USL Labor Dispute: Licensing is the key to the deal

Above all else, the licensing gap is holding up a new CBA

In American professional sports, the phrase “it’s a business” usually refers to salary caps, justification for high-ticket prices and profit margins meant to benefit billionaire owners or in the case of USL specifically the owners of the league itself and the private equity company pumping money in.

However, the most complex business often happens off the field, where a player’s face, name, and “vibe” are transformed into legal assets, and players now more than ever know their value.

As the USL Championship enters the 2026 season without a finalized Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the standoff over licensing and image rights has become a central battleground. While fans see jersey sales and video games, the players see a massive revenue stream where they are currently being left behind.