 | |
| 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) | Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup |
| Current champions | AS Frenzi (1st title) (2023 Spring UPSL season) |
| Most championships | California United FC II OC Crew (2 titles each) |
| TV partners | Eleven Sports |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2023 Fall | |
The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is an American 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 FC 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]
History
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.
U.S. Open Cup
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]
2023 season
Premier Division
Division 1[11]
| 3rd Eye FC | 88Thirty | AS Los Angeles II | Academias Barcelona SC | AFC Solano |
| AFG FC | Amigos FC New York | Amlima F.C. | AMSG FC | Astoria Knights FC |
| Athletum FC U19 Elite | Athletum Miami FC U17 | Atlanta Athletic FC | Atlanta City FC Reserves | Atlanta City FC U17 |
| Atlanta City FC U23 | Atlanta Fire United - UPSL | Atlas FC NYC | Atletico de Madrid Academia Miami | Atletico de Madrid Academia Miami II |
| Atletico Orlando Academy | AYSAB Football Club | AYSD D1 Academy | Azteca FC | Balboa FC |
| Barcelona Soccer II | Bay Valley Suns | Bell County FC | Boston Panthers FC | Boston Street FC II |
| Briar United FC | Bridge Sports Club II | BRISHNA FC | Bulldogs SC | C.F. San Rafael |
| California Natives FC | California Rush | California Rush II | California Soccer Club | Cap City Futures |
| Capital City Futbol Club | Caribbean football club academy | CBT International FC | Central Falls FC | Central Texas Coyotes FC |
| Cesena FC USA | CF Cachorros USA | Charleston United SC | Chelsea Premier Soccer Academy | Chiefs United |
| Clearwater Chargers Academy | Clermont FC | Club Garrafones | Club Nacional de Football Tampa | Coppell FC II |
| Coronado Athletic Club II | Covered Bridge Soccer Club | Craq | D10 Lions FC | De Deacon F.C. |
| Disciples FC | Dixie Leon SC | Downtown Los Angeles | Downtown Los Angeles South Bay Division I | Eagles |
| East Coast FC | Elite Players Center | Elite Soccer Club Plainfield | Empire SC | FADP Footballers Academy |
| Fall River Lincoln Clube Futbol | FBS FC | FC Arizona D1 | FC Atlanta Academy | FC Birmingham Academy |
| FC Birmingham II | FC Fuego | FC Hurst United | FC Juarez Academy | FC Revolution |
| FD Football Club | Florida Futbol Club | Footy FC | Foro 360 Reserves | Fountain City FC |
| Fredrick Kings FC | Future Soccer Academy | Gaffer FC | Gastonia FC | Gatorville FC |
| Georgia Athletic Soccer Club | Georgia Impact SC | Georgia Revolution FC U23 | Golden Goal Soccer | Granite City FC 2 |
| Gremio FC Utah II | Griffin United SC | Hialeah City FC | High Desert Barca FC | High Desert Elite FC |
| High Soccer Prospects | HIGH SOCCER PROSPECTS | Hodler FC | Hodler Miami FC II | Hope 4 Athletes Academy |
| Houston FC II | Iceman FC | Idaho Cutthroats FC II | Impact BA05 | Impact United SC |
| Inland Empire FC | Ironbound Soccer Club | Irvine FC | ISA Schulz | Island United A.C. |
| Island United AC | Ives Estates Thunder SC | Jaguars United FC II | JETSETV F.C. | JETSETV FC |
| Joy Athletic Club | Junction 29 | Juventus Academy Miami | Kaptiva Sports Academy II | Kissimmee FC |
| KO Elites FC | La Maquina FC | Lakeland United II | Lancaster FC II | Leg-AZ World II |
| Legends FC II | Legion FC Dublin | LGSA Reserves | Liberty FC | Limeno Georgia D1 |
| Limeno Georgia U19 | Long Island Premier FC | LS FC | Manitou FC | Marlex Soccer Academy |
| Merced United FC | Merced United FC Reserves | Merchants FC | Metasports FC | Miami Sun FC U23 |
| Midcities Football Club | Middle Georgia United FC | Milan de Miami Academy | Milan de Miami FC | Miramar Supreme FC |
| Motive FC | MSI | Naples City FC D.1 | NC Ballers FC | New Haven City SC |
| New Jersey Alliance FC II | New York Braveheart SC II | New York Braveheart SC U20 | Next Level Soccer | NJ Santos FC Rush |
| Nona Soccer Academy II | North Carolina Lions | North Georgia United II | NY Phoenix FC | OC Kings FC |
| Ocean's XI | Olé Sporting | Orlando City Hunter's Creek | Orlando City Hunter's Creek Academy | Orlando City Soccer School Hunter's Creek |
| Pachuca Georgia | Pachuca Georgia U17 | Park City Red Wolves II | Parkland Soccer Club II | Pathfinder FC II |
| Pathfinder FC U20 | PDP-OC | Pennsylvania Prime FC | Philadelphia Lone Star II | Plantation FC II |
| Plantation FC III | Port City FC | Portugese American Center Soccer Team | Project Football | PSC II |
| PSG Academy Florida | PSG Academy Houston | Racing Houston City FC | Racing Los Angeles | Ravens FC |
| Real Futbol Club | Real New York FC | Rebano Chivas LA | Rebels FC | River City FC |
| Riverbank FC | Rose City FC | Round Rock SC | Royal Palms SC | Rush Select Academy II |
| Rush Select II | Saint Paul United FC | Salvo SC | San Leandro United Academy | Santa Monica Surf |
| SC Trojans | SC Union Maricopa II | SEI Corvids FC | Selma Football Club | SGA |
| Shock City FC | Shoreline United FC | Sioux United FC | SKM Academy | Smugtown FC |
| SoCal United | Soccer Club Incorporated | Somerset SC | South Florida Football Academy | South Florida Football Academy II |
| Southwest FC | Spartans Toros Neza FC | Sporting Arizona FC | Sporting NTX Verde | Springs Soccer Club |
| SSL FC 2 | Street Footie FC | Strikers FC Miami | Supreme FC | Sure Sports FC II |
| TCSA Reserves | Texas Spurs II | The Villages | Titan FC | Tropical Sporting Football Club |
| Two Bridges Football Club | UCFSC Warriors | Unations FC II | Union Africa | United Elite Krajisnik FC II |
| United FC | United Soccer Club | Upper Royalty | Upstate United | Utah Rangers FC II |
| Vacaville Elite | Villarreal North Texas | Wake Futbol Club | Warwick City Football Club | Weston FC U18 Black |
| Weston FC U19 Black | Whitestone FC | Wolf Pack FC | Worldwide Problems SC | Worthington Community FC II |
| Zeta FC II |
Women[12]
| Alaska Timbers Women | California Rush SC | Dade County FC Women | Empire Surf | FC Juarez Academy CYSA |
| Florida United Soccer Club | Forest Rover FC | Future FC | Granite City FC Women | Greater Binghamton FC |
| Icemen FC Women | Idaho Cutthroats FC | Kalonji Soccer Academy Women | LAFC SoCal Women | Las Estrellas Football Club |
| Limeno Women | Little Haiti Supreme FC Womens | MCSC Jaguars | Minnesota TwinStars FC | Napa Valley 1839 FC |
| Naples Captains Women | Naples City FC - Women | North Georgia United Women | Northern Tide FC Women | NOSC Blast |
| NTX Legends Women | Oakland SC | Pioneer United FC Women | Renegades FC | Reno Vikings Premier |
| SDA Utica Blasters | SoCal FC | SoCal Reds FC Women | Sporting FC Women | St. Croix Soccer Club |
| Superior City FC Women | Texas Spurs Women | Tonka Fusion Elite | United City FC Women | United Elite Krajisnik FC |
| Vikings Premier | Vlora FC Women | Women's Playmaker FC |
Champions
| 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 |
References
- ↑ "United States Adult Soccer Association National Affiliates". USASA.com. USASA.
- ↑ "About the National Independent Soccer Association". NISAOfficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association.
- ↑ "Interview with Yan Skwara, UPSL Commissioner". Goal Nation. March 3, 2015.
- ↑ "An American amateur fifth-tier league is about to introduce a pro/rel system". Top Drawer Soccer. November 1, 2016.
- ↑ "United Premier Soccer League Brings Promotion And Relegation to the USA". Midfield Press. November 3, 2016.
- ↑ "UPSL Expands To Colorado". Goal Nation. November 17, 2016.
- ↑ "UPSL expands to Colorado, vows to bring pro/rel to American soccer". Burgundy Wave. November 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Three SoCal Teams Involved in U.S. Open Cup Second Round Action Wednesday". Soccer Nation. May 18, 2016.
- ↑ "HIGHLIGHTS: LA Galaxy vs. La Maquina". LA Galaxy. June 15, 2016.
- ↑ Wolf, Liam (August 7, 2023). "AS Frenzi wins 2023 UPSL title, secures 2024 US Open Cup berth". www.TheCup.us. theCup.us. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ "Teams". United Premier Soccer League. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Teams". Premier. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Strikers FC Score 3-1 Victory Over San Pedro Monsters to Capture 2016 UPSL Championship". PR Log. June 28, 2016.
External links
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