Overview
- USL and the club said NCFC will not field a USL Championship team in 2026 as it applies to the USL’s proposed Division One with a target launch in 2028.
- The league said North Carolina’s franchise agreement ends after 2025 and identified Raleigh as a potential D1 market if it meets standards that include a purpose-built stadium of at least 15,000 seats tied to real estate development.
- A source told ESPN all NCFC player contracts will be voided after the season, with roughly 10 multi-year deals ending early, two months’ severance under the CBA, and injured players likely turning to workers’ compensation as health coverage lapses; the club said it will follow the CBA and try to go above and beyond.
- The announcement arrives days before the Eastern Conference semifinal against Rhode Island FC, leaving 12 players with 2026 options, longtime coach John Bradford, and staff facing uncertainty.
- Owner Steven Malik has pursued a shared soccer-specific stadium since 2019 without securing public financing, attendance lagged at 2,550 per game this year, and Backheeled reports his focus shifted to the NWSL Courage after a proposed $100 million sale collapsed.