United Premier Soccer League
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.
 | |
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF US Soccer |
| Conferences | 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 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
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).
League structure
The UPSL operates in a geographical conference structure with localized Divisions within each Conference. The number of Divisions within each Conference varies based on various geographical factors including distance and population. There is often more than one team within a specific geographical area. More dense Conferences are divided into a promotion/relegation structure with Division I and Division II.[10]
| Conference | Division(s) | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | DMV North | Premier | ||
| Midwest Central | Premier | |||
| Midwest East | Premier | |||
| Midwest West | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| Premier | ||||
| Northeast-American | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| Western New York | Division 1 | |||
| Southeast | DMV South | Premier | ||
| Florida | Premier | |||
| Florida-Central | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| Florida-South | Premier | |||
| Florida-South Zone 1 | Division 1 | |||
| Florida-South Zone 2 | Division 1 | |||
| Florida-West | Premier | |||
| Georgia | Premier | |||
| Georgia-East | Division 1 | |||
| Georgia-West | Division 1 | |||
| KY-TN | Premier | |||
| Mid-Atlantic | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| West | Alaska | Division 1 | ||
| Arizona | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| Mountain West | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| NorCal | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| Pacific Northwest | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| SoCal | Premier | |||
| SoCal Central | Premier | |||
| SoCal East | Division 1 | |||
| SoCal North | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| SoCal South | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| Southwest | Colorado | Premier | ||
| OK-AR | Premier | |||
| Texas Central | Premier | |||
| Texas North | Premier | Division 1 | ||
| Texas South | Premier | |||
| West Texas-New Mexico | Premier | |||
2023 season
Premier Division
Division 1[11]
| 1826 Academy |
| 3rd Eye FC |
| 88Thirty |
| Academias Barcelona SC |
| Acoreano Sport |
| African Stars FC II |
| Allentown United U23 |
| Alloy Soccer Club |
| Altitude Rush II |
| Amigos FC New York |
| Amigos FC New York II |
| AMSG FC |
| Anders SC |
| Argentine Soccer Academy |
| Arlington FC |
| Arlington SA II |
| AS Los Angeles II |
| ASC Central Cal |
| ASC Idaho |
| Astoria Knights FC |
| Athletic FC |
| Athletum Miami FC II |
| Atlanta City FC Reserves |
| Atlanta City FC U17 |
| Atlanta City FC U20 |
| Atlanta City FC U23 |
| Atlanta Fire |
| Atlanta Fire United - UPSL |
| Atlanta Generals |
| Atlanta Rovers FC Reserves |
| Atlas FC NYC |
| Atletico de Madrid Academia Miami |
| Atletico de Madrid Academia Miami II |
| Atletico Orlando Academy |
| Augusta United FC U23 |
| Austin Stars FC |
| AYSAB Football Club |
| AYSD D1 Academy |
| Azteca FC |
| Balboa FC |
| Ballerz FC |
| Barcelona Soccer II |
| Bateaux FC |
| Bell County FC II |
| Black Rock IHC |
| Boston Street FC II |
| Boynton United FC |
| Brevard Fire FC II |
| Briar United FC |
| Cabras Football Club |
| California Mirimar |
| California Rush II |
| Cavalry UPSL |
| CD Catrachos PA |
| CD Oakland |
| CDC Dominguez SC |
| Central Falls FC |
| CF Cachorros USA |
| Clayton International FC |
| Clermont FC |
| Club Athletic Los Angeles |
| Club Atletico Banfield |
| Club de Lyon FC Academy |
| Club The Strongest Atlanta |
| CMA Tritons |
| Cobras FC |
| Colo Colo Academy USA |
| Colonial FC |
| Coppell FC II |
| Coronado Athletic Club II |
| Craq |
| Crown and Anchor Lions |
| Crush FC II |
| Cuervos FC Rancho |
| Dade County FC U23 |
| Dallas Deportivo FC |
| Dallas Golden Eagles |
| Dalton United Reserves |
| DANIA FC |
| Dania Futbol Club |
| DCSC Pathfinders |
| Deportivo U2 FC |
| Desert FC |
| Disciples FC |
| Dixie Leon SC |
| Doral SC |
| Downtown Los Angeles |
| Dynamic Futbol |
| East Coast FC |
| Empire Soccer Men Pro |
| FADP Footballers Academy |
| FC Atlanta Academy |
| FC B3ast |
| FC Birmingham II |
| FC Dallas Dynamo II |
| FC Juarez Academy |
| FC Municipal Limeno |
| FC Prime |
| FC Revolution |
| FC Spider II |
| Feltrim Soccer Academy |
| Florida Fusion |
| Florida Futbol Club |
| Florida Soccer Soldiers II |
| Foro 360 Reserves |
| Frederick Skyline CF II |
| FSA Pro II |
| FTFA Gunners |
| Future Soccer Academy |
| Gaffer FC |
| Gainesville City FC |
| Gainesville City FC 2 |
| Galo FC |
| Gate City FC |
| Georgia Athletic Soccer Club |
| Georgia FC |
| Georgia Impact SC |
| Georgia Storm |
| Germantown City FC II |
| GOSA Academy YF |
| Granite City FC 2 |
| Gremio FC Utah II |
| Hialeah City FC |
| High Desert Barca FC |
| High Desert Elite FC |
| High Soccer Prospects |
| Hodler Miami FC |
| Houston FC II |
| I and II FC |
| Idaho Cutthroats FC II |
| IdeaSport SA |
| Inter United Davenport |
| Ironbound Soccer Club |
| Irvine FC |
| ISA II |
| ISA Schulz |
| Island United AC |
| Ives Estates Thunder SC |
| Jaguars United FC II |
| JETSETV FC |
| Kalonji Pro-Profile U19 |
| Kernow Storm FC |
| Key Biscayne Academy |
| LA Aztecs |
| La Maquina FC |
| La Maquina LA |
| LA United Futbol Academy |
| Lakeland United II |
| LDUQ-USA Pro FC Elite |
| Legends FC Reserves |
| Leon FC |
| LGSA Reserves |
| LGSA U17 |
| Limeno Georgia D1 |
| Limeno Georgia U19 |
| Lions FC |
| Livingston Cachorros SC |
| Lobos Desert FC II |
| Lobos SHA |
| Los Bandoleros FC |
| Los Banos FC |
| Marlex Soccer U23 |
| Mat-Su United FC |
| Merced United FC |
| Miami Sporting Club |
| Midcities Football Club |
| Middle Georgia United FC |
| Milan de Miami FC |
| Mint Hill FC II |
| Miramar Supreme FC |
| Moros FC |
| Naples City FC II |
| New Jersey Alliance FC U23 |
| New York Braveheart SC II |
| Newhall Premier |
| Newport FC |
| Nona SC Academy |
| Nona Soccer Academy II |
| North Georgia United FC 2 |
| Northern Utah United |
| NY Hota Bavarians SC |
| OC Kings FC |
| Ocelot II Academy |
| Olé Sporting |
| Olympians FC II |
| Olympians Reserves |
| Orlando City Hunter's Creek Academy |
| Orlando Rovers II |
| Oro FC |
| Pachuca Georgia |
| Pachuca Georgia Reserves |
| Pachuca Georgia U17 |
| Park City Red Wolves II |
| Parkland Soccer Club |
| PASCO Soccer |
| Pathfinder FC II |
| Patterson Elite |
| PDP-OC |
| Pennsylvania Prime FC II |
| Philadelphia Lone Star II |
| Plantation FC II |
| Potros FC Black |
| Predators FC |
| Provo Athletic Club II |
| Provo Sports Academy |
| PSC FC AZ |
| PSC II |
| PSG Academy Florida |
| PSG Academy Houston |
| PSL Hurricanes FC |
| Queens Meadows FC II |
| Racing Dallas FC Reserves |
| Real Futbol Club |
| Real Galt FC |
| Rebels FC Ventura County |
| Revolution FC |
| Revolver FC |
| Rio Cuarto FC |
| River City FC II |
| Rochester FC |
| Rose City FC |
| Rosedale SC |
| Royal Palms SC |
| RSL AZ |
| SAFC Sahuaros |
| Saint Paul United FC |
| San Francisco Galaxy |
| San Leandro United Academy |
| Santa Cruz FC II |
| Santa Monica Surf |
| SC Mulenge Valley 623 |
| SC Trojans |
| SC Valley 602 |
| SC Verdugos |
| Seas United FC |
| Shock City FC |
| Sierra Vista SC |
| Skills FC |
| SKM Academy |
| Smugtown FC |
| Soccer Club Incorporated |
| Somerset SC |
| Son of Queens FC |
| Son of Queens Prospects |
| South Florida Football Academy |
| South Florida Football Academy II |
| Spartans Toros Neza FC |
| Sporting FC Blue |
| Sporting Miami |
| Sporting NTX Verde |
| SSL FC |
| SSL FC 2 |
| Strikers FC Miami |
| Sunlight FC |
| Tajpolis FC |
| TCSA |
| TCSA Reserves |
| Texas Spurs II |
| Toros Neza USA |
| Turlock Leon FC |
| UCFSC Warriors |
| UMA FC |
| Unations FC II |
| Union Amaya FC |
| Unisamba FC |
| United Elite Krajisnik FC II |
| Upstate United |
| Utah Rangers FC II |
| Vacaville Elite |
| Valley FC Raiders |
| Valley Lions |
| Valley Stars FC |
| Volpe FC |
| Warwick City Football Club |
| Weston FC |
| Williamsport City Lions FC |
| Worthington Community FC II |
| XAFC-NJ Xolos |
| Zeta FC |
| Ziller FC |
| Zona CFI |
Women[12]
| African Stars FC |
| Alaska Thorns FC Women |
| Alaska Timbers Women |
| Albany Alleycats |
| AMSG FC |
| Anaheim Legacy Women |
| Arctic Rush Women |
| Arkansas Legacy Women |
| Arkansas Wolves Women |
| ASC Idaho |
| Audax Soccer Club |
| Bay Cities FC |
| Beaman United FC |
| Club Atletico Banfield - Womens |
| Cook Inlet SC Women |
| Crown and Anchor Lionesses |
| Dade County FC Women |
| Dallas Select |
| Desert FC |
| Empire Surf |
| Fairbanks SC Women |
| FC Berlin |
| FC Juarez Academy CYSA |
| FC Premier U21 |
| Florida United Soccer Club |
| Frederick Skyline CF Womens |
| Future FC |
| Gainesville City FC |
| Granite City FC Women |
| Greater Binghamton FC |
| Hope FC |
| Icemen FC Women |
| Idaho Cutthroats FC |
| Inter AC |
| Invictus FC |
| Kalonji Soccer Academy Women |
| LA Soccer Club |
| Limeno Women |
| Little Haiti Supreme FC Womens |
| Lobos FC Fontana |
| M Elite FC - Womens |
| Mako Soccer Club Womens |
| MCSC Jaguars |
| Miami Springs Virginia Gardens |
| Miami United FC |
| Napa Valley 1839 FC |
| Naples City FC - Women |
| Nashville Knights FC |
| New Jersey Alliance Women |
| North Georgia United Women |
| Northern Tide FC Women |
| NTX Legends Women |
| NY Magic |
| Oakland SC |
| Olympique Montreux FC |
| Orange County FC Women |
| Palm Beach Flames Women |
| Palm Beach Predators |
| Pathfinder FC Womens |
| Pioneer United FC Women |
| Plantation FC |
| PSL Hurricanes FC |
| Racing Sacramento City FC |
| Renegades FC |
| Reno Vikings Premier |
| River Valley Bully's Women |
| Sacramento United |
| Salinas Soccer Femenil |
| SDA Utica Blasters |
| Side FC Women |
| SoCal FC |
| SoCal Reds FC Women |
| Spartan Wolves |
| Sporting FC Women |
| St. Croix Soccer Club |
| Sunrise Sting SC |
| Superior City FC Women |
| Texas Spurs Women |
| Tonka Fusion Elite |
| United City FC Women |
| United Elite Krajisnik FC |
| Vikings Premier |
| Vlora FC Women |
| Westchester United FC |
| Whitestone FC |
| White Tigers FC |
| Williamsport City Lions |
| Women's Playmaker FC |
| Yuba 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.
- "About the UPSL | United Premier Soccer League". www.upslsoccer.com. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- "Teams". Premier. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- "Teams". Premier. Retrieved May 30, 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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