItalicsNo longer plays in the USL Championship
See also MLS Cup
References