NCFC makes the jump to USL Championship in 2024

NORTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL CLUB

A mural announces North Carolina Football Club's return to USL Championship starting with the 2024 season. NCFC played in the second-tier league from 2018-20 before moving down to USL League One in 2021.

North Carolina Football Club is heading back to USL’s top tier.

The Cary-based club has exercised its option to move up to USL Championship in 2024, where they last competed from 2018-20. USL Championship, a Division II league sanctioned by U.S. Soccer, has 24 teams. NCFC self-relegated to third-division USL League One in 2021. NCFC and expansion club Rhode Island FC will bring USL Championship to 26 teams.

“We are incredibly excited to compete in the USL Championship once again,” NCFC owner Steve Malik said in a statement. “This league has world-class talent across the country, and we are thrilled to be able to bring even higher-level soccer to the Triangle. We have extremely passionate and savvy sports fans in our area that demand competitive excellence from their teams. We hope that by returning to a league that is well established and highly respected, both nationally and abroad, our community will be excited to support our team and embrace this new challenge with us of the North Carolina Football Club.”

Said club president Francie Gottsegen: “For us, this is the perfect time to move up to the USL Championship. We’ve made sweeping upgrades to our front office infrastructure while growing out of the pandemic and we feel confident we’re in a place to compete at this level, both on the field and organizationally. We owe it to our fans and community to deliver the best possible product while ensuring the stability and viability of the club for the future.”

NCFC’s addition to USL Championship returns the Triangle to the second rung on the country’s soccer ladder and resets league’s geography. NCFC’s closest rival will be Charleston Battery, with Loudoun United, Louisville City FC and Memphis 901 FC also in proximity. Their move up will end the rivalry with the Charlotte Independence. NCFC is first in the League One table.

“We have demonstrated a track record of bringing some of the best athletes and coaches in the world to the Triangle,” said NCFC head coach John Bradford. “This is a market that’s very attractive, we’ve proven to have one of the best training environments in the country. Together, this region and this club have unlimited potential.”

Said USL Championship President Jeremy Alumbaugh “North Carolina FC has all the essential elements of a successful USL Championship club: A soccer-specific stadium, a deeply committed ownership group, and a vibrant community that loves the sport.”

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