After previously visiting 18 untapped markets for professional soccer, the United Soccer League’s Division III expansion team sets its sights on New England as the league will meet with business and civic leaders Nov. 6-10.

Executives from the new third-division league will travel to Providence, Rhode Island, before making their way north to Worcester, Massachusetts, Manchester, New Hampshire, and Portland, Maine.

“New England is home to many cities with passionate fans yearning for a professional soccer club to call their own,” USL Division III Vice President Steven Short told USLD3.com. “USL Division III is poised and eager to provide these markets with a proven professional soccer experience as we look to build USL Division III on a regional model to allow local rivalries to develop and reduce travel costs for clubs and fans. We look forward to working with local business leaders and city officials in each market to deliver supporters direct access to the professional game.”

USL DIII is currently conducting expansion discussions with more than 50 markets across the United States and will kick off its inaugural season in 2019. League executives have toured numerous cities across the Southeast and Midwest since the league’s formal launch announcement in April, recently visiting three Alabama cities – Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile.