TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced today its alignment, season structure and schedule for the 2016 season, which will see 67 teams compete for a championship in the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States and Canada. The 469-game regular-season schedule will kick off on the weekend of May 6-8, with the championship game set for the first weekend in August.

2016 PDL Schedule Unveiled

“We are very excited to unveil the new schedule for the PDL’s fans, and are looking forward to another exciting summer of action across North America,” said PDL Director Todd Eason. “The strong new additions to the league this season will continue to raise the level of competition on the field, and also continue to provide young professional prospects with an ideal venue to continue their development.”

Defending PDL Champion K-W United FC will kick off its title defense on May 17 as it visits TFC Academy, while 2015 Finalists the New York Red Bulls U23 will host the Jersey Express on May 21 to open their second season in the league.

The PDL will again be divided into four conferences and 10 divisions, with both the Eastern and Western Conferences remaining with three divisions apiece. 

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

AC Connecticut
Boston
FA Euro
GPS Portland Phoenix
Long Island Rough Riders
Seacoast United Phantoms
Western Mass Pioneers
Westchester Flames

Mid Atlantic Division

Baltimore Bohemians
Evergreen FC
Jersey Express
Lehigh Valley United Sonic
New York Red Bulls U23
Ocean City Nor’easters
Reading United AC

South Atlantic Division

Carolina Dynamo
Charlotte Eagles
Peachtree City MOBA
SC United Bantams
Southern WV King’s Warriors
South Georgia Tormenta FC
Tri-Cities Otters
West Virginia Chaos

Central Conference

Great Lakes Division

Cincinnati Dutch Lions
Dayton Dutch Lions
Derby City Rovers
K-W United FC
Michigan Bucks
Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23
TFC Academy

Heartland Division

Chicago Fire U23
Des Moines Menace
Kokomo Mantis FC
St. Louis Lions
Thunder Bay Chill
WSA Winnipeg

Southern Conference

Southeast Division

FC Miami City Champions
Floridians FC
IMG Academy
Palm Beach Suns FC
South Florida Surf
SW Florida Adrenaline
The Villages SC

Mid South Division

Albuquerque Sol FC
Midland/Odessa Sockers FC
Mississippi Brilla
OKC Energy FC U23
Springfield Synergy

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Calgary Foothills FC
Kitsap Pumas
Lane United FC
Portland Timbers U-23s
Sounders FC U23
Victoria Highlanders FC
Washington Crossfire

Central Pacific Division

Burlingame Dragons FC
BYU Cougars
Fresno Fuego
Las Vegas Mobsters
San Francisco City FC

Southwest Division

FC Golden State Force
FC Tucson
LA Laguna FC
OC Blues U23
Southern California Seahorses
Ventura County Fusion
San Diego Zest FC

The 2016 PDL Regular Season will conclude on Sunday, July 17, with 22 teams advancing to the 2016 PDL Playoffs which will kick off the following week.

2016 PDL Playoff Format

Eastern Conference 

The team finishing with the most points in the conference will advance to the Eastern Conference Championship, with the second- and third-placed teams from that division also earning berths into the playoff round. The top two teams from the remaining two divisions will also advance to the playoffs, with the Northeast and Mid Atlantic Division competing in an inter-division playoff and the South Atlantic Division’s representatives meeting each other to determine the final three teams to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.

Southern Conference

The top two teams in the Southeast and the first-place team in the Mid South Division will advance to the Southern Conference Championship. The final place in the conference semifinals will be either the second-place side in the Mid South Division, or third-place side in the Southeast Division, to be determined by total points.

Central Conference

The top two teams in the Great Lakes and Heartland Division will advance to the Central Conference Championship.

Western Conference

The team finishing with the most points in the conference will advance to the Western Conference Championship, with the second- and third-placed teams from that division also earning berths into the playoff round. The top two teams from the remaining two divisions will also advance to the playoffs, with in-division playoffs determining the final three teams to advance to the Western Conference Championship.

The PDL Conference Championships will be held on the weekend of July 22-24, with the four conference champions advancing to the PDL Semifinals, to be held on the week of July 24-31. The 2016 PDL Championship Game will be held on the weekend of August 5-7.