After being rumored to be yet another NASL team to make the move to USL, Indy Eleven has officially announced a move to USL for 2018.
With the NASL anti-trust suit against the US Soccer Federation still in limbo and the 2018 soccer season just around the corner, Indy Eleven has officially announced they will take the field in USL next season. The announcement comes after news broke earlier in the week about a potential move for the NASL standouts. Indy now joins the Ottawa Fury, Tampa Bay Rowdies, and North Carolina FC as NASL teams who have opted to move to USL over the last two seasons.
Shortly after the news became official for Indy’s departure, reports broke that yet another NASL team was in discussion with the league for an additional move.
Sources indicate to me the #USL schedule release *might* be delayed because another #NASL team is *considering* defecting - identity of team unknown at this point. I'll report more when I have more.
— Kartik Krishnaiyer 🇺🇦🌻⚽️ (@kkfla737) January 11, 2018
The NASL is still without league sanctioning from USSF and most recently revealed they will wait to kick off the 2018 season until the fall to align with the European soccer calendar. With FC Edmonton and SF Deltas already having announced they will not be continuing play, only a handful of clubs remain in NASL. The loss of Indy once again means the NASL has lost a cornerstone club to a rival league.
It was later reported that Miami FC was the additional club potentially considering a move.
Sources telling me that Miami FC met with the #USL yesterday to discuss a potential switch from the #NASL. The USL declined to comment.
— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) January 12, 2018
Miami has only played two seasons in the NASL, but have made the headlines with their ambitious plans and transfer signings. After a slow start in their debut season in 2016, Miami raided the rosters of their league-mates over the summer with impressive transfer fees, along with paying NYCFC reportedly over $700,000 for the services of Kwadwo Poku, something uncommon in the lower leagues of the US.
Miami then continued adding valuable pieces from around their league in the offseason. The club then took the NASL by storm, winning the Fall and Spring Seasons by a combined 15 points before losing to the New York Cosmos in their first postseason match.
Looking Ahead
Miami FC’s owner Riccardo Silva seems to be one of the more ambitious owners in America, but thanks to ever-pending Miami Beckham United has kept Miami FC from being considered as an MLS expansion candidate. Silva himself spearheaded a lawsuit against the USSF before the league’s anti-trust suit, this time filing a complaint in the Court of Arbitration concerning the lack of promotion and relegation in the US.
Silva’s filing would be null and void with the success of the NASL’s suit, which opts for the removal of league sanctions altogether for professional soccer leagues.
On the field, Miami was one of the more exciting lower division teams to watch last year. They beat former league rival the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US Open Cup before dominating a first-team heavy Orlando City SC on the road. Miami then handled exciting MLS newcomers Atlanta United in Atlanta’s first ever Open Cup match, with Poku finding the difference maker in extra time, before Miami fell short against USL side and Open Cup darlings FC Cincinnati.
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With the NASL remaining unsanctioned, it remains to be seen if they will even be able to take the field this fall, or if they will even have enough teams to do so anyway. A move to USL would provide Miami an option to keep the team on the field and against significantly more teams. The Magic City club reportedly has until Monday to finalize their decision.