Founded | 2011 |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Confederation | CONCACAF US Soccer |
Divisions | 30 |
Number of teams | 400+ |
Promotion to | Premier Division (Internal) |
Relegation to | Division I (Internal) |
Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup |
Current champions | Soda City FC (1st title) (2024 Spring) |
Most championships | California United FC II OC Crew (2 titles each) |
TV partners | Eleven Sports |
Website | www |
Current: 2024 Spring |
The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is an American for-profit soccer league that was founded in Santa Ana in Southern California, with teams in regionalized conferences throughout the United States, and recently Canada and Mexico. The league was founded in 2011 by Santa Ana Winds President Leonel López as a regional league for teams in Greater Los Angeles, but expanded to include 400 teams from 41 states as of the 2022 season.
Two seasons are played each year, with regional play culminating in a playoff system that crowns a single national champion each season. The league features internal promotion and relegation with up to three levels in some regions; only clubs in the top tier Premier Division are eligible to compete for the national championship.
The league is a National Affiliate member of United States Soccer Federation, and a National League within the larger United States soccer league system. [1] [2]
The UPSL was formed in 2011 with 10 teams, and has grown to include over 400 member clubs across the nation. Now featuring numerous MLS U19 teams including LAFC, Philadelphia Union and LA Galaxy, the Premier Division is widely regarded as occupying the unofficial 4th tier of US Soccer. Each UPSL team is independently owned and operated. The league consists of two seasons each calendar year, with the Spring season beginning in March and ending with national playoffs in July, and a Fall season with play beginning in September with national playoffs in December. [3]
UPSL announced it would begin promotion/relegation system beginning in 2017. [4] [5] Teams will compete in two divisions: Pro Premier and Division One.
In November 2016 the UPSL announced the addition of a Colorado conference set to begin in 2017. [6] [7]
In August 2017, the league announced that all eleven clubs of the Premier League of America would be joining the UPSL as a new Midwest Conference. The conference will initiate friendlies during the 2017 Fall Season and begin league play in 2018.
Former member club PSA Elite is known for reaching the fourth round of the 2014 and the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by knocking out higher-level professional teams. Three UPSL teams, La Máquina FC, L.A. Wolves FC, and San Nicolas FC qualified for the 2016 U.S. Open Cup. [8] La Máquina FC advanced to the fourth round (knocking out Portland Timbers U23, Sacramento Gold, and LA Wolves FC) before falling to LA Galaxy. [9] The UPSL's participants in the 2016 US Open Cup altogether defeated teams from the PDL (Timbers U-23), NPSL (Sacramento Gold), and USL (Orange County Blues FC). The UPSL had five teams qualify for the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, with the L.A. Wolves FC advancing the furthest, making it to the third round before being knocked out by USL team Orange County SC. 2018 saw five more UPSL teams qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, with Sporting Arizona FC before falling to USL team Fresno FC. Only one team, Florida Soccer Soldiers qualified from UPSL for the 2019 U.S. Open Cup, advancing to the third round prior to losing to USL Championship team North Carolina FC. The U.S. Open cup was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19. UPSL had four teams qualify for the 2022 U.S. Open Cup with two teams advancing to the second round of the competition. In 2023, UPSL only had two teams qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, with UDA Soccer advancing to the second round before falling to USL Championship team New Mexico United. With more slots being taken in the tournament proper by USL League 2 and National Premier Soccer League teams, the UPSL had seen a decrease in the number of teams to make it through the qualifying rounds. Starting in 2024, UPSL is guaranteed a slot in the first round of the Open Cup. This slot is given to the UPSL Spring Champions, and in 2024 was earned by AS Frenzi. [10]
Division | Team | City/area |
---|---|---|
Arizona | ||
Coronado Athletic Club II | Sierra Vista, Arizona | |
FC Arizona D1 | Chandler, Arizona | |
FC Fuego | Sierra Vista, Arizona | |
SC Union Maricopa II | Phoenix, Arizona | |
Sporting Arizona FC | El Mirage, Arizona | |
DMV | ||
Bridge Sports Club II | Laurel, Maryland | |
Cesena FC USA | Herndon, Virginia | |
Fredrick Kings FC | Frederick, Maryland | |
MSI | Rockville, Maryland | |
Street Footie FC | Rockville, Maryland | |
Sure Sports FC II | Columbia, Maryland | |
Florida Central | ||
Atletico Orlando Academy | Orlando, Florida | |
Clermont FC | Clermont, Florida | |
FD Football Club | Orlando, Florida | |
Golden Goal Soccer | Ocoee, Florida | |
High Soccer Prospects | Orlando, Florida | |
Marlex Soccer Academy | Orlando, Florida | |
Nona Soccer Academy II | Orlando, Florida | |
Orlando City Hunter's Creek | Orlando, Florida | |
Orlando City Hunter's Creek Academy | Orlando, Florida | |
Royal Palms SC | Palm Coast, Florida | |
United Soccer Club | Orlando, Florida | |
Florida – West | ||
Clearwater Chargers Academy | Clearwater, Florida | |
Club Nacional de Football Tampa | Tampa, Florida | |
Lakeland United II | Lakeland, Florida | |
Leg-AZ World II | Gainesville, Florida | |
Shock City FC | Clearwater, Florida | |
The Villages | Summerfield, Florida | |
Florida South Zone 1 | ||
Athletum Miami FC U17 | Miami, Florida | |
Atletico de Madrid Academia Miami | Miami, Florida | |
Empire SC | Weston, Florida | |
Florida Futbol Club | Miami Gardens, Florida | |
Island United AC | Miami, Florida | |
JETSETV FC | Lake Park, Florida | |
Milan de Miami FC | Miami, Florida | |
Parkland Soccer Club II | Parkland, Florida | |
Plantation FC II | Plantation, Florida | |
South Florida Football Academy | Boca Raton, Florida | |
Springs Soccer Club | Coral Springs, Florida | |
Weston FC U19 Black | Weston, Florida | |
Florida South Zone 2 | ||
Athletum FC U19 Elite | Miami, Florida | |
FBS FC | Miami, Florida | |
Hodler Miami FC II | Doral, Florida | |
ISA Schulz | Boca Raton, Florida | |
Milan de Miami Academy | Miami, Florida | |
Naples City FC D.1 | Naples, Florida | |
Plantation FC III | Plantation, Florida | |
PSG Academy Florida | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | |
Rush Select II | Port St. Lucie, Florida | |
South Florida Football Academy II | Boca Raton, Florida | |
Weston FC U18 Black | Weston, Florida | |
Florida South Zone 3 | ||
Dade County FC U23 | Miami, Florida | |
Juventus Academy Miami | Miami, Florida | |
Miami Sun FC U23 | Miami, Florida | |
Miramar Supreme FC | Miramar, Florida | |
Strikers FC Miami | Homestead, Florida | |
Tropical Sporting Football Club | Miami, Florida | |
Georgia | ||
Atlanta Athletic FC | Atlanta, Georgia | |
FC Atlanta Academy | Atlanta, Georgia | |
FC Birmingham Academy | Birmingham, Alabama | |
FC Birmingham II | Birmingham, Alabama | |
Covered Bridge Soccer Club | Marietta, GA | |
Georgia Athletic Soccer Club | Lawrenceville, Georgia | |
Georgia Impact SC | Canton, Georgia | |
Georgia Revolution FC U23 | McDonough, Georgia | |
Legends FC II | LaGrange, Georgia | |
Middle Georgia United FC | Macon, Georgia | |
North Georgia United II | Calhoun, Georgia | |
Pachuca Georgia | Lilburn, Georgia | |
Mid-Atlantic | ||
Briar United FC | Raleigh, North Carolina | |
Charleston United SC | Charleston, South Carolina | |
De Deacon F.C. | Raleigh, North Carolina | |
Gastonia FC | Gastonia, North Carolina | |
Liberty FC | Fayetteville, North Carolina | |
NC Ballers FC | Charlotte, North Carolina | |
North Carolina Lions | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | |
Port City FC | Wilmington, North Carolina | |
Ravens FC | Charlotte, North Carolina | |
River City FC | Columbia, South Carolina | |
Wake Futbol Club | Holly Springs, North Carolina | |
Mountain West | ||
Gremio FC Utah II | Salt Lake City, Utah | |
Impact United SC | Salt Lake City, Utah | |
Metasports FC | Bountiful, Utah | |
SEI Corvids FC | Pocatello, Idaho | |
Utah Rangers FC II | Ogden, Utah | |
New England | ||
3rd Eye FC | Bloomfield, Connecticut | |
Boston Street FC II | Boston, Massachusetts | |
Central Falls FC | Central Falls, Rhode Island | |
KO Elites FC | Hartford, Connecticut | |
Southwest FC | Bridgeport, Connecticut | |
Unations FC II | Worcester, Massachusetts | |
Warwick City Football Club | Warwick, Rhode Island | |
NoCal Zone A | ||
AFC Solano | Fairfield, California | |
C.F. San Rafael | San Rafael, California | |
Dixon Leon SC | Dixon, California | |
Junction 29 | American Canyon, California | |
Merced United FC | Merced, California | |
Vacaville Elite | Vacaville, California | |
NoCal Zone B | ||
AFG FC | Alameda, California | |
Azteca FC | Merced, California | |
Merced United FC Reserves | Merced, California | |
Riverbank FC | Riverbank, California | |
San Leandro United Academy | Oakland, California | |
Selma Football Club | Selma, California | |
Northeast - American (North) | ||
Academias Barcelona SC | Queens, New York | |
Amigos FC New York | Long Island, New York | |
Astoria Knights FC | Queens, New York | |
Atlas FC NYC | Long Island, New York | |
BRISHNA FC | New York, New York | |
East Coast FC | Long Island, New York | |
Galo FC | Long Island, New York | |
Long Island Premier FC | Long Island, New York | |
New York Braveheart SC II | Long Island, New York | |
Pathfinder FC II | Pleasant Valley, New York | |
Real New York FC | Brooklyn, New York | |
Two Bridges Football Club | New York, New York | |
Northeast - American (South) | ||
Bulldogs SC | East Brunswick, New Jersey | |
Future Soccer Academy | Tenafly, New Jersey | |
Ironbound Soccer Club | Newark, New Jersey | |
Lancaster FC II | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
New Jersey Alliance FC II | Jersey City, New Jersey | |
NJ Santos FC Rush | Bridgewater Township, New Jersey | |
Pennsylvania Prime FC | Allentown, Pennsylvania | |
Philadelphia Lone Star II | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
Philadelphia Lone Star II | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
Real Futbol Club | Kennett Square, Pennsylvania | |
Northeast American Division II | ||
AYSAB Football Club | New York City, New York | |
Elite Players Center | Brooklyn, New York | |
Griffin United SC | Queens, New York | |
New York Braveheart SC U20 | Central Islip, New York | |
Pathfinder FC U20 | Pleasant Valley, New York | |
Whitestone FC | Queens, New York | |
SoCal East | ||
California Natives FC | San Bernardino, California | |
Club Garrafones | Los Angeles, California | |
Craq | Orange, California | |
FC Juarez Academy | San Bernardino, California | |
Inland Empire FC | San Bernardino, California | |
Ocean's XI | Huntington Beach, California | |
OC Kings FC | Santa Ana, California | |
PDP-OC | Tustin, California | |
PSC II | Irvine, California | |
Zeta FC II | Irvine, California | |
SoCal North | ||
AS Los Angeles II | Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles | |
California Rush | Huntington Beach, California | |
Disciples FC | Fullerton, California | |
Downtown Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | |
Racing Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | |
Santa Monica Surf | Santa Monica, California | |
SC Trojans | Los Angeles, California | |
SoCal United | Tustin, California | |
Spartans Toros Neza FC | San Fernando, California | |
Worldwide Problems SC | Anaheim, California | |
SoCal South | ||
88Thirty | Orange County, California | |
AMSG FC | Costa Mesa, California | |
AYSD D1 Academy | Irvine, California | |
California Rush II | Huntington Beach, California | |
CF Cachorros USA | California | |
Downtown Los Angeles South Bay Division I | Los Angeles, California | |
FADP Footballers Academy | Lake Elsinore, California | |
Irvine FC | Irvine, California | |
La Maquina FC | Fountain Valley, California | |
SoCal Reds FC II | Los Angeles, California | |
Texas Central | ||
Bell County FC | Belton, Texas | |
Cap City Futures | Austin, Texas | |
Motive FC | Austin, Texas | |
Agrios FC | The Woodlands, Texas | |
Round Rock SC | Round Rock, Texas | |
SGA | Austin, Texas | |
Texas North | ||
Balboa FC | Fort Worth, Texas | |
Coppell FC II | Coppell, Texas | |
FC Revolution | Fort Worth, Texas | |
Footy FC | Euless, Texas | |
Foro 360 Reserves | Dallas, Texas | |
Midcities Football Club | Euless, Texas | |
SKM Academy | Irving, Texas | |
Somerset SC | Dallas, Texas | |
Sporting NTX Verde | McKinney, Texas | |
Texas Spurs II | Allen, Texas | |
Villarreal North Texas | Fort Worth, Texas | |
Texas South | ||
Barcelona Soccer II | Houston, Texas | |
D10 Lions FC | Houston, Texas | |
Houston FC II | Houston, Texas | |
Kaptiva Sports Academy II | Houston, Texas | |
Racing Houston City FC | Houston, Texas | |
Division | Team | City/area |
---|---|---|
SoCal | ||
California Rush SC | Huntington Beach, California | |
FC Juarez Academy CYSA | San Bernardino, California | |
Las Estrellas Football Club | Los Angeles, California | |
SoCal FC | Los Angeles, California | |
SoCal Reds FC Women | Los Angeles, California | |
Sporting FC Women | Westlake Village, California | |
United City FC Women | California | |
Florida | ||
Dade County FC Women | Miami, Florida | |
Florida United Soccer Club | Davie, Florida | |
Little Haiti Supreme FC Womens | Miami, Florida | |
Naples Captains Women | Naples, Florida | |
Naples City FC - Women | Naples, Florida |
Season | Champion | Runner-up | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011–12 | OC Crew SC | Santa Ana Winds FC | 4–2 |
2012–13 | Santa Ana Winds FC | Tustin Legends | |
2013–14 | OC Crew SC | Tustin Legends FC | 5–3 |
2014–15 | La Máquina FC | Glory United | 4–1 |
2015 | San Nicolas FC | L.A. Wolves FC | 2–0 |
2016 Spring | Strikers FC South Coast | San Pedro Monsters | 3–1 [13] |
2016 Fall | FC Anahuac | Inter Arizona FC | 0–0 (5–4p) |
2017 Spring | L.A. Wolves FC | California Victory FC | 2–1 |
2017 Fall | OC Invicta FC | Santa Ana Winds FC | 3–2 |
2018 Spring | Milwaukee Bavarian SC | Sporting AZ FC | 3–2 |
2018 Fall | California United FC II | Inocentes FC | 1–1 (4–2p) |
2019 Spring | Tropics SC | Utah Murcielagos | 2–2 (4–3p) |
2019 Fall | Maryland Bobcats FC | Santa Ana Winds FC | 3–1 (OT) |
2020 Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2020 Fall | Ginga Atlanta | Olympians FC | 0–0 (3–1p) |
2021 Spring | New York Contour United | East Valley United PRO | 2–1 |
2021 Fall | Foro 360 Pro | Chicago Nation FC | 1–0 |
2022 Spring | Orange County FC | Beaman United | 3–1 |
2022 Fall | Olympians FC | SCU Heat | 1–0 |
2023 Spring | AS Frenzi | Sporting Wichita SC | 2–1 |
2023 Fall | Chiriaco FC | St. Louis City SC Academy | 2–1 |
2024 Spring | Soda City FC | Inland Empire FC | 3-2 |
The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the United States Soccer Federation defines professional leagues in three levels, called divisions, with all other leagues sanctioned by the USSF not having an official designated level or division.
Bavarian United SC is an American soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Bavarian Majors of the Bavarian Soccer Club compete in the USL League 2. The team plays its home games in the athletic stadium at the Heartland Value Fund Stadium. The team's colors are blue and white. Bavarian has won six USASA National Amateur Cup titles as well as two National Open Cup championships and is a frequent qualifier for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 98th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from June through early October. Seattle Sounders FC, who entered the competition as the two-time defending champions, successfully defended their title again. They became the third team in U.S. Open Cup history to win three straight U.S. Open Cups. As winner of the Open Cup, the Sounders earned a place in the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League Group stage. The farthest advancing USL Pro team was the Richmond Kickers.
The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 99th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the annual national soccer championship of the United States. It ran from May to August and was organized by the United States Soccer Federation. Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer entered the competition as the three-time defending champions and appeared in their fourth consecutive U.S. Open Cup Final, losing to Sporting Kansas City on August 8, 2012.
Santa Ana Winds FC, also known as Winds FC, is a soccer team founded in Santa Ana, California, and a founding United Premier Soccer League club currently playing at the Lake Forest Sports Park, with occasional matches played at Championship Stadium at the Orange County Great Park. The club takes its name from a Southern California weather condition known as the Santa Ana winds. Santa Ana Winds FC, an elite amateur and professional development club, has played international development squads in the past, namely matches against a Club Atlas U-20 squad in March 2011, and a Chivas de Guadalajara U-20 squad in November 2011. On November 18, 2017, the club made history by qualifying to the 2018 U.S. Open Cup for the first time. On Tuesday, June 5, 2018, Winds FC winger Juan Arellano became the first player to transfer directly from Santa Ana Winds FC to an international professional club.
Philadelphia Lone Star Football Club is an American professional development soccer club based in Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that competes in USL League Two and the National Premier Soccer League, both leagues which sit in the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. Nicknamed "the Stars", the club was founded as Junior Lone Star Football Club in 2001, but changed its name to Philadelphia Lone Star F.C. in 2018.
Cal Football Club is an American soccer club based in Thousand Oaks, California. The club was founded in 2006 and competes in the UPSL Premier Division, a fifth-tier United States Adult Soccer Association and Cal South affiliated league in Southern California. The team is coached by Michael Friedman who is also Cal FC's General Manager.
L.A. Wolves FC is an American amateur soccer club based in Torrance, California. They are named after the Los Angeles Wolves who played in the United Soccer Association in 1967 and in the North American Soccer League in 1968.
The 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will feature teams from all five tiers of men's soccer of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 103rd edition of the oldest ongoing competition in American soccer.
La Máquina is an American amateur football club, based out of the Santa Ana, California area, in central Orange County, competing in the United Premier Soccer League. The club takes its name and identity from Cruz Azul of Liga MX, and was formed as a branch of the Irvine Premier Soccer Club's FC Golden State, for competing in the UPSL.
San Nicolás FC is an American soccer club from Pomona, California, competing in the United Premier Soccer League.
Orange County FC is an American soccer club based in Lake Forest, California, that currently plays in the United Premier Soccer League. They previously played in the National Premier Soccer League and SoCal Premier League. The club's colors are light blue and white. NPSL home matches are currently played at Portola High School.
Christos FC is an American soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, that competes in the Maryland Major Soccer League, an affiliated league of United States Adult Soccer Association.
Moreno Valley FC is an American amateur soccer club from Moreno Valley, California, on hiatus from the United Premier Soccer League.
Soccer has enjoyed longstanding popularity in Los Angeles. As of 2023, Los Angeles County has three top-level professional teams. The LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC play in Major League Soccer, and Angel City FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League. The Greater Los Angeles area is also home to one 2nd division professional team, Orange County SC, of the USL Championship, and four 3rd division professional teams, LAFC2 and LA Galaxy II, of MLS Next Pro, and Los Angeles Force and California United Strikers FC of the National Independent Soccer Association. There are also many semi-professional clubs and leagues including the United Premier Soccer League, SoCal Premier League and National Premier Soccer League, among others. In 2019, two more professional teams, Cal FC and California United Strikers FC joined a new, unsanctioned, professional league called the NPSL Founders Cup They both later left, with Cal FC joining the United Premier Soccer League.
The 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will feature teams from all five tiers of the men's American soccer pyramid.
The 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper featured both professional and amateur teams from the United States.
The 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 108th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament proper featured both professional and amateur teams in the United States soccer league system.
The 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification will serve as local qualification for the 109th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament proper will feature both professional and amateur teams in the United States soccer league system.