The 2019 USL Championship season was the ninth season of the USL Championship and third under Division II sanctioning. This was the first season in which the league operated under the name "USL Championship," having used the moniker "United Soccer League" through 2018. The season began on March 8, 2019, and concluded on October 20, 2019, with each team playing 34 matches. 36 teams competed in the 2019 USL Championship season, split into 2 conferences of 18 teams each. Louisville City FC were the two-time defending champions.
The 2019 season was the last for the current version of Nashville SC. The club's identity transferred to a Major League Soccer team that started to play in 2020. Additionally, this season was the last for Ottawa Fury FC. On November 8, the club announced that it had suspended operations; Fury FC had received sanctioning from its country's governing body, Canada Soccer, but was denied by U.S. Soccer and the continental governing body of CONCACAF.
Changes from 2018 Expansion clubs Austin Bold FC Birmingham Legion FC El Paso Locomotive FC Hartford Athletic Loudoun United FC Memphis 901 FC New Mexico United
Departing clubs FC Cincinnati (moved to MLS) Penn FC (folded) Richmond Kickers (moved to USL League One) Toronto FC II (moved to USL League One)
Rebranded clubs Seattle Sounders FC 2 rebranded as Tacoma Defiance and moved to Tacoma, Washington
Teams
The following teams are playing in the 2019 USL Championship season:
Team Location/State Stadium Capacity Head coachAtlanta United 2 Kennesaw, Georgia Fifth Third Bank Stadium 8,318 Stephen GlassAustin Bold FCAustin, Texas Bold Stadium 5,000 Marcelo SerranoBethlehem Steel FCChester, Pennsylvania Talen Energy Stadium 16,000 Brendan BurkeBirmingham Legion FCBirmingham, Alabama BBVA Field 5,000 Tom SoehnCharleston Battery Charleston, South Carolina MUSC Health Stadium 5,100 Michael AnhaeuserCharlotte Independence Matthews, North Carolina Sportsplex at Matthews 5,000 Michael JeffriesColorado Springs Switchbacks FC Colorado Springs, Colorado Weidner Field 5,000 Alan KochEl Paso Locomotive FC El Paso, Texas Southwest University Park 9,500 Mark LowryFresno FC Fresno, California Chukchansi Park 12,500 Adam SmithHartford Athletic Hartford, Connecticut Dillon Stadium 5,500 Jimmy NielsenIndy Eleven Indianapolis, Indiana Lucas Oil Stadium 62,421 Martin RennieLA Galaxy II Carson, California Dignity Health Track Stadium 5,000 Junior GonzalezLas Vegas Lights FC Las Vegas, Nevada Cashman Field 9,334 Eric WynaldaLoudoun United FC Leesburg, Virginia Segra Field 5,000 Ryan MartinLouisville City FC Louisville, Kentucky Louisville Slugger Field 8,000 John HackworthMemphis 901 FC Memphis, Tennessee AutoZone Park 10,000 Tim MulqueenNashville SC Nashville, Tennessee First Tennessee Park 10,000 Gary SmithNew Mexico United Albuquerque, New Mexico Isotopes Park 13,500 Troy LesesneNew York Red Bulls II Montclair, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field 5,000 John WolyniecNorth Carolina FC Cary, North Carolina WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000 David SarachanOKC Energy FC Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Taft Stadium 7,500 Steve CookeOrange County SC Irvine, California Champion Stadium 5,000 Braeden CloutierOttawa Fury FC Ottawa, Ontario TD Place Stadium 24,000 Nikola PopovićPhoenix Rising FC Tempe, Arizona Casino Arizona Field 6,200 Rick SchantzPittsburgh Riverhounds SC Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Highmark Stadium 5,000 Bob LilleyPortland Timbers 2 Portland, Oregon Providence Park 25,218 Cameron KnowlesReal Monarchs Herriman, Utah Zions Bank Stadium 5,000 Jámison OlaveReno 1868 FC Reno, Nevada Greater Nevada Field 9,013 Ian RussellRio Grande Valley FC Toros Edinburg, Texas H-E-B Park 9,400 Gerson EcheverrySacramento Republic FC Sacramento, California Papa Murphy's Park 11,569 Simon ElliottSaint Louis FCFenton, Missouri 5,500 Anthony PulisSan Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas Toyota Field 8,296 Darren PowellSwope Park Rangers Kansas City, Kansas Children's Mercy Park 18,467 Paulo NagamuraTacoma Defiance Tacoma, Washington Cheney Stadium 6,500 Chris LittleTampa Bay Rowdies St. Petersburg, Florida Al Lang Stadium 7,227 Neill CollinsTulsa Roughnecks FC Tulsa, Oklahoma ONEOK Field 7,833 Michael Nsien
Competition format The season began the weekend of March 8–10 and will conclude the weekend of October 18–20. The 2019 USL Cup Playoffs are expected to begin October 25–27, and conclude with the final match November 14–18.
This is the first season where the USL teams will only play teams within their own conference for regular-season and playoff games until the USL Cup final. Thus, each team will play a balanced home-and-away schedule against each of the other teams in its conference, resulting in a 34-game schedule.
Managerial changes
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming managerDate of appointmentLas Vegas Lights FCIsidro SánchezContract not renewedOctober 14, 2018 Eric WynaldaOctober 17, 2018North Carolina FC Colin ClarkeContract not renewedOctober 17, 2018 David SarachanDecember 17, 2018Phoenix Rising FC Rick SchantzEnd of interim periodNovember 14, 2018 Rick SchantzNovember 14, 2018Charlotte Independence Michael JefferiesPromoted to general managerDecember 7, 2018 Jim McGuinnessDecember 7, 2018Tulsa Roughnecks Michael NsienEnd of interim period Michael NsienReal Monarchs Jámison OlaveEnd of interim periodJanuary 21, 2019 Martín VásquezJanuary 21, 2019 Tacoma DefianceJohn HutchinsonLeft organizationJanuary 23, 2019 Chris LittleJanuary 23, 2019 Atlanta United 2 Scott DonnellyLeft organizationJanuary 10, 2019 Stephen GlassJanuary 30, 2019Loudoun United FC Richie WilliamsLeft organizationMay 30, 2019 Ryan MartinMay 30, 2019Charlotte Independence Jim McGuinnessSackedJune 12, 2019 Michael JeffriesJune 12, 2019Real Monarchs Martín VásquezLeft organizationJuly 1, 2019 Jámison Olave (Interim)July 1, 2019Colorado Springs Switchbacks Steve TrittschuhSackedJuly 1, 2019 Wolde Harris (Interim)July 1, 2019LA Galaxy II Mike MuñozSackedJuly 19, 2019 Junior Gonzalez (Interim)July 19, 2019Colorado Springs Switchbacks Wolde HarrisEnd of interim periodSeptember 23, 2019 Alan KochSeptember 23, 2019
League table Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Results table