The USL Championship final is the post-season championship match of the USL Championship, the second tier of professional men's soccer in the United States. The winner is crowned champion in the same manner as in other North American sports leagues (i.e. via a playoff following a regular season).

Unlike most soccer leagues, but much like North American sports leagues, the USL champion does not earn promotion into Major League Soccer, due to the fixed membership structure found in the league.

As of 2024, the USL Championship final is typically held in late-November and features the Eastern Conference champion and Western Conference champion. The predecessor to the USL Championship final was the A-League Championship and the USL-1 Championship.

Champions

A-League era (1996–2004)

SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upBox Score
1996California Jaguars1–1 (p)Richmond Kickers
1997Milwaukee Rampage1–1 (p)Carolina Dynamo
1998Rochester Raging Rhinos3–1Minnesota Thunder
1999Minnesota Thunder2–1Rochester Raging Rhinos
2000Rochester Raging Rhinos3–1Minnesota Thunder
2001Rochester Raging Rhinos2–0Hershey Wildcats
2002Milwaukee Rampage2–1 (2OT)Richmond Kickers
2003Charleston Battery3–0Minnesota Thunder
2004Montreal Impact2–0Seattle Sounders[citation needed]

USL-1 era (2005–2009)

SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueAttendanceBox Score
2005Seattle Sounders1–1 (p)Richmond KickersQwest Field8,011
2006Vancouver Whitecaps3–0Rochester Raging RhinosPAETEC Park9,547
2007Seattle Sounders4–0Atlanta SilverbacksStarfire Sports Complex4,893
2008Vancouver Whitecaps2–1Puerto Rico IslandersSwangard Stadium5,822
2009Montreal Impact3–23–1Vancouver WhitecapsSwangard StadiumSaputo Stadium5,88613,034

USL Championship era (2010–present)

SeasonChampionsScoreRunners–upVenueAttendanceMVPBox Score
2011Orlando City2–2 (p)Harrisburg City IslandersCitrus Bowl11,220Sean Kelley (ORL)
2012Charleston Battery1–0Wilmington HammerheadsBlackbaud Stadium4,963Jose Cuevas (CHB)
2013Orlando City7–4Charlotte EaglesCitrus Bowl20,886Dom Dwyer (ORL)
2014Sacramento Republic2–0Harrisburg City IslandersBonney Field8,000Rodrigo López (SAC)
2015Rochester Rhinos2–1 (a.e.t.)LA Galaxy IISahlen's Stadium5,247Asani Samuels (ROC)
2016New York Red Bulls II5–1Swope Park RangersRed Bull Arena5,547Brandon Allen (NYRB)
2017Louisville City FC1–0Swope Park RangersLouisville Slugger Field14,456Paolo DelPiccolo (LOU)
2018Louisville City FC1–0Phoenix Rising FCLynn Stadium7,025Luke Spencer (LOU)
2019Real Monarchs SLC3–1Louisville City FCLynn Stadium7,025Konrad Plewa (SLC)
2020No champion due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Orange County SC3–1Tampa Bay RowdiesAl Lang Stadium7,521Ronaldo Damus (OCO)
2022San Antonio FC3–1Louisville City FCToyota Field8,534Santiago Patiño (SAFC)
2023Phoenix Rising FC1–1 (p)Charleston BatteryPatriots Point5,094Rocco Ríos Novo (PHX)
2024Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC3–0Rhode Island FCWeidner Field8,023Juan Tejada (COS)
2025Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC0-0 (p)FC TulsaOneok Field9,507Eric Dick (PIT)

Records and statistics

New York Red Bulls II with the 2016 USL trophy.

USL Championship titles

ClubWinnerRunner-upYears wonYears runner-up
Louisville City FC222017, 20182019, 2022
Orlando City SC202011, 2013
Charleston Battery1120122023
Phoenix Rising FC1120232018
Sacramento Republic FC102014
Rochester Rhinos102015
New York Red Bulls II102016
Real Monarchs SLC102019
Orange County SC102021
San Antonio FC102022
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC102024
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC102025
Harrisburg City Islanders022011, 2014
Swope Park Rangers022016, 2017
Wilmington Hammerheads FC012012
Charlotte Eagles012013
LA Galaxy II012015
Tampa Bay Rowdies012021
Rhode Island FC012024
FC Tulsa012025
WinnerUSL Cup champions
BoldPlayers' Shield champions
ItalicsNo longer plays in the USL Championship

See also