2018 USL season
The 2018 USL season was the eighth season of the United Soccer League and second under Division II sanctioning. The previous season, the USL had provisional Div. II sanctioning from the United States Soccer Federation along with the North American Soccer League, but was given full sanctioning for the 2018 season with a two-year deadline to meet the full requirements set by U.S. Soccer.
Louisville City FC were the defending USL Cup champions, while Real Monarchs were the defending Supporters’ Shield champions.
This season was the last for four teams in the USL, with all changing leagues for 2019 and beyond. FC Cincinnati will join Major League Soccer. MLS side Toronto FC announced that its reserve side, Toronto FC II, would drop to USL League One, a third-level league slated to launch in 2019, and the Richmond Kickers also chose to drop to League One for 2019 and beyond. Near the end of the season, Penn FC announced that it would suspend professional operations for 2019 and resume play in League One in 2020.
It was also the final season for the league under the "United Soccer League" name. Effective with the 2019 season, the league has been rebranded as the USL Championship.
Changes from 2017
;Expansion;Joined from NASL
;On hiatus
- Orlando City B
- * During the 2018 season, City B's MLS parent, Orlando City SC, announced that City B would resume play in 2019 as a founding member of USL League One.
- Rochester Rhinos
- * During the 2018 season, the Rhinos announced they would not return to the USL's top flight. The team will not resume professional operations until the 2020 season, at which time it will join USL League One.
Rule changes
Regular season games will now be considered official after the 70th minute. Teams are allowed a fourth substitution in extra time for the USL Playoffs. Teams will submit a 23-player squad at least 48 hours before kickoff. A team's 18-player gameday roster may now contain a maximum of five players signed to USL Academy contracts.Teams
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Head coach | MLS affiliate/ownership | First Match's Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlanta United 2 | Lawrenceville, Georgia/Kennesaw, Georgia | Coolray Field/Fifth Third Bank Stadium |  Other venues
Competition formatThe season began on March 16 and ends on October 14. The top eight finishers in each conference qualify for the playoffs.Managerial changes‡ Luke Spencer, Paolo DelPiccolo, & George Davis IV appointed joint interim head coaches.League table;Eastern Conference;Western Conference PlayoffsUSL ChampionshipChampionship Game MVP: Luke SpencerAttendanceAverage home attendancesRanked from highest to lowest average attendance.
† Two Toronto FC II home matches were moved to Highmark Stadium and Sportsplex at Matthews due to unplayable field conditions. Updated to games of October 14, 2018. Sources: Statistical leadersTop scorers
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England
Argentina