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.
 | |
| 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 | |
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
editThe 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
editFormer 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
editPremier Division
edit| 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 | |
| Central Texas Coyotes FC | Temple, 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 |
Champions
edit| 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 |
References
edit- ^ "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.