All MLS-owned teams currently playing in the second-division USL Championship could be moved to third-division USL League One by 2021, sources from around MLS and USL have told The Athletic.



Nine MLS teams—Atlanta United, D.C. United, LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City—field their own squads in the 36-team USL Championship. FC Dallas, Orlando City and Toronto FC all field teams in 10-team League One, which is in its first season and will expand to include at least three more teams next year.



Each of the MLS clubs that operate teams in the Championship have developed their own strategy for their USL squads, with some building young, academy-driven rosters and others putting together older, more competitive groups. Their form varies, but, as a whole, the MLS-owned teams struggle on the field. Red Bulls II are near the top of the table, but the USL teams owned by...