Joshua R Duder

USL’s central ownership structure creates challenges for clubs – here’s how they’re trying to make money anyway Even as the USL adds investment and looks to evolve on the field, a privately held LLC soaks up the earnings.

ICYMI: I dug into the USL’s structure – how league headquarters dominates revenues, how clubs can still try to reach sustainability, and what that means for the future.

Check in on Backheeled.

www.backheeled.com/usl-ownershi...

I’m waiting to see if there are any desperate price drops the night before, but am not holding my breath. Fortunately I can just drive up to Seattle if a ticket to literally any game becomes available. Ultimately, though, I may end up missing out.

🛫🗽 Off to film a season two ep of #AwayDays for
@protagonistsoccer.bsky.social
▪️Let’s catch a @nyintfc.bsky.social game too.
▪️Chat with @battista.bsky.social & @davidkilpatrick.bsky.social in person!
▪️Volunteer with @evlovesnyc.bsky.social
▪️and kickoff the @nycosmos.bsky.social season in style.

a fireworks display is being watched from the arch ALT: a fireworks display is being watched from the arch

📚 THE PROTAGONIST ‘ZINE, Issue Three, will feature soccer stories from StL.
▪️National Challenge Cup history
▪️Jr Cups/NCAA domination
▪️Interview with USMNT legend
▪️Conversation about SG Louligans
▪️and Local artist Gonz Jove on the cover!

🗽 Issue One, second printing, pre-orders!
▪️Did you miss out on issue one, Tales of New York? We’ve opened up pre-orders for a limited second run. Will go to print simultaneously with issue two and ship in late January.
www.protagonistsoccer.com/shop/rdli1h4...

📚 Magazine Thread…
🏜️ Issue Two pre-order still marching on!
🌵 All written material in, waiting for a couple other pieces, goes to print early January!
www.protagonistsoccer.com/shop/rdli1h4...

Yoinks - are they pulling a Santa Barbara?

a cartoon of a man taking a picture with a camera ALT: a cartoon of a man taking a picture with a camera

I neeed those L1 dates. Planning trips to Cosmos, AC Boise, and Cascades.

I won’t use AI for anything unless I absolutely need to.

TLfC Announces Pro-Am Expansion — Protagonist Soccer Today The League for Clubs announced a coming Pro-Am league. The new league features the creativity and dynamism that TLfC has become known for. Set to launch in 2027, the new league will add another ...

Today @theleaguefc.bsky.social announces the establishment of a new Pro-Am League. The league will feature regional play and blended rosters of paid and unpaid players. It's the next layer in TLfC's approach to make soccer more functional and affordable.

www.protagonistsoccer.com/coverage/the...

Sometimes you gotta just let a story breathe before you try to smother it with negativity. FFS.

Film you’ve seen more than six times. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel.

Flee with the lottery / possibly they spotted me
Battle-scarred Shogun / explosion when my pen hits tremendous
Ultra-violet shine / blind forensics
I inspect view through the future see millennium /
Killa Beez sold fifty gold, sixty platinum
Shackling the masses with drastic rap tactics…

I don’t know enough to say who doesn’t deserve to be in it, but I enjoy that a team with a loss still has a shot.

🏈 Indiana was the only team to beat the Ducks and they were classy all season long. Deserved win over the Buckeyes who were amazing all year as well. The playoffs will be a blast!

📚 On a dreary, rainy day I’m sat reading The Power and The Glory by Jonathan Wilson and if you’ve followed FIFA for any length of time, you should not be surprised by the absolute kowtowing you see nor the shambles this event will end up being.

Sources: US Open Cup Changing Format for 2026 US Soccer limits number of clubs per professional division

We got some further clarification on the US Open Cup changes. Full tournament details out tomorrow, but the gist of it is the changes came from US Soccer, NOT the USL.

www.southeastsoccerreport.org/p/sources-us...

From the same article:

When asked to comment, a USL Spokesperson said that “all USL clubs eligible for the tournament will be participating in the U.S Open Cup next season.”

🤷🏻‍♂️

The Back Four: Free Agents, First Edition Initial free agency thoughts, plus Super League tactical trends

NEWSLETTER: It's free agency season in the USL, so which players in the Championship and League One am I eyeing? I dig into Arturo Ordonez and a host of other standouts.

That, plus a look at the statistical trends driving the 2025-2026 Super League campaign.
www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...

🏜️Pre-sales for Issue Two, Soccer in the Southwest, are heating up!
🌵Art by Gabaldon, SABA, Apodaca, and Mizer
🌵Articles by Vaughn, Brandt, Gawronski, Arters, and Morrissey
🔥Issue One SOLD OUT - do not miss out on issue two!
www.protagonistsoccer.com/shop/rdli1h4...

photos of Sam Coffey playing for US Soccer and holding the US flag.

a powerhouse in the midfield, a leader for the squad.
for club, for country. always sammy ❤️

vote for Sam Coffey for U.S. Soccer's Female Player of the Year! Voting closes 12/12 at 8:59pm PT: survey.alchemer.com/s3/8591225/2...

That was my first reaction… “but why?”

💚 Who Are Ya!: New York Cosmos (USL League 1)
💛 2026 is just around the corner and will welcome back the guidon-bearer for club soccer in the United States.
💙 After a hiatus, the New York Cosmos return via USL League One and they’ve taken the time to chat!
www.protagonistsoccer.com/coverage/who...

America's Greatest - S2.E7 - Knights Why Say NISA Reunion Show

🦅 Americas Greatest s2e7
The guys who spent years covering upstart 3rd division NISA reunite to discuss their favorite matches, their bond, and why NISA was a failure in the end.
▪️Its a spectacular ep that reminds you why you loved the KWSN in the first place!
open.spotify.com/episode/4Pov...

I’ll give these a read! Thanks for your reply.

Have you ever written about this? I’d be interested in reading.

We've marked everything down. Sale ends December 5th, 2025.

shop with the link in our bio

#FIERROYORO ⚫️🟡

a man is holding a bottle of soda and talking to a woman in a living room . ALT: a man is holding a bottle of soda and talking to a woman in a living room .

Maybe it’s Cosmo’s and Kramer is riding the pegasus?

Bang Bang.