The former Sheffield Wednesday boss shared his perspectives on various topics including promotion-relegation and youth soccer
McAuley highlights significant improvement in American soccerHe expresses strong support for USL's promotion-relegation plansIndy Eleven face Philadelphia Union in Round 4 of the U.S. Open CupGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED
Indy Eleven head coach Sean McAuley offered a candid assessment of American soccer’s developmental progress, drawing from his experience across both the English and U.S. systems. The veteran coach credited recent structural changes, particularly MLS Next Pro, for helping raise the overall standard of play.
“I’m seeing a lot of quality in the USL and I will say this, I think there’s a lot of quality in the USL 1 as well,” McAuley said in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo America. “I think that’s probably down to the fact that MLS Next Pro is producing players, and everybody is now sorta getting a better program at a younger age, or there’s more opportunities at a younger age group, so it’s creating more players. And these players are finding the way into the USL, you know, you look at the draft or the combine.”
McAuley also pointed to the draft process as an indirect contributor to USL depth.
“But if you look at the players that are coming out of the draft, a lot of them are internationals so the ones that don’t get taken because of the international roster spots in the MLS are dropped into the USL, and they’re good players,” he explained. “And I feel as though the standard is improving. I would say, on an honest opinion, it’s difficult for the USL to catch the MLS because the MLS is not getting worse.”
AdvertisementWHAT SEAN MCAULEY SAID
The Indy Eleven coach was also asked about promotion and relegation being brought into the USL and McAuley believes that it’s a good thing although he added that there needs to be safeguards.
“I think it can be very impactful,” McAuley said when asked if the promotion-relegation system could be impactful. “I have questions on it, my experience is that it’s tough, people lose their jobs, but what I would like the country to embrace is that relegation is not a bad thing. Until you’ve lived through it, do you think Southampton supporters are looking forward to next season? And the answer would be yes.
“So if we can look at promotion/relegation as a part of the game and safeguard the club so that if they get relegated, they can still be here and still be alive, then it can be a good thing. The players can get another club, another job, but the tea lady, the kit-man loses their job and gets their wages cut. I think we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got safeguards in place for all the clubs, so that if you get relegated, then you still got to survive, you still got to be alive, and I don’t know where that comes from.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
American soccer continues to evolve structurally, with the USL's potential promotion-relegation system representing a significant departure from the closed league model that has dominated professional sports in the United States. The MLS isn’t a part of the discussions at the moment, but the system will be introduced into the USL over the next few years.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The USL is expected to make formal announcements regarding its promotion-relegation plans in the coming months, potentially implementing the system for the 2026 season. Meanwhile, McAuley and Indy Eleven continue their 2025 campaign with them making the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, where they’ll face MLS giants Philadelphia Union on May 7.
