Cincy club to join LCFC's Eastern Conference

A Cincinnati-based United Soccer Leagues franchise to be announced Wednesday will next year wind up the Louisville City Football Club's chief geographic rival.

A USL source told The Courier-Journal on Tuesday that five new teams in all are expected to start play in 2016. And while a potential move to three conferences was the "most-discussed topic" last month as members of America's third-tier league met, the USL will remain with a 14-team East and 15-team West.

The new Futbol Club Cincinnati has a spot in the East along with a previously announced reserve side for MLS' Orlando City SC, whose affiliation with Louisville ends after this season. Also, the source said, the Philadelphia area is expected to start a franchise.

Current Louisville rival Saint Louis FC requested a move to the West, where it will join a Sporting KC reserve side and an expansion club in Texas operating with the same owner as the NBA Development League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Additionally, following a 30-game regular season, now eight teams – up from six this year – will advance to the 2016 playoffs.

Futbol Club Cincinnati will play its matches in the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The stadium, now undergoing renovations, will seat 40,000 once upgrades are completed.

New USL teams in 2015

Eastern Conference

Futbol Club Cincinnati

Orlando City SC II

Philadelphia TBA

Western Conference

Rio Grande

Sporting KC II