Kartik's Notebook Part 1: USL v MLS Next Pro update; MLS Next age group change? What is happening in NPSL?

A lot to unpack this week...

This week, we’re going to have two notebook columns.

Today we’ll start with the men’s side. Later this week, we’ll dive into the challenges USL Super League faces for a clean August launch.

Nine months ago I wrote a piece which alarmed many people, predicting (with sources) MLS Next Pro would add Chattanooga FC and the Jacksonville Armada, two vaunted independent clubs.

Obviously both clubs have now moved to MLS NP. So that prediction was correct.

I also made the case that MLS Next Pro was consolidating its ability to woo potential independent club ownership groups to its league instead of USL. I felt at the time, USL was in fact “on the clock,” if they wanted to head off the MLS Next Pro juggernaut.

Not so fast my friends…

Events move quickly and while USL was most certainly on the back foot then, and may still be at an overall market disadvantage, they are back in the game so to speak. There are multiple reasons for this.