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The Canadian soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the Canada. Canadian teams are often members of leagues that are based in the United States.

The league structure in Canada is different from that used in much of the world (but like most other sports league systems in the United States) in one key respect: promotion and relegation does not regularly occur between any two levels.

Major League Soccer has a fixed number of franchises (currently 15), with no merit-based promotion from the USL First Division, which is run by a completely separate entity, the United Soccer Leagues (USL). Toronto FC joined MLS in 2007, with Vancouver Whitecaps FC due to join in 2011.

The USL manages many leagues including the USL First and Second Divisions. There is no formal system of relegation between the USL First and USL Second divisions, largely due to the franchise-based nature of the league. ^[1] There are currently no Canadian teams in the USL Second Division.

Contents 1 Men 2 Women 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Men

The top league in Canada is Major League Soccer, along with the United Soccer Leagues First Division. In May 2009, the Canadian Soccer League received conditional approval as Canada's National League (at a level below that of the MLS and USL-1). The Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body for Canada.

Level	Leagues or Divisions
1	Major League Soccer (MLS) Toronto FC  ON Vancouver Whitecaps FC  BC due to replace USL-1 team in 2011
2	United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) Montreal Impact  QC Vancouver Whitecaps FC  BC
3	Canadian Soccer League (CSL) London City  ON North York Astros  ON St. Catharines Wolves  ON Trois-Rivières Attak  QC Brampton Lions  ON TFC Academy  ON Italia Shooters  ON Portugal FC  ON Serbian White Eagles  ON Toronto Croatia  ON
4	Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) Athletic Club of BC  BC Fraser Valley Action  BC Kamloops Excel  BC Khalsa Sporting Club  BC Okanagan Challenge  BC Surrey United  BC Vancouver Thunderbirds  BC Victoria United  BC Whitecaps FC Prospects  BC				United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL) Forest City London  ON Toronto Lynx  ON Thunder Bay Chill  ON Ottawa Fury  ON Abbotsford Mariners  BC Vancouver Whitecaps Residency  BC Victoria Highlanders  BC
5	Ontario Soccer League (OSL) Semi-Pro soccer league operating within Ontario		Nova Scotia Soccer League (NSSL) Amateur soccer league operating within Nova Scotia 8 Teams		Alberta Major Soccer League (AMSL) Amateur soccer league operating within Alberta 10 Teams		Manitoba Major Soccer League (MMSL) Amateur soccer league operating within Manitoba
6	Ottawa Carleton Soccer League (OCSL) Amateur soccer league operating within Ontario		Halifax Soccer League Amateur soccer league operating within Nova Scotia		Vancouver Metro Soccer League (VMSL) Amateur soccer league operating within British Columbia		Winnipeg Soccer League (WSL) Amateur soccer league operating within Manitoba

[edit] Women

Level	Leagues or Divisions
1	Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) None
2	W-League (W-L) Great Lakes Division Hamilton Avalanche  ON (2006-) Laval Comets  QC (2006-) London Gryphons  ON (2004-) Ottawa Fury Women  ON (2000-) Quebec City Amiral SC  QC(2009-) Toronto Lady Lynx  ON (2005-) Western Conference Vancouver Whitecaps Women  BC (2001-)
3	Pacific Coast Soccer League (Canada) Chilliwack FC Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC Xtreme Fraser Valley Action Women Norvan/NSGSC Eagles Okanagan Whitecaps Semiahmoo SC Surrey United Women Women Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Victoria Stars FC

[edit] See also

• English football league system
• American Soccer Pyramid

[edit] References

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