| NISA Nation | |
| Pixels: | 190px |
| Organiser: | NISA |
| First: | 2021 |
| Country: | United States |
| Confed: | CONCACAF (North American Football Union) |
| Divisions: | 4 |
| Teams: | 22 |
| Domest Cup: | U.S. Open Cup |
| League Cup: | NISA Independent Cup |
| Confed Cup: | CONCACAF Champions League (via U.S. Open Cup) |
| Champions: | NoVa FC (1st title) |
| Most Successful Club: | NoVa FC (1 title) |
| Tv: | Eleven Sports |
| Current: | 2024 NISA Nation season |
| American: | yes |
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]
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. 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).[12]
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.[13] In early 2023, NISA Nation announced the addition of the Pacific Division for the spring, with five teams committed and ten teams planned.[14] In July 2023, NISA Nation announced the formation of the Texas Region for fall 2023.[15] For the fall of 2023, NISA Nation ran three regional leagues; Pacific, Southwest, and Texas Regions.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18]
Teams from NISA Nation participated in the 36 team NISA Independent Cup in 2022.[19]
Clubs in NISA Nation can qualify for the U.S. Open Cup through the local qualifying route. In 2022, five clubs from NISA Nation applied to participate in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup. Battleborn FC, Capo FC, SC Union Maricop, Club De Lyon, and Deportivo Lake Mary all started the 2023 U.S. Open Cup qualification[20] Capo FC and Club De Lyon qualified to compete in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.[21] Capo FC advanced the furthest in the competition making it into the second round.[22] Five teams took part in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup qualification. Battleborn FC and Capo FC participated in their second qualification tournament and Bay Area United FC, JASA RWC, and Temecula FC participating for the first time as a member of NISA Nation.[23] Temecula FC advanced furthest, making it to the fourth qualifying round before losing to Irvine Zeta FC.[24]
NISA Nation is affiliated and plans to begin a pro-rel system with 6 leagues all over the country: the Cascadia Premier League[25] in Washington and Oregon, the Eastern Premier Soccer League[26] 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[27] 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.[28] In August 2023, NISA Nation announced the association with Florida Gold Coast League.[29] In October 2023, NISA Nation announced their affiliation with Metroplex Premier League, an amateur league from North Texas.[30] In February 2024, NISA Nation announced the Upstate New York Region as the fourth region for the 2024 Spring season.[31]
| width=2% | Level | League(s)/division(s) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | National Independent Soccer Association 9 clubs | |||||||
| 4 | NISA Nation Upstate New York Region 4 clubs | NISA Nation Texas Region 1 club | NISA Nation Pacific Region 8 clubs | NISA Nation Southwest Region 8 clubs | ||||
| 5 | Cascadia Premier League | Eastern Premier Soccer League | Florida Gold Coast League | Metroplex Premier League | Mountain Premier League | Southwest Premier League | ||
| width=2% | Level | League(s)/division(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Cascadia Premier League Premier 1 Men's Premier League 1 - Baker Division 5 clubs | Cascadia Premier League Premier 1 Men's Premier League 1 - Columbia Division 4 clubs | Cascadia Premier League Premier 1 Men's Premier League 1 - Rainier Division 5 clubs | |||
| 6 | Cascadia Premier League 2 Men's Premier 2 - Cascade Division 5 clubs | Cascadia Premier League 2 Men's Premier 2 - Pacific Division 6 clubs | ||||
| width=2% | Level | League(s)/division(s) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Eastern Premier Soccer League Delaware River Conference 8 clubs | Eastern Premier Soccer League Metropolitan Conference 12 clubs | Eastern Premier Soccer League Mid-Atlantic Conference 8 clubs | Eastern Premier Soccer League Northeast Conference 5 clubs | |||||
| 6 | Casa Soccer League Select Liga 1 5 clubs | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 1 11 clubs | Garden State Soccer League Super Division 10 clubs | Long Island Soccer Football League Premier Division 7 clubs | Maryland Major Soccer League 10 clubs | ||||
| 7 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2 - East 9 clubs | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2 - West 9 clubs | Garden State Soccer League A Division - Central 11 clubs | Garden State Soccer League A Division - North 11 clubs | Long Island Soccer Football League Division 1 7 clubs | ||||
| 8 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 3 - East 7 clubs | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 3 - West 7 clubs | Garden State Soccer League B Division - Central 11 clubs | Garden State Soccer League B Division - North 9 clubs | Long Island Soccer Football League Division 2 7 clubs | ||||
| 9 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 4 10 clubs | ||||||||
| width=2% | Level | League(s)/division(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Florida Gold Coast League North Division 4 clubs | Florida Gold Coast League South Division 4 clubs | |
| width=2% | Level | League(s)/division(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Metroplex Premier League 8 clubs | ||
| 6 | Metroplex Premier League 2 West Division 5 clubs | Metroplex Premier League 2 East Division 5 clubs | |
| width=2% | Level | League(s)/division(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Mountain Premier League Eastern Division 6 clubs | Mountain Premier League Western Division 2 clubs | |
| width=2% | Level | League(s)/division(s) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Arizona Premier LeagueMen's Open Arizona 7 clubs | Baja CA San Diego Premier LeagueMen's Open San Diego | Enhancement Premier LeagueMen's Open | Nevada Premier LeagueMen's Open Nevada 7 clubs | Pacific Premier LeagueMen's Open Pacific 6 clubs | SoCal Premier LeagueMen's Open SoCal | |
| 6 | SoCal Premier LeagueSecond Division 14clubs | ||||||
| 7 | |||||||
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghan Premier FC[32] | Fremont, California | Ohlone College Soccer Field | 1991 | 2024 | |
| ASC Silicon Valley[33] | Redwood City, California | Terremere Field | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Battleborn FC[34] | Reno, Nevada | Bishop Manogue High School | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Bay Area United FC[35] | Richmond, California | Estuary Park Soccer Field | 2021 | 2023 | |
| Club Tepa | San Francisco, California | South San Francisco High School | 1994 | 2024 | |
| Galaxy Silicon Valley[36] | Union City, California | James Logan High School | 2022 | 2024 | |
| Laguna FC[37] | San Francisco, California | Kezar Stadium | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Modesto Ciy FC[38] | Modesto, California | Central Catholic High School | 2019 | 2023 |
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capo FC[39] | San Juan Capistrano, California | JSerra Catholic High School | 2006 | 2022 | |
| Craq Intercontinental | Salton City, California | West Shores High School | 2022 | 2024 | |
| Desert FC[40] | La Quinta, California | Hovley Soccer Park | 2020 | 2023 | |
| FC Golden State Force | Pomona, California | Rio Hondo College | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Irvine Zeta FC | Irvine, California | 2022 | 2024 | ||
| Las Vegas Legends[41] | Las Vegas, Nevada | Christo Rey St. Viator High School | 2012 | 2021 | |
| Olympiacos CA[42] | Huntington Beach, California | Al Barbour Field | 2012 | 2023 | |
| SC Union Maricopa[43] | Phoenix, Arizona | Andess High School | 2020 | 2022 | |
| Temecula FC[44] | Temecula, California | Chaparral High School | 2013 | 2023 |
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton FC | Binghamton, New York | 2012 | 2024 | ||
| Gaffer City FC[46] | Corning, New York | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Roc City Boom | Rochester, New York | 2019 | 2024 | ||
| Sahara Gunners FC[47] | Buffalo, New York | 2021 | 2024 | ||
| United Elite Krajisnick FC[48] | Utica, New York | 1977 | 2024 | ||
| FC Dutchmen Independence[49] | Utica, New York | 2021 | 2024 |
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season | Final season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chula Vista FC | Chula Vista, California | Terra Nova Park | 1982 | 2021 | 2021 | |
| New Amsterdam FC II | New York, New York | Orlin & Cohen Sports Complex | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | |
| New Jersey Teamsterz FC | Bayonne, New Jersey | Don Ahern Veterans Memorial Stadium | 2017 | 2021 | 2021 | |
| Steel Pulse FC | Baltimore, Maryland | Blandair Regional Park West Playground | 2019 | 2021 | 2021 | |
| Valley United FC U23 | Scottsdale, Arizona | GCU Stadium | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | |
| Athletico Orlando FC | Orlando, Florida | Northeast Regional Park | 2017 | 2022 | 2022 | |
| Club de Lyon | Daytona Beach, Florida | Daytona Stadium | 2022 | 2023 | 2021 | |
| Deportivo Lake Mary | Lake Mary, Florida | Lake Mary High School | 2017 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| Inter United FC | Davenport, Florida | Feltrim Sports Complex | 1997 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| Winter Haven United FC | Winter Haven, Florida | Feltrim Sports Complex | 2016 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| Alloy Soccer Club | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 2022 | 2022 | |||
| Aiolikos FC USA Rush | Boston, Massachusetts | Cawley Memorial Stadium | 1975 | 2022 | 2022 | |
| Albion SC Delaware | Middletown, Delaware | DE Turf Sports Complex | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Allentown United FC | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Cedar Crest College | 2018 | 2022 | 2022 | |
| Atlantic City FC | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Rowan University | 2017 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Boston Athletic SC | Boston, Massachusetts | Harry Della Russo Stadium | 2005 | 2022 | 2022 | |
| New Jersey Alliance FC | Clifton, New Jersey | Newark Schools Stadium | 2012 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| New York Braveheart SC | New York City, New York | Orlin and Cohen Sports Complex | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | |
| Union SC | Union Township, New Jersey | Volunteer Field | 1984 | 2022 | 2022 | |
| AC Houston Sur | Richmond, Texas | Matias Almeyda Training Center | 2021 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| AFC Solano[50] | Fairfield, California | Armijo High School | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| AFC South Bay[51] | San Jose, California | Watson Park Soccer Fields | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| FC Dallas Dynamo | Dallas, Texas | 2021 | 2023 | 2023 | ||
| JASA FWC FC | Redwood City, California | Red Morton Park | 1999 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Lions United FC | Montrose, California | Glendale Sports Complex | 2021 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Lobos FC | West Covina, California | Hovley Soccer Park | 2016 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Matias Almeyda FC | Houston, Texas | Matias Almeyda Training Center | 2019 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Oaks FC | Thousand Oaks, California | California Lutheran University | 1979 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Ocelot FC | Colton, California | Colton High School Stadium | 2021 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| Ocelot Stockton TLJ FC | Stockton, California | Edison High School | 2021 | 2023 | 2023 | |
| San Francisco Elite Metro FC | San Francisco, California | Negoesco Stadium | 2017 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| San Francisco Elite Metro FC | San Francisco, California | Negoesco Stadium | 2017 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Sporting ID11 | Lake Forest, California | Lake Forest Sports Complex | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Texas Premier | Houston, Texas | 2016 | 2023 | 2023 | ||
| Windmill City FC | Stockton, California | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 |
| 2023[52] | Northern Virginia FC (EPSL) | Las Vegas Legends |
| Spring 2022 | Club de Lyon | Atletico Orlando | Deportivo Lake Mary |
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Third place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2021 | New Jersey Alliance FC | New Amsterdam FC II | Steel Pulse FC | |
| Spring 2022 | New Jersey Alliance FC | Union SC | New York Braveheart |
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Third place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2022 | Battleborn FC | AFC South Bay | San Francisco Elite Metro FC | |
| Spring 2023 | Battleborn FC[53] | JASA RWC | Windmill City FC | |
| Fall 2023 | Battleborn FC[54] | JASA RWC | Windmill City FC | |
| Spring 2024 | Silicon Valley Rush[55] | Bay Area United | Afghan Premier |
| Fall 2023 | FC Brownsville | Matias Almeyda FC | AC Houston Sur |
| Name | Years | Title | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Prutch | 2022– | Commissioner | [60] | |
| Matt Morse | 2022– | Managing Director, Independent Cup, & Affiliates | [61] | |
| Kenneth Henriques | 2022– | Referee Coordinator | [62] | |
| Carlos Budyszewick | 2023– | Director of Expansion and Outreach | [63] |