CARY, N.C. (WNCN) – North Carolina FC does not plan to field a team in 2026, the club announced on Tuesday.

The club released a statement on social media, confirming that it will not compete in the USL Championship following the 2025 season, which is currently in postseason play. The team’s franchise agreement ends at the conclusion of this season.

North Carolina has applied for membership in the United Soccer League’s new Division One league, which is slated to begin in 2028. The club states that this will mark the start of “a formal process that could bring top-level men’s professional soccer to Raleigh, supported by a long-term stadium plan and strong market infrastructure.”

Team leaders said they will dedicate all their focus to positioning the club for Division One, describing Rale

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