 | |
| Founded | 2003; 22 years ago (2003) |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | U.S. Soccer |
| Divisions | 11 conferences in 4 regions |
| Number of clubs | 75 |
| Domestic cup | U.S. Open Cup |
| Current champions | Hickory FC (1st title) |
| Most championships | Miami FC (2 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | YouTube (online streaming) |
| Website | npsl.com |
| Current:2025 NPSL season | |
TheNational Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men'ssoccer league. The league is officially affiliated to theUnited States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and has automatic qualification for theU.S. Open Cup. It is the successor of theMen's Premier Soccer League, a regional league originally based in theWestern United States, which has now expanded nationwide to encompass teams from 29 states. The league's motto is "A National League with a Regional Focus".
The National Premier Soccer League is divided into four separate regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). Each region is divided into conferences with a varying number of teams per conference. The regular season runs from May to July with the exception of the West Region that has historically started in late March or early April.[1]
The NPSL currently has automatic berths in theU.S. Open Cup where they gain eligibility towards theCONCACAF Champions League.
The National Premier Soccer League began in 2003 as the Men's Premier Soccer League (MPSL) initially as an offshoot of theWomen's Premier Soccer League, and marked the first instance of a women's soccer league spawning a men's league. The league's first two champions were theArizona Sahuaros, who had defected to the MPSL from theUSL D-3 Pro League, and theUtah Salt Ratz.
The league expanded into theMidwest in 2005 with the addition of several new teams and a new conference, and changed its name to National Premier Soccer League to reflect its new national footprint; a team from the expansion conference –Detroit Arsenal – won the league in its first year after its eastward expansion. The NPSL expanded further in 2007 with the addition of a new Northeast Conference and five new teams from theEastern United States. The first team from the East to win the national NPSL title was thePennsylvania Stoners in 2008. The league has since continued to expand, adding more teams throughout the entirety of the country.
Since its inception, the league has managed to place at least one team actively playing under its banner intoU.S. Open Cup competition. Though the showing of the NPSL in US Open Cup play was typically only one or two teams in its first six years, the2009 and2010 cups have seen four and three, respectively, NPSL teams in each tournament. The recent success of the NPSL in USASA qualifying has encouraged a movement by which the league could have automatic berths in the final tournament.[2] The furthest a team from the NPSL has reached in the US Open Cup during the professional era (1997 and onward after the entry of MLS teams) has been the third round. However, the Brooklyn Italians have won the US Open Cup outright before the existence of either MLS or the NPSL.
Although no team has ever won the league twice, the Miami FC camp has won the championship twice as a club. Its reserve team (Miami FC 2) won the2018 title, and its first team (Miami FC) won the2019 championship.
Officially the USSF does not recognize formal levels of thesoccer pyramid below the professional 3rd tier. The USSF does not officially recognize distinctions between amateur soccer leagues in the United States. However, the USASA sanctions affiliated, but separately run, national leagues that are recognized in practical terms as playing at a higher level than the USASA state association leagues; for example, they receive automatic berths to the US Open Cup. In November 2022, USASA announced it had established a Tier 1, which would be its top national tier. This designation would be based on financial stability and sustainability. After 20 years of association with USASA, NPSL would become their first Tier 1 league.[3]
The National Premier Soccer League attracts top amateur talent from around the United States. NPSL does not have any age limits or restrictions, thus incorporating bothcollege players and former professional players alike.
In the fall of 2024, NPSL announced the establishment of regional conference leagues that will provide a path for more teams to reach the Tier 1 status full NPSL teams have with USASA. The first conference will be the Pacific Conference and will exist of the following six teams: JASA Redwood City, Marin County SC, Racing Sacramento City FC, Real San Jose, San Leandro United FC, and Yemen United California. The new conference will start in the fall of 2024.[4] In September 2025, NPSL announced changes to their plans for their regional conferences, officially naming them NPSL–RL and naming Jason Brown managing director. The new regional conferences will run both spring and fall seasons, starting in the spring of 2026.[5]
The NPSL is organized in a mostly decentralized structure and is managed as a team-run league. Each year the member clubs help elect a chairman, treasurer, and secretary and an eight-member board of directors. Each team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining league minimum standards. New teams seeking membership into the NPSL are subject to approval from an executive committee of existing team owners. Member clubs have the right to make localized decisions for their respective markets, conferences, and regions based on what they believe is best for their particular region. Each conference is managed by the individual member clubs and elects a conference commission each year.
The current chairman is Kenny Farrell of theNew Orleans Jesters.[6]
The costs to join the league as of 2016 are reported to be a one-time $15,000 franchise fee and a $5,250 annual league fee.[7] The low entry fee compared to USL League Two's of $50,000 has made the league an attractive alternative to teams looking to compete at the highest level of amateur play.
The league requires that all teams play in stadiums with at least 500 seats, a scoreboard, and locker rooms with showers for both teams and officials. The home team is also responsible for providing water and food for the visiting team, ensuring there is a trainer or doctor on-site for the match, and paying the referees fees at the end of each game.
Mitre Sports International provided the official ball for the NPSL starting in 2014. Global Scarves began providing custom soccer scarves throughout the league, and worked with the NPSL on various events and contests to increase awareness and fervor throughout the 2014 NPSL season. Renegade GK, hummel, MyCujoo, Passage, Carbon Athletics, GCG Sports, Activate Canopy, and HomeLight are all listed as current business partners (2021).[8]
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First NPSL Season | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Region | |||||
| Keystone East Conference | |||||
| Jackson Lions FC | Toms River, New Jersey | Donovan Catholic High School | 2014 | 2022 |  William Fraley |
| FC Motown | Madison, New Jersey | Ranger Stadium | 2012 | 2013 | Dilly Duka[9] |
| New Jersey United AC | Holmdel, New Jersey | Roggy Field | 2024 | 2025 | Fernando Barboto |
| Philadelphia Union Development Squad[10] | Wayne, Pennsylvania | YSC Sports Complex | 2023 | 2023 |  Fred da Silva |
| Players Development Academy[11] | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | Walter E. Nolan Stadium | 2025 | Dan Keefe | |
| West Chester Predators | West Chester, Pennsylvania | West Chester United Turf Field | 1976 | 2024 | Blaise Santangelo |
| Keystone West Conference | |||||
| Electric City Shock | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Fitzpatrick Field | 2013 | 2014 | James Bell |
| Hershey FC | Hershey, Pennsylvania | Hershey High School Stadium | 2013 | 2013 | Dustin Bixler |
| Pennsylvania Classics | Manheim, Pennsylvania | Spooky Nook Sports Lancaster | 2004 | 2022 | |
| Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Ukrainian American Sport Center | 1950 | 2022 | |
| West Chester United SC | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Ciccarone Field | 1976 | 2017 | Blaise Santangelo |
| Mid-Atlantic Conference | |||||
| Alexandria Reds | Alexandria, Virginia | Limerick Field | 1970 | 2022 | |
| Alexandria Rough Diamonds | Washington, D.C. | Catholic University of America | 2016 | 2023 | |
| District Elite FC[12] | Washington D.C. | University of the District of Columbia | 2012 | 2025 | TBD |
| DMV Elite FC | Bladensburg, Maryland | Bladensburg High School | 2022 | 2024 |  Gustavo Onaindia |
| FC Frederick | Frederick, Maryland | Thomas Athletic Field | 1986 | 2015 |  Chris Spinks |
| Grove Soccer United | Glen Allen, Virginia | Deep Run High School | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Ristozi FC[13] | Owings Mills, Maryland | Mustang Stadium | 2022 | 2025 | Dylan Shepherd |
| Virginia Beach City FC | Norfolk, Virginia | Powhatan Field | 2013 | 2014 |  Stéphane Thys |
| Virginia Dream FC | Falls Church, Virginia | Meridian High School | 2022 | 2023 | TBD |
| North Atlantic Conference | |||||
| America Soccer Club New York | Long Island, New York | Captains Field | 2025 | ||
| Hartford City FC | Hartford, Connecticut | Trinity Health Stadium | 2015 | 2017 | Nick Balistierri |
| New Haven United FC[14] | New Haven, Connecticut | Reese Stadium | 2025 |  Kledis Capollari | |
| New York Shockers | Albany, New York | Afrim's Sports Park | 2021 | 2021 | Matt Esposito |
| Osner’s FC[15] | Brooklyn, New York | Floyd Bennett Field | 2015 | 2025 |  Juan Palacio |
| South Region | |||||
| Gulf Coast Sunshine Conference | |||||
| Club De Lyon FC[16] | Lake Mary, Florida | Lake Mary High School | 2022 | 2025 | |
| FC Florida[17] | Hobe Sound, Florida | The Pine School | 2008 | 2025 | |
| Global Soccer Pathways | Naples, Florida | Community School of Naples | |||
| Jacksonville Armada U-23 | Jacksonville, Florida | Southern Oak Stadium | 2010 | 2016 |  Tommy Križanović |
| Miami Dutch Lions FC | Olympia Heights, Florida | Tropical Park Stadium | 2019 | 2020 | Robert Stoutenburg |
| Naples United FC | Naples, Florida | Fleischmann Park | 2017 | 2017 | Vicente Sandoval |
| New Orleans Jesters | New Orleans, Louisiana | Pan American Stadium | 2003 | 2013 |  Kenny Farrell |
| PSC FC Florida | Panama City, Florida | 2017 | 2025 | ||
| Lone Star Conference | |||||
| Arkansas Wolves FC[18] | Little Rock, Arkansas | Scott Field | 2018 | 2021 |  Sabello Lwongwane |
| FC Brownsville | Brownsville, Texas | Brownsville Sports Park | 2018 | 2018 | |
| CF10 Houston FC | Katy, Texas | British International School of Houston | 2017 | 2018 | |
| Fort Worth Vaqueros FC | Fort Worth, Texas | W.O. Barnes Memorial Stadium | 2014 | 2014 | Tony Merola |
| Lubbock Matadors SC | Lubbock, Texas | Lowrey Field at Plains Capital Park (2022,2024) / Pirate Stadium at First United Park (2023) | 2021 | 2022 | Brandon Misuraca |
| Oklahoma United FC[19] | Edmond, Oklahoma | Chad Richison Stadium | 2025 | 2025 | Antonio Barros |
| West Texas FC[20] | Midland, Texas | Astound Broadband Stadium | 2023 | 2023 | Victor Domingues |
| Southeast Conference | |||||
| 865 Alliance[21] | Knoxville, Tennessee | Clinton Dragon Stadium | 2008 | 2023 | Mike Meyer |
| Appalachian FC | Boone, North Carolina | Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex | 2020 | 2021 | Dale Parker |
| Bristol Rhythm AFC | Bristol, Virginia | Gene Malcolm Stadium | 2024 | 2024 |  Louis Sharp |
| Burlington United FC[22] | Burlington, North Carolina | MacPherson Stadium | 2025 | 2025 | Diego Walsh |
| Charlottetowne Hops FC[23] | Charlotte, North Carolina | OrthoCarolina Sportsplex | 2023 | 2023 | TBD |
| Greenville United FC[24] | Greenville, North Carolina | John Paul II Catholic High School Athletic Campus | 2020 | 2023 | Josh Horne |
| Hickory FC | Hickory, North Carolina | Moretz Stadium | 2024 |  Carlos Rubio | |
| Port City FC | Wilmington, North Carolina | Legion Stadium (North Carolina) | 2014 | 2024 | Nate Torbett |
| Midwest Region | |||||
| Central States Conference | |||||
| FC Milwaukee Torrent | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | Hart Park | 2015 | 2016 | Steve Provan |
| FC Pride Elite[25] | Indianapolis, Indiana | Lawrence Soccer Complex | 2001 | 2025 |  Jamie Gilbert |
| Gio's Lions SC Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | Barda-Dowling Stadium | 2024 | ||
| Michigan Rangers FC | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex | 2024 | Stuart Collins | |
| Southern Indiana Guardians FC | 2024 | ||||
| Wisconsin Conquerors FC | Marshfield, Wisconsin | Kenneth & Ardyce Heiting Community Stadium | 2024 |  Ricardo Jorge Oliveira Pedro | |
| Great Lakes Conference | |||||
| Ambassadors FC Ohio[26] | Canton, Ohio | Dr. David & Winnie King Field | 2021 | 2025 | Ryan Dean |
| Buffalo Stallions[27] | Buffalo, New York | North Tonawanda High School | 2025 | 2025 | Mark Spacone |
| Cleveland SC | Berea, Ohio | George Finnie Stadium | 2018 | 2018 |  Vlad Muresan |
| Erie Commodores FC | Erie, Pennsylvania | Saxon Stadium | 2009 | 2009 | Ashley Phillips |
| Flower City Union | Rochester, New York | Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium | 2020 | 2024 | Jordan Sullivan |
| Niagara 1812[28] | Niagara Falls, New York | Niagara University | 2024 | 2024 |  Lucio Ianiero |
| Rochester NY FC Academy[29] | West Henrietta, New York | RNYFC Athletic Complex | 1966 | 2025 | |
| Syracuse FC | Syracuse, New York | David W. Murphy Field | 2017 | 2017 | Matt Tantalo |
| North Conference | |||||
| Duluth FC | Duluth, Minnesota | Public Schools Stadium | 2015 | 2017 |  Sean Morgan |
| Iowa Demon Hawks | West Des Moines, Iowa | MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex | 2025 | ||
| Joy St. Louis Park[30] | St. Louis Park, Minnesota | Oriole Stadium | 2021 | 2021 | Arinze Ezirike |
| Minnesota Blizzard FC | Lakeville, Minnesota | Lakeville North High School Stadium | 2024 | Forrest Randall | |
| Sioux Falls Thunder FC | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Harrisburg High School | 2016 | 2016 | |
| Siouxland United FC | Sioux City, Iowa | Bishop Heelan Memorial Field | 2023 | 2024 | Robbie Carroll |
| West Region | |||||
| Golden Gate Conference | |||||
| California Odyssey SC[31] | Madera, California | Madera South HS Stadium | 2002 | 2023 | David Santesteban |
| Cruizers FC[32] | Modesto, California | John Thurman Field | 2025 | ||
| El Farolito SC | San Francisco, California | Boxer Stadium | 1985 | 2018 | Santiago Lopez |
| Oakland Stompers | Oakland, California | Raimondi Park | 2009 | 2021 | |
| Real San Jose | San Jose, California | PAL Stadium | 2007 | 2025 | |
| Sacramento Gold FC | Sacramento, California | Capital Christian Stadium | 2009 | 2010 |  Ruben Mora Jr. |
| San Leandro United FC | Oakland, California | Castlemont High School | 2025 | ||
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Joining | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Futbol Club[15] | Framingham, Massachusetts | 2025 | Tiago Oliveira | ||
| Statesville FC[33] | Statesville, North Carolina | 2025 | 2026 | TBD |
| Year | No. of teams | Teams added | Teams departed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 | ||
| 2004 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 2005 | 13 | 7 | 4 |
| 2006 | 18 | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 22 | 12 | 8 |
| 2008 | 25 | 12 | 9 |
| 2009 | 27 | 12 | 10 |
| 2010 | 31 | 12 | 8 |
| 2011 | 37 | 13 | 7 |
| 2012 | 46 | 13 | 5 |
| 2013 | 57 | 20 | 9 |
| 2014 | 77 | 31 | 11 |
| 2015 | 68 | 12 | 21 |
| 2016 | 84 | 23 | 7 |
| 2017 | 96 | 30 | 18 |
| 2018 | 98 | 18 | 16 |
| 2019 | 91 | 11 | 19 |
| 2020 | 94 | 22 | 19 |
| 2021 | 90 | 15 | 19 |
| 2022 | 92 | 19 | 17 |
| 2023 | 94 | 12 | 15 |
| 2024 | 92 | 18 | 20 |
Many NPSL teams have rivalries given the close geography of the teams throughout the league. The most notable rivalry was theRust Belt Derby contested betweenDetroit City FC,AFC Cleveland, andFC Buffalo. The name refers to the teams' shared region, theRust Belt.[34] Another intense rivalry existed between theSan Diego Flash andSan Diego Boca/Force FC, which were crosstown rivals inSan Diego. Until the 2013 sale and rebranding of Force FC from Boca FC, the ownership groups of the two clubs were previously partners in the original San Diego Flash club of theA-League that competed from 1998 to 2001.[35]
The NPSL Members Cup, originally called the NPSL Founders Cup, was a competition that ran from August to October 2019. It was initially intended to lead to a new professional league beginning play in the spring of 2020.[56] However, following the departure of numerous previously announced teams and issues in launching the professional league the tournament was altered.
Detroit City FC won the cup on October 16, 2019, when the team defeatedMichigan Stars FC, 1–0, in the penultimate game of the tournament.[57][58]
| Season | Player | Club | Goals | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 |  Victor Manosalvas | New York Red Bulls U-23 | 12 | [59] |
| Jason Jones | Sacramento Gold FC | |||
| David Hernandez | Spartans FC | |||
| 2015 | Miguel Herlein | New York Cosmos B | 16 | [71] |
| Simon Rawnsley | Aguiluchos USA | |||
| 2016 |  Nana Addai | Rhode Island Reds | 18 | [72] |
| Simon Rawnsley | Aguiluchos USA | |||
| 2017 | Alessandro Canale | Orange County FC | 18 | [73] |
 Amani Walker | Albion SC Pros | |||
| 2018 | Omar Nuño | Sonoma County Sol | 20 | [74] |
| 2019 | César Mexia | FC Arizona | 18 | [75] |
| 2020 | none awarded due to COVID-19 | |||
| 2021 | Sidney Warden | Duluth FC | 16 | [76] |
| 2022 | Damani Camara | FC Columbus | 15 | [77] |
| 2023 |  Yu Tsukanome | Dakota Fusion FC | 16 | [78] |
| 2024 | Angel Chavez Philip Caputo | Virginia Dream FC Joy St. Louis Park | 14 | [79] |
| Season | Player | Club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Ross Middlemiss | Sonoma County Sol | [59] |
| 2014 | Victor Manosalvas | New York Red Bulls U-23 | [59] |
| 2015 | Jon Ander Ibarrondo | Myrtle Beach Mutiny | [80] |
| 2016 | Isaac Addai | RI Reds | [59] |
| 2017 | Jade Johnson | Dakota Fusion FC | [59] |
| 2018 | Matt Nigro | FC Motown | [81] |
| 2019 | Christian Enriquez | Albion San Diego | [59] |
| 2020 | none awarded due to COVID-19 | ||
| 2021 | Sam Coad | Denton Diablos FC | [59] |
| 2022 | Christian Soto Rincon | Crossfire Redmond | [59] |
| 2023 | Dennis Bates | Appalachian FC | [59] |
| 2024 | Olivier Correa | West Texas FC | [79] |
| Season | Player | Club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gregory Hartley | Chattanooga FC | [59] |
| 2015 | Gregory Hartley | Chattanooga FC | [59] |
| 2016 | Gregory Hartley | Chattanooga FC | [59] |
| 2017 | Andrew Weber | FC Arizona | [59] |
| 2018 | Jan Hoffelner | Duluth FC | [59] |
| 2019 | Christian Coulson | Virginia Beach City FC | [59] |
| 2020 | none awarded due to COVID-19 | ||
| 2021 | Conor Cable | Cleveland SC | [59] |
| 2022 | Connor Durant | Laredo Heat | [59] |
| 2023 | Griffin Hemmindinger | Annapolis Blues FC | [59] |
| 2024 | Vincent Sanchis | Dakota Fusion FC | [79] |
| Season | Player | Club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 |  Joseph Okumu | AFC Ann Arbor | |
| 2019 | Jamie Smith | Asheville City SC | |
| 2020 | none awarded due to COVID-19 | ||
| 2021 | Ben Bender | FC Baltimore Christos | |
| 2022 | Josh Jones | Philadelphia Ukrainians | |
| 2023 | Kenan Hot | Jackson Lions FC | [82] |
| 2024 | Sam Sarver | Akron City FC | [79] |
| Season | Coach | Club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Grover Gibson | RVA FC | [59] |
| 2014 | Bill Elliott | Chattanooga FC | [59] |
| 2015 | Bill Elliott | Chattanooga FC | [59] |
| 2016 | Bill Elliott | Chattanooga FC | [59] |
| 2017 | Teddy Haley | Elm City Express | [59] |
| 2018 | Carlos Mendes | New York Cosmos B | [59] |
| 2019 | Larry Sancomb | FC Baltimore Christos | [59] |
| 2020 | none awarded due to COVID-19 | ||
| 2021 | Levi Coleman | Tulsa Athletic | [59] |
| 2022 | Dale Parker | Appalachian FC | [59] |
| 2023 | Paul Gilbert | Lubbock Matadors SC | [59] |
| 2024 | Colin Herriot | Annapolis Blues FC | [79] |
Executive committee[83]
NPSL board of directors[83]
NPSL leadership staff[83]
In April 2020, the NPSL launched acompetitive gaming competition to promote the growth of the league in new areas.[86] The league hopes to "bring its community members together for friendly competition on a virtual pitch". The first nine clubs to formally join the new eSports league wereAtlantic City FC, Central Florida Panthers SC,Denton Diablos FC,Duluth FC,Fort Worth Vaqueros,FC Milwaukee Torrent,Muskegon Risers,Gate City FC, andOzark FC.
The league partnered with Virtual Pro Gaming to assist in operations of the league. Clubs will play full 11 v 11 in pro clubs mode, on FIFA,EA Sports video game.[87][88]
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