MIAMI (Reuters) - North America is set to have a new soccer championship starting in April, as rebel clubs break away from the established second-tier league to form a new competition. The seven clubs, previously affiliated with the United Soccer Leagues (USL), the structure underlying Major League Soccer, announced on Tuesday that they had formed a new league and begun the formal process of obtaining official recognition from governing bodies.
The seven include USL champions Montreal Impact and the team they beat in the championship final — Vancouver Whitecaps. The Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC, and Minnesota Thunder have also split from the USL to form the new league together with the former Atlanta Silverbacks USL team and a new team from St. Louis.
The clubs said they are already in negotiations with other potential teams about joining the league. Although North America has seen several failed attempts to launch professional soccer leagues in the past, Montreal president Joey Saputo expressed confidence in the success of this venture.
"This is not your typical new league. Most of our teams have existed for years," he said. "We have united some of the best teams and owners, markets all with a new vision for a professional soccer league in North America," he added.
The USL recently announced plans for new teams in Canada and Detroit and intends to continue without the rebel teams in 2010. (Data reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Ken Ferris.)
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