Ottawa Fury, Tampa Bay Rowdies to leave NASL for United Soccer League

Ottawa Fury FC is leaving the North American Soccer League next year to join the United Soccer League.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies are doing the same.

“We’re excited to be joining the fastest-growing soccer league in the world,” Fury FC president John Pugh said in a statement. “The USL’s goal is to be the top second division in the world and we are thrilled to be part of it.”

The 29-team USL had already announced Reno 1868 FC as an expansion club for the 2017 season, with Nashville SC set to join in 2018.

The NASL is considered the second tier of soccer in North America between the MLS and USL. But the USL, which already has Canadian franchises in the form of farm teams run by the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver MLS franchises, has been expanding recently.

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The Rowdies and Fury FC are expected to join the USL’s Eastern Conference for the 2017 season that kicks off March 24.

The departures leave the NASL at 10 teams, including FC Edmonton.

NASL commissioner Bill Peterson said his league will continue to seek new partners and has “ambitious plans for growth.” 

The Canadian Press