United Soccer League Names Experienced Soccer Executive Paul McDonough as USL President and Chief Soccer Officer

TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League announced today that experienced soccer executive Paul McDonough has been named as USL President and Chief Soccer Officer.

In his new role, McDonough will lead the USL’s ongoing strategic efforts to elevate our professional leagues: the USL Championship, USL Super League, and USL League One. He will focus on laying out the strategic vision for evolving and implementing the USL’s business and sporting initiatives, including innovative competition reforms that will accelerate our growth and transform soccer in America.

Alec Papadakis, USL CEO:”The USL is thrilled to welcome Paul McDonough, one of the most respected and qualified soccer executives in the United States, at a pivotal moment in our evolution as the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States. His experience and knowledge of soccer in America and football abroad are unmatched as it relates to both the on-field product and the business of sports. Paul will assume a major role in taking our professional leagues to the next level, as well as implementing the innovative sporting reforms we have under consideration to more closely align the USLwith the global game. The USL is steadfastly committed to achieving this goal. Furthermore, Paul’s astute business acumen and comprehensive expertise in the transfer market will greatly enhance our teams, academies, and player development pathways while bolstering the financial health of our clubs.With the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup on the horizon, Paul will further cement the USL’s position as a global leader for professional soccer.”

Paul McDonough, USL President & Chief Soccer Officer: “The USL has evolved incredibly in the last decade, which is a testament to the work of everyone in the league office and all the clubs. It is nowfirmly established in the fabric of the game in the United States and primed to play a major role in shaping the game’s future here. The USL professional leagues have strong clubs, dedicated ownership, world-class infrastructure, emerging player development pathways, and passionate fan bases. This makes the opportunity to join this organization exciting and interesting, and I look forward to working with the entire USL ecosystem to push our leagues and our business forward.”

McDonough joins the USL with more than 20 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles in American soccer. Most recently,…