According to ESPN, the USL Players Association has voted to authorize its bargaining committee to call a strike unless a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the USL can be reached.
"With one week until kickoff of the 2026 season, United Soccer League Players Association players remain without a new collective bargaining agreement following 547 days of negotiations with the United Soccer League and its USL Championship clubs," the USLPA said in a statement to ESPN. "The Players Association has bargained in good faith throughout that time, including spending four hours this week in mediation with a federal mediator, with additional sessions scheduled. This week, around 90% of the player pool participated in a vote on the League's latest proposal. Approximately 90% of the players rejected it and authorized the player-led bargaining committee to take all necessary steps, including calling for a strike if required, should negotiations fail to produce a satisfactory agreement. Players are preparing for the start of the Championship season while continuing to push for an agreement that reflects true professional standards. Players are unified in their demand for a fair deal that guarantees basic protections, safe working conditions, and standards that professional athletes deserve."
The ESPN report detailed the state of current negotiations. ESPN reported that according to their union source, the ability for teams being allowed to exercise three contract buyouts is stalling negotiations. These buyouts – which are insisted on by USL – are unilateral buyouts of player contracts over two years.
Under the proposal, the USL would only be require to pay 75 percent of a player's salary in the first year of a contract and just 50 percent after that. These payments would only apply to a player's salary, and wouldn't cover housing allowances or health insurance.
Teams in MLS are allowed two buyouts per season, but are required to play the remainder of the player's contract in full.
Another point of contention is player health insurance. Sources tell ESPN that the league and union have agreed that some form of insurance should be offered by every team, but the USLPA wants a standardized health insurance policy across the USL Championship instead of one at the choosing of individual clubs, which is preferred by the league.
Another obstacle involves the licensing of player image and likeness rights. In the current CBA, the USLPA receives $25,000 from the league for licensing according to ESPN. The union is asking for an increase to around $600,000, which is on par with what players in the Professional Women's Hockey League receive according to ESPN. The league wants to limit the total to $125,000 per ESPN.
One thing that the USLPA and the league have agreed on is implementing a standard contract length of 12 months instead of 10 months according to ESPN. Also according to ESPN, the league offered over a 20 percent increase from the contract minimum, which would amount to around $38,000 a year. The USLPA is asking for a 40% increase to 43,400 per season according to ESPN.
Those numbers don't include health insurance and bonuses according to ESPN. Housing would still be included in the contracted amount, according to ESPN.
UPDATE: The USLPA has provided the following statement to The Blazing Musket.
"The players have spoken — clearly and collectively. They are unified in demanding that the USL meet basic professional standards and provide the fundamental protections every professional athlete deserves."
