The 2025 season will feature expanded coverage across CBS Sports and ESPN for both the USL Championship and League One seasons.
Record-tying 35 nationally televised matches scheduledEvery USL Championship club and seven League One teams featuredThree matches to air on CBS Television Network, including Championship FinalWHAT HAPPENED?
The United Soccer League (USL) has unveiled its national broadcast schedule for the 2025 USL Championship and League One seasons, featuring a record-tying 35 nationally televised matches split between CBS Sports and ESPN platforms. With every USL Championship club set to appear in at least one nationally televised match and a record seven League One teams featured, the 2025 season promises unprecedented exposure for both leagues.
“The United Soccer League (USL) today announced its national broadcast schedule for the 2025 USL Championship and League One seasons. Split between the league’s two national media rights partners, CBS Sports and ESPN, the 2025 campaign will feature a record-tying 35 combined regular season and postseason matches aired on national television,” reads the statement.
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"The 2025 national broadcast package will feature three matches on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+, 22 matches on CBS Sports Network and eight matches on ESPN2. For the first time, every USL Championship team will be featured in a nationally televised broadcast during the regular season, with 18 of the league’s 24 clubs featured in multiple national broadcasts," reads the statement released by the USL.
"Additionally, seven USL League One clubs will be featured in one of four nationally televised regular season contests – both records for the rapidly growing league. In total, 31 of the 38 USL men’s professional venues will be featured in a national broadcast. The remaining USL Championship, League One and Jägermeister Cup matches will be broadcast on ESPN+ or the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
"Additionally, TelevisaUnivision will continue to air select matches on TUDN, the nation’s leading Spanish-language sports network. The league’s partnership with SiriusXM has also been extended to air select matches throughout the season, furthering the USL’s commitment to accessibility to fans across the country."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
This extensive broadcast package underscores the USL's rapid growth and increasing visibility in America. So much so, that fan attendance has nearly tripled, with the league surpassing 2.28 million total attendance in 2023 and clubs averaging over 5,900 fans per game. The league's expansion to 24 teams and national media partnerships with ESPN and CBS have also significantly increased its visibility. Thanks to that, the USL Championship now reaches a population of more than 84 million and that will only increase post the new broadcasting schedule.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The USL Championship 2025 season kicks off on Saturday, March 8 when the. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, the defending 2024 champions, face El Paso Locomotive FC away. The USL League One, on the other hand, also begins its 2025 season on Saturday, March 8, with three matches scheduled. The season opener includes new expansion team FC Naples hosting Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.