Missouri Youth Soccer Association

USYS National League

NEW: Clubs Accepted as National 1 League Inaugural Season Participants

Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) is excited to announce the first wave of Clubs in Central District 2 who are looking to transition from The National League to National 1 League. These clubs will be submitting teams for the inaugural season of the new completion which saw a merger of National League and NPL. The application is still open and clubs will continue to be added to this list on a rolling basis as more teams are accepted.

Register for the National 1 League

MYSA Selected as Central District 2 Operator

“National 1 League aligns with the broader goals of the U.S. Soccer Pathway Strategy. The work to connect pathways into National 1 League begins now,” said commissioner Marc Frankland. “Our team will partner with selected operators and the respective state associations across the country to develop district-level pathways that are more inclusive and easier for players and parents to understand. The goal is not to disrupt local leagues, but to connect them into a clearer national structure. This work will take time, but we are committed to building it thoughtfully. Access to National 1 League will not be tied to whether leagues, teams or players are registered with US Youth Soccer or US Club Soccer.” 

League operators were selected based on their commitment to access and inclusivity, quality competition and player-first decision-making across all districts. A breakdown of the conferences, league operators and districts is available here. By layering districts into each conference, the new competition reaches more players and reduces travel burdens for families. League operators will meet at the end of the month in Atlanta to collaborate further. Team registration opens next month. 

More information about the league, including FAQs, is available here. Information will be continually added / announced over the next several months as things develop. So stay tuned!

MYSA Elected as League Operator for National 1 League

National 1 League is the top team-based competition in US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer, elevating teams across the country into a unified national platform integrated with the ECNL. The new event, formerly/temporarily referred to as “NewComp”, is the result of bringing together US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues and US Youth Soccer’s National League. Beginning with the 2026-27 season, the new league ushers in an era of collaboration in youth soccer that benefits players and families across the country.

National 1 League Regional Format

US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer are proud to announce all league operators of its new competition, beginning with the 2026-27 season, that serves as the top team-based league of both organizations. This new league brings together the National Premier Leagues (NPL) and USYS National League (NL), ushering in a new era of collaboration in the youth soccer ecosystem and serving 10,000 teams and more than 150,000 players.

The competition’s inaugural season will be capped in summer 2027, as part of a postseason structure operated by the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). The recently announced ECNL Conference League Playoffs will welcome the top-performing teams from this competition, along with selected ECNL Regional League (ECNL RL) teams.

Eight conferences comprise the new competition with multiple districts in each conference and those districts advancing teams to the ECNL Conference League Playoffs. The complete list is now available here.

MYSA Announced as Central District 2 Operator

“National 1 League aligns with the broader goals of the U.S. Soccer Pathway Strategy. The work to connect pathways into National 1 League begins now,” said commissioner Marc Frankland. “Our team will partner with selected operators and the respective state associations across the country to develop district-level pathways that are more inclusive and easier for players and parents to understand. The goal is not to disrupt local leagues, but to connect them into a clearer national structure. This work will take time, but we are committed to building it thoughtfully. Access to National 1 League will not be tied to whether leagues, teams or players are registered with US Youth Soccer or US Club Soccer.” 

League operators were selected based on their commitment to access and inclusivity, quality competition and player-first decision-making across all districts. A breakdown of the conferences, league operators and districts is available here. By layering districts into each conference, the new competition reaches more players and reduces travel burdens for families. League operators will meet at the end of the month in Atlanta to collaborate further. Team registration opens next month. 

More information about the league, including FAQs, is available here. Information will be continually added / announced over the next several months as things develop. So stay tuned!


ABOUT ECNL

The ECNL is the nation’s leading youth soccer development platform for America’s top soccer players. The ECNL mission to provide the best youth sports experience in the world drives constant innovations in competitions and experiences for players, parents, families, coaches, referees, and partners. The ECNL has questioned convention and challenged the status quo of youth sport since 2009, pushing boundaries and striving for unmatched excellence. Together with its clubs and club leaders, the ECNL creates unforgettable memories and supports the development of youth players into college stars, professionals, world champions, and leaders. 

ABOUT US YOUTH SOCCER

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers 2.68 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game. 

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible environment for players of all ages.

Anchored by Players First and its pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Referee Development, Parent Engagement and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services.

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Gatorade and Siete Foods.

Updated: NewComp League Structure & Qualification Details

Over the past few weeks, I have been working with the league management committee to develop a Canva document, to provide all of the factual information we have to date on NewComp. This document should act as the only point of reference with regard to news updates on our exciting new competition, until such time as we launch the official website for the league. This will be updated, as soon as more news becomes available.

NewComp League Structure Presentation!

This document has been created to provide all league operators, state associations, clubs, teams and most importantly, the players the most accurate and up to date information on the league, including timelines and FAQ’s.

As we all know, there is a lot of misinformation out there, I ask for your support in ensuring that when you see this, you point people back to this Canva document.

This landmark partnership between US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer takes a huge first step in a broader effort to strengthen soccer competition platforms among national organizations and local/state leagues. These are exciting times and I am looking forward to working with all of you as we begin the journey to unify the youth soccer pathway in this country.

Thanks,

Marc Frankland
NewComp Commissioner

National League players, coaches, club leaders and families:

Over the past 18 years, the US Youth Soccer National League has served hundreds of thousands of players spanning the entire United States and has offered clubs, teams, and players the opportunity to both develop and compete at the highest levels of youth soccer in the country. Since 2007, the National League has laid the framework for defining national pathways through local/regional league connectivity. Today, the National League again is at the forefront of defining player and team pathways — this time in conjunction with a larger vision to unite a fractured youth soccer league structure to align with the U.S. Soccer Pathways Strategy. Kicking off for the 2026-27 seasonal year, “NewComp” (temporary name) is a product of this vision, with the first step being the unification of the National League (NL) and National Premier Leagues (NPL) into one team-based competition.

More information on “NewComp,” including FAQs, can be found HERE. 

We understand that change can be difficult, especially where there is confidence in the current established pathways. But where there is change is also opportunity. In this case, the opportunity before us is to align a fractured league landscape and begin addressing the underlying issues of accessibility, travel, and participation cost. With the support of both US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer, and in collaboration with U.S. Soccer through this process, this is an incredibly exciting time for the competitive youth soccer space.

The “NewComp” project has been many months in the making and has already completed several important benchmarks. Governance structures have been established; a commissioner is in place; and league operators of “NewComp” have been selected. The next steps will be executed soon, namely: league operator meetings at the end of March, the launch of the league name/brand/website, and the opening of the league applications in early to mid-April. As the planning process progresses, we wanted to provide NL teams with an update on the expectations for club/team transition to “NewComp” for the 2026-27 season. 

NL Team-Based Leagues

  • Teams playing in a NL team-based league, namely NL Team Premier I and Premier II, will need to apply for “NewComp” via the process/link provided by their specific District League Operator. Teams in NPL team-based leagues, as well as interested teams from non-NL leagues, will follow the same process.
  • For Districts that play in Fall 2026, teams should expect applications to open early to mid-April.
  • The 2025-26 NL Team, NL Cup, and NL Winter Event results will be an important team evaluation tool for “NewComp.”
  • Over the next couple of weeks, we encourage teams to begin connecting with their District League Operator to establish channels of communication to ensure that information about the league can be efficiently and effectively distributed. NL staff is available to assist teams and clubs with these connections.

NL Club-Based Leagues

  • “NewComp” is primarily a team-based league. While some club-based leagues that already operate within the new District boundaries will have a one-year phase out, most of the NL Club division structures will be dissolved and merged into the “NewComp” structure.
  • Clubs playing in a NL club-based league, namely NL Club Premier I and Premier II, would need to apply their individual teams for “NewComp” via the process/link provided by their specific District League Operator. Teams from the NPL club-based leagues will follow the same process. Clubs participating in leagues outside of NL or NPL will also be encouraged to apply.
  • For Districts that play in Fall 2026, teams should expect applications to open early to mid-April.
  • The 2025-26 NL Club, NL Cup, and NL Winter Event results will be an important evaluation tool for “NewComp.”
  • Over the next couple of weeks, we encourage clubs to begin connecting with their District League Operator to establish channels of communication to ensure that information about the league can be efficiently and effectively distributed. NL staff is available to assist clubs with these connections.

As “NewComp” information becomes available, we will continue to keep NL teams informed through national communications such as this, but also through communication by your current NL League Manager. We look forward to seeing your team compete on the field!

Mike Leland
General Manager
The National League