TAMPA, Fla. – Ahead of its 24th season, the Premier Development League has revealed the schedule, as well as conference and divisional alignments for the 2018 regular season. A total of 11 divisions – Great Lakes, Heartland, Northeast, Mid Atlantic, South Atlantic, Mid South, Southeast, Central Pacific, Northwest, Southwest, Mountain and the new Deep South – are filled by 74 competing teams.

The season kicks off on May 4 with a match between 2017 Western Conference Champion FC Golden State Force and San Diego Zest FC, with the PDL Playoffs beginning on July 21 and running through the 2018 PDL Championship on Aug. 4.

FULL 2018 PDL SCHEDULE

In the Central Conference, the Great Lakes and Heartland Divisions will compete, featuring the 2017 PDL Championship runners-up Thunder Bay Chill and the 2016 PDL Champions Michigan Bucks. The Eastern Conference consists of the Northeast, Mid Atlantic and South Atlantic Divisions, led by divisional champions Seacoast United Phantoms, New York Red Bulls U23and the Myrtle Beach Mutiny, as well as containing the 2017 PDL Champions Charlotte Eagles.

The reigning champions will open the season in one of the most compelling matches all year, as they welcome South Atlantic Division winners Myrtle Beach Mutiny on May 12. Their 2017 PDL Championship opponents and reigning Central Conference winners, the Chill, open their season on June 12 against WSA Winnipeg.

The Southern Conference includes three divisions for the first time. The Mid South and Southeast Divisions make their return, with OKC Energy U23 and SIMA Aguilas taking the field to defend their divisional crowns. They are joined by the all-new Deep South Division, featuring a blend of two new member clubs in the Birmingham Hammers and Memphis, Tennessee, as well as existing clubs from the Mid South and South Atlantic Divisions.

Finally, the Western Conference includes the Mountain, Northwest and Southwest Divisions, led by their respective champions in FC Tucson, Portland Timbers U23 and FC Golden State Force.

A total of 12 new member clubs join the PDL for the 2018 season, including the Birmingham Hammers, the AHFC Royals, Lansing United, Corpus Christi FC, Lionsbridge FC, Ogden City SC,  SF Glens SC, Kaw Valley FC, Colorado Pride Switchbacks U23, Santa Cruz Breakers FC, Memphis, Tennessee. and Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

For the full league schedule, visit our schedule page. For a team-specific schedule, find your team on the PDL teams’ page and click on the “Game Schedule” tab.