Chattanooga FC has announced that they will enter a side into the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) this fall. Known as Chattanooga FC II, the pre-professional side will compete in the UPSL’s Premier Division - Georgia Conference. The announcement follows the news in February that CFC would enter its Academy sides into MLS NEXT.
"The addition of Chattanooga FC II in the UPSL gives us a much more clear and direct connection to our MLS NEXT Pro team, which facilitates the development of our MLS NEXT athletes” said CFC Sporting Director Sebastian Giraldo. “It will give our MLS NEXT athletes the experience they need to become professionals, while also giving us the flexibility to have a place where our MLS NEXT Pro athletes can train if they are not quite ready to play in a first-team match."
CFC Men’s Head Coach Chris Nugent, said: "The addition of Chattanooga FC II has huge value to us as it will bridge the gap between the Academy, local players and the first team. It also allows some flexibility with first team players coming back from injury. It's all about giving players with potential for the future more opportunities to play in a competitive environment. Players need minutes on the field and sometimes with squad size restrictions and other factors, we can't give that to them. Having this extra option helps solve that problem. This will benefit younger players coming up as well as first team players."
The club’s Academy Director, Miguel Rodrigues, said that "the UPSL is an important piece of our MLS pathway, giving our guys meaningful minutes in a competitive adult environment. It’s a big step forward for Chattanooga FC and our Academy, helping us better prepare players for the next step."
While the teams that compose the UPSL can be fluid season-to-season, the Georgia Conference currently consists of 14 teams, mostly based in the Greater Atlanta Area and Northern Georgia. Every team plays the other meaning 13 regular season games in the 2025 Spring Season. While the club could have launched in the KY-TN Conference, the Georgia Conference is regarded as higher quality and more densely populated, giving the CFC the opportunity to play against the best local sides.
UPSL Commissioner Yan Skwara noted the league is “excited to welcome professional soccer club Chattanooga FC to the UPSL Premier Division. We’re eager to see what the club’s second team can accomplish on the field, and proud to align with Chattanooga FC to help develop their local, future professional talent. Their presence will only elevate the level of competition in the Georgia Premier Division, and we are excited to offer a high-level of play for talented, young players.”
The club has yet to announce where CFC II will play. While pre-professional CFC II will offer soccer fans in the Scenic City a chance to watch more live games, including against local opposition such as North Georgia United and Dalton United, for fans of Chattanooga FC it will offer the chance to see emerging talents from its expansive Academy system up-close before they step into the senior side.
I think this is a terrific move, and I don't know why more clubs don't do this. The calendar makes all the difference