Division II USL Championship and Division III USL League One will be on hiatus into at least mid-May, as the circuits extend their periods without play amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, both leagues announced changes to their respective schedules in response to coronavirus, or COVID-19. At the time, USL Championship said that it would suspend play in its current 2020 season at least 30 days, while USL League One–which was set to get underway in late March–delayed the start of its season by at least two weeks. That was before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued revised guidelines Sunday that include a recommendation that organizers cancel gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks (through at least May 10), a guidance that a few professional sport leagues–including Major League Baseball–have announced they will follow.
Those same guidelines are factoring into plans for USL, with both USL Championship and USL League One action extending their hiatuses to align with the CDC’s recommendation.
“To every USL Championship supporter across the country, we want to thank you for your patience and understanding during these extraordinary circumstances,” read a statement issued by USL Championship. “As always, your safety, health and wellness are our top priority. We will continue to monitor ongoing events, receive guidance from local, state and national health authorities, and participate in a national task force comprised of other professional sports leagues and organizations from around the country. We also want to extend our support and best wishes to all the individuals and communities who have been impacted by COVID-19.”
“We want to thank League One fans across the country for your support during these extraordinary circumstances,” read a statement from League One. “As always, your safety, health and wellness are our top priority. We will continue to monitor ongoing events, receive guidance from local, state and national health authorities, and participate in a national task force comprised of other professional sports leagues and organizations from around the country. We also want to extend our support and best wishes to all the individuals and communities who have been impacted by COVID-19.”
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