NISA Nation

Last updated
NISA Nation
NISA Nation.png
Organizing body NISA
FoundedSeptember 17, 2020;4 years ago (2020-09-17)
First season2021
CountryUnited States
Confederation CONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
Divisions4
Number of clubs22
Domestic cup(s) U.S. Open Cup
League cup(s)NISA Independent Cup
International cup(s) CONCACAF Champions League
(via U.S. Open Cup)
Current champion(s) New York Greek American (1st title)
Most championships NoVa FC
New York Greek American
(1 title each)
TV partnersEleven Sports
Website nisanation.com
Current: 2024 NISA Nation season

NISA Nation is a semi-professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is below the professional leagues in the United States soccer league system and began play in 2021. NISA Nation is affiliated with the third tier professional league National Independent Soccer Association. [1] [2]

Contents

History

On August 25, 2021, Atlantic City FC was announced as the first club of the newly formed league. [3] Two weeks later, NISA Nation announced they had six teams for their inaugural season and they would play a 10-game schedule in the Northeast Region. This inaugural region included the leagues first promoted team, Steel Pulse FC from the Eastern Premier Soccer League. [4] In October 2021, NISA Nation announced the start of a second region. The Southwest Region was started with four teams, each team playing six games in a round robin format. [5] New Jersey Alliance FC beat New Amsterdam FC II 4–0 to secure the first regional championship for the Northeast Region. [6] In early January 2022, FC Golden State Force claimed the first Southwest Region championship. [7]

On January 6, 2022, it was announced that NISA Nation earned from the United States Adult Soccer Association the USASA provisional national league license, a license that gave recognition to the league and that opens the way to U.S. Open Cup spots directly from the league. [8] The Florida Region was announced in the Spring of 2022, with five teams facing each other three times in the Orlando area. [9] In addition to the Florida Region, NISA Nation announced that the Northeast Region's spring season would consist of eight clubs playing 10 games a piece. The defending champions New Jersey Alliance FC, returned to defend their title during the spring season. [10] In May 2022, the Pacific Region was announced with four teams, playing a 12-game schedule. [11] This brought the league to 23 teams for the Spring of 2022. [12] Each region crowned a champion for the 2022 NISA Nation season. The four champions were Club De Lyon (Florida Region), New Jersey Alliance FC (Northeast Region), Battleborn FC (Pacific Region), and Capo FC (Southwest Region). [13]

NISA Nation announced in early 2023 that the Southwest region would return for play in the spring with six clubs, including three previous clubs and three new clubs: AS Los Angeles, SC Union Maricopa, and Olympiacos CA. [14] In early 2023, NISA Nation announced the addition of the Pacific Division for the spring, with five teams committed and ten teams planned. [15] In July 2023, NISA Nation announced the formation of the Texas Region for fall 2023. [16] For the fall of 2023, NISA Nation ran three regional leagues; Pacific, Southwest, and Texas Regions. [17]

National Championship

In October 2023, NISA Nation announced that they would hold their inaugural National Championship, which would have three rounds to determine the national champions. Eligible to participate were the champions of the NISA Nation regions, as well as the champions of its affiliate leagues. [18] The two finalists, Northern Virginia FC and Las Vegas Legends, were both invited to promote to the third-tier NISA. The inaugural Championship represented the first opportunity for merit-based promotion to the professional level in the United States soccer league system. [19]

NISA Independent Cup

Teams from NISA Nation participated in the 36 team NISA Independent Cup in 2022. [20]

U.S. Open Cup

Clubs in NISA Nation can qualify for the U.S. Open Cup through the local qualifying route. Capo FC and Club de Lyon are the only two teams to qualify for the tournament proper, which they both did in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup. [21]

U.S. Open Cup Participation
YearParticipating TeamFinal RoundRef.
2023Battleborn FC Fourth qualifying round [22]
Capo FC Second round [23]
SC Union Maricopa Second qualifying round [22]
Club de Lyon First round [24]
Deportivo Lake Mary First qualifying round [22]
2024Battleborn FC First qualifying round [25]
Bay Area United FC Second qualifying round [25]
Capo FC Second qualifying round [25]
JASA RWC First qualifying round [25]
Temecula FC Fourth qualifying round [26]
2025 Las Vegas Legends Fourth qualifying round [27]
Modesto City FC Second qualifying round [28]
Roc City Boom Second qualifying round [28]
Soccer Academy Nevada Second qualifying round [28]

Associations

NISA Nation is affiliated and plans to begin a pro-rel system with 6 leagues all over the country: the Cascadia Premier League [29] in Washington and Oregon, the Eastern Premier Soccer League [30] in the north east, the Mountain Premier League in the Rocky Mountains region, and the Southwest Premier League in the southwestern United States, the Gulf Coast Premier League in the deep south, the Pioneer Premier League in Tennessee and Kentucky, the Midwest Premier League [31] in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri. In 2023 reaffirmed their association with Cascadia Premier League, Eastern Premier Soccer League, Mountain Premier League, and Southwest Premier League. This aligned all four leagues top division aside NISA Nation. This will continue to provide these leagues with slots in the NISA Independent Cup and began a new initiative that provided a national championship to be competed between NISA Nation Regional champions and league winners. [32] In August 2023, NISA Nation announced the association with Florida Gold Coast League. [33] In October 2023, NISA Nation announced their affiliation with Metroplex Premier League, an amateur league from North Texas. [34] In February 2024, NISA Nation announced the Upstate New York Region as the fourth region for the 2024 Spring season. [35] In January 2025, NISA Nation announced their plans for the 2025 season, which included continued affiliation for Cascadia Premier League, Eastern Premier Soccer League, Metroplex Premier League, Mountain Premier League, and Southwest Premier League. In addition, NISA Nation announced that the Michigan Premier Lague would be a new affiliate for 2025. [36]

LevelLeague(s)/division(s)
3National Independent Soccer Association
9 clubs
4NISA Nation
Coast Region		NISA Nation
Southwest Region		NISA Nation
Tennessee Arkansas Region		NISA Nation
North Texas Region
5Cascadia Premier LeagueSouthwest Premier LeagueMetroplex Premier League Eastern Premier Soccer League Michigan Premier LeagueMountain Premier League

Cascadia Premier League

LevelLeague(s)/division(s)
5Cascadia Premier League Premier 1
Men's Premier League 1 - Baker Division
5 clubs		Cascadia Premier League Premier 1
Men's Premier League 1 - Rainier Division
5 clubs
6Cascadia Premier League 2
Men's Premier 2 - Cascade Division
5 clubs		Cascadia Premier League 2
Men's Premier 2 - Pacific Division
4 clubs

Eastern Premier Soccer League

LevelLeague(s)/division(s)
5Eastern Premier Soccer League
Delaware River Conference
11 clubs		Eastern Premier Soccer League
Metropolitan Conference
12 clubs		Eastern Premier Soccer League
Mid-Atlantic Conference
10 clubs		Eastern Premier Soccer League
Northeast Conference
7 clubs

Metroplex Premier League

LevelLeague(s)/division(s)
5Metroplex Blue League
8 clubs
6Metroplex Red League
10 clubs

Michigan Premier League

LevelLeague(s)/division(s)
5Michigan Premier League
6 clubs
6Michigan Open League
5 clubs

Mountain Premier League

LevelLeague(s)/division(s)
5Mountain Premier League
8 clubs

Southwest Premier League

LevelLeague(s)/division(s)
5Arizona Premier League

Men's Open Arizona
5 clubs

San Diego Baja MX Premier League

Men's Open San Diego
5 clubs

Enhancement Premier League

Men's Open

Nevada Premier League

Men's Open Nevada
6 clubs

Pacific Premier League

Men's Open Pacific
8 clubs

SoCal Premier League

Men's Open SoCal
10 clubs

6SoCal Premier League

Coast Division
7 clubs

SoCal Premier League

LA IE
6 clubs

Current Teams

Arkansas + Tennessee Region

TeamCityStadiumFoundedFirst season
Arkansas Wolves FC [37] Benton, Arkansas 20182025
Dream FC [37] Nashville, Tennessee 2025
Nashville Knights FC [37] Nashville, Tennessee 2025
Tango FC [37] Athens, Tennessee 2025

Colorado Region

TeamCityStadiumFoundedFirst season
Denver FC [38] Denver, Colorado 2025
Timbers SC [38] Denver, Colorado 2025
Peak XI FC [38] Superior, Colorado 2025
Young Gunz FC [38] Colorado Springs, Colorado 2025


North Texas Region

TeamCityStadiumFoundedFirst season
FC Revolution [39] Fort Worth, Texas 2025
Midcities FC [39] Euless, Texas 2025
I & I FC [39] Allen, Texas 2025
Inter Fort Worth [39] Fort Worth, Texas 2025


Southwest Region

TeamCityStadiumFoundedFirst season
LV United FC [40] Las Vegas, Nevada 2025
Sin City FC [40] Las Vegas, Nevada 2025
Soccer Academy Nevada [41] Las Vegas, Nevada Cimarron-Memorial High School 2024
STG Premier Pro [42] St. George, Utah Pine View High School 2024


Location map

Usa edcp location map.svg
Black pog.svg
Las Vegas
Orange pog.svg
STG Premier Pro
Black pog.svg
Fort Worth
Red pog.svg
Midcities FC
Red pog.svg
I & I FC
Green pog.svg
Arkansas Wolves FC
Black pog.svg
Nashville
Green pog.svg
Tango FC
Black pog.svg
Denver
Blue pog.svg
Peak XI FC
Blue pog.svg
Young Gunz FC
TransparentPlaceholder.png
Denver teams
Black pog.svg Denver FC
Black pog.svg Timbers SC
TransparentPlaceholder.png
Fort Worth teams
Black pog.svg Inter Fort Worth
Black pog.svg FC Revolution
TransparentPlaceholder.png
Las Vegas teams
Black pog.svg LV United FC
Black pog.svg Sin City FC
Black pog.svg Soccer Academy Nevada
TransparentPlaceholder.png
Nashville teams
Black pog.svg Dream FC
Black pog.svg Nashville Knights FC
class=notpageimage|
NISA Nation clubs
Green pog.svg Arkansas/Tennessee; Blue pog.svg Colorado Region; Red pog.svg North Texas Region; Orange pog.svg Southwest Region; Black pog.svg Multi-team city
Former teams
{

Champions

National Championship

SeasonChampionRunner-up
2023 Northern Virginia FC [43] (EPSL) Las Vegas Legends
2024 New York Greek American [44] (EPSL)Worldwide Problems FC

West Region Finals

SeasonChampionRunner-upThirdFourth
Fall 2023 Las Vegas Legends [45] FC Golden State Force FC Brownsville Peak XI FC (MPL)
Fall 2024 Worldwide Problems FC [46] Las Vegas Legends Peak XI FC (MPL) Chula Vista FC (SWPL)

Season Results

RegionChampionRunner-upThird place
Spring 2021
Northeast New Jersey Alliance FC [6] New Amsterdam FC II Steel Pulse FC
Fall 2021
Southwest FC Golden State Force [7] Las Vegas Legends Chula Vista FC
Spring 2022
Florida Club de Lyon [13] Atletico Orlando Deportivo Lake Mary
Northest New Jersey Alliance FC [13] Union SCNew York Braveheart
PacificBattleborn FC [13] AFC South Bay San Francisco Elite Metro FC
Southwest Capo FC [13] FC Golden State Force Las Vegas Legends
Spring 2023
PacificBattleborn FC [47] JASA RWC Windmill City FC
Southwest FC Golden State Force [48] Temecula FC Capo FC
Fall 2023
PacificBattleborn FC [49] JASA RWC Windmill City FC
Southwest FC Golden State Force Temecula FC Capo FC
Texas FC Brownsville Matias Almeyda FC AC Houston Sur
Spring 2024
PacificSilicon Valley Rush [50] Bay Area UnitedAfghan Premier
Southwest Las Vegas Legends [51] FC Golden State Force Capo FC
Western NY Roc City Boom [52] Binghamton FCUnited Elite Krajisnik FC
Fall 2024
CoastWorldwide Problems FC [53] Las Vegas Legends FC Golden State Force
PacificSilicon Valley Rush [54] Club TepaAfghan Premier

Leadership

NameYearsTitleRef.
John Prutch2022–Commissioner [55]
Matt Morse2022–Managing Director, Independent Cup, & Affiliates [56]
Kenneth Henriques2022–Referee Coordinator [57]
Carlos Budyszewick2023–Director of Expansion and Outreach [12]

References

  1. ↑ "NISA NATION PAVES NEW PATH TO PRO SOCCER". NISA Nation. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Michael (17 September 2020). "PATHWAY TO THE PROS: NISA Nation is unveiled for amateur clubs seeking greater challenges". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  3. ↑ Ralph, Matthew (25 August 2021). "Atlantic City FC first club announced in new NISA Nation league". www.brotherlygame.com. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "NISA Nation first region set for play". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. September 17, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ "NISA Nation solidifies second region". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. October 22, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "New Jersey Alliance FC earns first ever NISA Nation regional title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "FC Golden state force claims inaugural NISA Nation Southwest Region". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ "NISA Nation earns provisional national league designation from United States Adult Soccer Association". www.nisanation.com. NISA Nation. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "NISA Naion announces inaugural Florida region schedule". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 22, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "EXxpanded NISA Nation Northeast Region set for play". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 24, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "NISA Nation Pacific Region set to play". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. May 3, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "NISA Nation announces Carlos Budyszewick as new Director of Outreach & Expansion". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 26, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "NISA Nation spring season crowns four champions". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 25, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NISA Nation announces return of Southwest Division for 2023". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  15. ↑ "NISA Nation announces new Pacific Division for 2023". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. February 21, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ "NISA Nation announces activation of new Texas Region". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 21, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ "NISA Nation announces schedules for fall season". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 30, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ "NISA announces National Championship tournament for NISA Nation and regional premier league affiliates". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. October 12, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "NISA promotes Las Vegas Legends to Pro". NISAOfficial.com. NISA. January 12, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  20. ↑ "NISA Independent Cup announces 2022 schedule". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 20, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ Sillick, Jake (February 9, 2023). "2023 US Open Cup: 100 teams will play in 2023, 28 teams will face off in 14 matches for the First Round in late March". TheCup.us. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 "NISA Nation announces five amateur clubs to compete for U.S. Open Cup glory". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 18, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Cali's grassroots strivers CAPO FC making most of cup opportunity". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Association. March 29, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  24. ↑ Fontela, Jonah (December 19, 2022). "Nine through to the big time: #USOC2023 fourth round qualifying review". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Five NISA Nation clubs begin Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying this weekend". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. September 7, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  26. ↑ Padilla, Kathryne (November 20, 2023). "2024 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Round: Irvine Zeta's early goal sets tone in win vs. Temecula FC". TheCup.US. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  27. ↑ Hakala, Josh (December 9, 2024). "2025 US Open Cup Qualifying Final Weekend Review: 4 dramatic goalfests, 2 PK shootouts, 1 forfeit completes Open Division Local field". thecup.us. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 Hakala, Josh (October 30, 2024). "2025 US Open Cup Qualifying Second Weekend Report: 40 amateur teams take step toward 110th USOC". thecup.us. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Home". Cascadia Premier League. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  30. ↑ "Pro/Rel focused league NISA secures amateur league affiliation with EPSL". SoccerWire.com. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  31. ↑ Lewis, Michael (3 September 2020). "WORKING TOGETHER: NISA partners with Midwest Premier League". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  32. ↑ "NISA reaffirms regional premier league affiliations and announces new NISA Nation championship". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 20, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  33. ↑ "NISA Nation announces affiliation with the historic Florida Gold Coast League". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 8, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  34. ↑ "NISA NATION ANNOUNCES AFFILIATION WITH THE METROPLEX PREMIER LEAGUENation announces affiliation with the Metroplex Premier League". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  35. ↑ "NISA Nation announces activation of upstate New York region". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  36. ↑ "NISA Nation Announces Return For 2025 Spring Season". NISA Nation. January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  37. 1 2 3 4 "NISA Nation Announces New Arkansas + Tennessee Region". NISA Nation. February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  38. 1 2 3 4 "NISA Nation Announces Activation of Colorado Region". NISA Nation. February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  39. 1 2 3 4 "NISA Nation Announces Activation of North Texas Region". NISA Nation. January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  40. 1 2 "NISA Nation Announces Changes & Growth In Southwest Region". NISA Nation. February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Soccer Academy Nevada Joins NISA Nation". September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  42. ↑ "STG Premier Pro Joins NISA Nation". September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  43. ↑ "NoVa FC wins epic inaugural NISA Nation National Championship". www.NISANation.com. NISA Nation. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  44. ↑ "NY Greek American Gets The Goals To Win NISA Nation Championship". NISA Nation. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Las Vegas Legends FC captures NISA Nation West Region crown". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. November 19, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Worldwide Problems FC Sticks To Plan, Claims West Regional Title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Battleborn FC claimed second NISA Nation Pacific Region Title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 14, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  48. ↑ "FC Golden State Force score NISA Nation Southwest Region title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. June 15, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Week 12: Battleborn FC takes Pacific Region title over Bay Area United". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. November 20, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  50. ↑ "Silicon Valley Rush captures Pacific Region with overtime win". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  51. ↑ "Las Vegas Legends FC claims Southwest Region Title". NISA Nation. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  52. ↑ "Roc City Boom plays way to inaugural Western NY Region title". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  53. ↑ "Week 9 Recap: Worldwide Problems FC Secures Coast Region Title". NISA Nation. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  54. ↑ "Week 10 Recap: Problems FC Secures Most Goals & Points This Fall Season". NISA Nation. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  55. ↑ Lewis, Michael (September 17, 2020). "PATHWAY TO THE PROS: NISA Nation is unveiled for amateur clubs seeking greater challenges". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Nation elevates Matt Morse as new lead". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  57. ↑ "NISA Nation taps Kenneth Henriques as Referee coordinator". NISANation.com. NISA Nation. March 18, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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