 | |
| Founded | June 6, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-06-06) |
|---|---|
| First season | 2019–20 |
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF(2019–2024) Non-FIFA(2025–present) |
| Number of clubs | 9 (2024) |
| League cup | NISA Independent Cup |
| Current champions | Los Angeles Force (1st title) (2024) |
| Most championships | Detroit City FC (2 titles) |
| Website | nisaofficial |
TheNational Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men'ssoccer league in the United States. The league is previously in thethird tier of American soccer and began play in 2019.[1][2][3] NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season format with a winter break but have switched to spring-to-fall which is more common in the United States.[4] The league went on hiatus during the 2025 season but plans to resume play in 2026.
On June 6, 2017, it was announced that the newly formed National Independent Soccer Association would begin play in 2018 targeting an initial 8 to 10 teams, later revised to 8 to 12 teams.[5] Initially, the league outlined plans to introduce apromotion/relegation system, once they reach their goal of 24 teams, the first in US professional soccer and in doing so act as a feeder league to theNorth American Soccer League (NASL);[6][7] however, the NASL ceased operations prior to those plans being implemented.
On February 13, 2018, NISA co-founder Jack Cummins died suddenly.[8] On May 17, 2018, NISA co-founderPeter Wilt left the NISA to help start upForward Madison FC inMadison, Wisconsin inUSL League One.[9] A committee of club owners was formed to elect new leadership within the organization.[10]
On August 31, 2018, NISA filed an application with the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a men's professional league, playing at the third division.[11] On February 16, 2019, NISA was provisionally sanctioned as a Division III league by theUnited States Soccer Federation.[12] In May 2019, it was announced that clubs were not happy with the silence from the league and that Bob Watkins was no longer the President of NISA and that John Prutch had taken the helm as commissioner.[3] During this same timeframe, the league's start date was pushed back from August 2019 to a targeted September start date.[3]
On June 10, 2019, it became known that bothMiami FC andCalifornia United Strikers FC were approved at the recent board of governors meeting to join NISA, while the previously identified club in Central Florida would play inBaton Rouge, Louisiana instead ofDaytona Beach, Florida.[13] However, it was unclear whether either of the teams would start before the league's September start date.[13] On June 27, 2019, it was announced thatOakland Roots SC would have their inaugural season with the league in the spring season, rather than the previously announcedNPSL Founders Cup.[14] On August 15, 2019, the league officially announced the addition of Oakland Roots for the 2019 season andChattanooga FC,Detroit City FC, andMichigan Stars FC for early 2020.[15]
Theinaugural season began on August 31, 2019, with a 3–3 draw forOakland Roots SC andCalifornia United Strikers FC in Oakland.[16] On April 27, 2020, following previous postponements, the remainder of the 2019–20 season was canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[17]
On September 10, 2020, the league announced that one of the original co-founders of the league,Peter Wilt, would be rejoining the league in a club operations capacity by attempting to establish a club in Chicago.[18] On September 15, 2020, one of the founding teams,Oakland Roots, announced that they were leaving the league to join theUSL Championship, a league in the second division of professional soccer.[19]
On April 27, 2020, NISA revealed a new tournament called the NISA Independent Cup that would have member teams face off against high quality amateur and independent professional sides in a regional format.[20] The tournament and 15 participating teams were announced on July 1.[21]
NISA announced its first affiliation agreement with theGulf Coast Premier League, aUSASA affiliated amateur league based in thegulf coast of the United States, on August 13, 2020.[22][23] The partnership is set to provide a pathway to professional status for both clubs and players, while also allowing two GCPL teams to qualify for future editions of the Independent Cup based on league play. This was expanded to include theMidwest Premier League andEastern Premier Soccer League on September 3 and 4, 2020, respectively.[24][25] On November 23, NISA announced a fourth agreement with theMountain Premier League.[26]
On September 17, 2020, the league announced that it was establishing a full-year amateur league, theNISA Nation, that would serve as an incubator for amateur and semi-professional clubs that wish to move into NISA's professional league.[27] NISA stated that this full-season amateur league and its previously announced league affiliations would serve as the foundation of a fully open professional to amateur pyramid in the United States.[28]
The league announced an "alliance" with semi-professional women's soccer leagueUnited Women's Soccer on January 28, 2021,[29][30] with the target of launching a professional women's league in 2022. This proposed league would occupy the at the time vacant second tier of professional women's soccer in the United States. Many NISA clubs, including Detroit City FC,[31][32] Michigan Stars FC,[33] and NJ Teamsterz FC[34] field or had announced fielding UWS and UWS2 teams. However, on March 20, 2021, it was reported that the alliance had broken down and the leagues had gone their separate ways.[citation needed]
On December 2024, several websites reported that NISA was not given professional sanctioning for the 2025 season.[35] though the league would later dispute these claims.[36] The league later announced the NISA Pro Cup Tournament for the fall of 2025 as part of the league's application for continued USSF sanctioning, with the intention of returning to a full season in 2026.[37]On August 25, NISA announced the location and dates for the 2025 NISA Pro Cup tournament. The tournament will consist of a Group stage held between October 15 and 22, with the semifinals held on October 24 and the finals on October 26. All games will be played Total Sports Park inWashington, Michigan.[38] Eight teams were confirmed for the tournament: NISA clubsCapo FC[39] andLos Angeles Force,[40] DC Hyper of theUPSL,[41]Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC ofThe League for Clubs,[42] Arkansas Wolves FC of theNPSL,[43] Sin City FC[44] and Modesto City FC ofNISA Nation,[45] and Peak XI FC of theMountain Premier League.[46]
On July 21, 2025, Matt Morse, previously the Managing Director ofNISA Nation, was appointed CEO of NISA.[47] Two days later, retired American soccer playerChandler Hoffman was appointed league commissioner.[48]
Teams that no longer participate in the National Independent Soccer Association are initalics.
| Team | Championships | Year(s) | Runners-up | Year(s) | NISA seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit City FC | 2 | 2020–21,2021 | 2 | ||
| Michigan Stars FC | 1 | 2022 | 1 | 2023 | 5 |
| Flower City Union | 1 | 2023 | 2 | ||
| Los Angeles Force | 1 | 2024 | 1 | 2020–21 | 5.5 |
| Albion San Diego | 1 | 2022 | 4.5 | ||
| California United Strikers FC | 1 | 2021 | 3.5 | ||
| Irvine Zeta FC | 1 | 2024 | 1 |
| Season | Champions | Score | Runner up | Venue | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Season abandoned due to theCOVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2020–21 | Detroit City FC | 1–0 | Los Angeles Force | Keyworth Stadium | 7,231 | July 3, 2021[66][67] |
| 2021 | Detroit City FC | N/A | California United Strikers FC | Season champion determined by final table results | ||
| 2022 | Michigan Stars FC | 1–0 | Albion San Diego | Romeo Stadium | 1,178 | November 6, 2022 |
| 2023 | Flower City Union | 1–0 | Michigan Stars FC | Romeo Stadium | 1,016 | November 11, 2023 |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Force | 1–1(3–2p) | Irvine Zeta FC | Veterans Memorial Stadium | 1,447 | October 19, 2024 |
| Year | Great Lakes | Midwest | Central Plains/ South Central | Southeast | Southern | Florida | Mid-Atlantic/ East | New England/ Northeast | Empire | Pacific | Southwest | West Coast | SoCal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Detroit City FC | N/A | Gaffa FC (GCPL) | Chattanooga FC | N/A | Maryland Bobcats FC (NPSL) | N/A | N/A | |||||
| 2021 | Detroit City FC | Milwaukee Torrent (NPSL) | Louisiana Krewe FC (GCPL) | Chattanooga FC | Maryland Bobcats FC | Lansdowne Yonkers FC (EPSL) | N/A | PDX FC (USL2) | California United Strikers FC | Los Angeles Force | |||
| 2022 | Michigan Stars FC | N/A | N/A | Chattanooga FC | Maryland Bobcats FC | Flower City Union | Syracuse Pulse | Wenatchee All-Stars FC (Cascadia Premier League) | Valley FC Raiders (NISA Nation) | Los Angeles Force | ASC San Diego | ||
| 2023 | Michigan Stars FC | Gold Star FC | Chattanooga FC | Savannah Clovers FC | Club de Lyon | Maryland Bobcats FC | Flower City Union | N/A | Los Angeles Force | N/A | ASC San Diego | ||
| 2024 | FC Milwaukee Torrent (NPSL)[68] | N/A | Club de Lyon | N/A | N/A | Maryland Bobcats FC | N/A | Irvine Zeta FC | Los Angeles Force | N/A | |||
In addition to its professional division, NISA operates a full-season amateur league calledNISA Nation. NISA's stated long-term goal is to have promotion and relegation between the professional division and NISA Nation, as well as between NISA Nation and seven affiliated regional leagues. Some of those affiliated leagues have entered into promotion and relegation agreements with other leagues, and so a pyramid can be constructed with NISA's Division III professional league at the top.[citation needed]
Today the National Independent Soccer Association announced Bay Cities FC suspended operations for the balance of the 2022 season due to financial constraints
Chicago House AC announced today that it has joined the Midwest Premier League (MWPL) for the 2022 season. Chicago House played its inaugural season in @NISAsoccer, a US Soccer sanctioned 3rd division professional league. The MWPL is a regional soccer league run by its members & affiliated with NISA
Historic club to be led by majority owner Baye Adofo-Wilson, head of soccer Giuseppe Rossi
Flower City Union and Syracuse Pulse have agreed to a unique merger prior to the National Independent Soccer Association season. The merged organizations will have one centralized front office and will host matches in the Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y. markets.
Due to the complexities and time involved with the current legal issues surrounding Valley United FC, NISA and VUFC have agreed that it would be best for Valley to suspend all operations for the balance of the 2022 season.
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