The top team-based competition in US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer

National 1 League

teams
players
conferences
Districts
Structure

National 1 is comprised of eight geographic conferences: Northwest, West, Central, South, Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. Each conference is organized into multiple districts, ensuring competition remains regional while supporting a clear national structure.

Alignment

The eight conferences were designed to align with U.S. Soccer’s evolving Talent ID structure, while integration with the ECNL Regional League expands exposure to college coaches.

Promotion

While National 1 serves as the premier team-based competition within US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer, top-performing clubs can earn promotion to the ECNL Regional League.

N1 Conference Map

We compete in the Mid-Atlantic Conference

N1 Coaching Staff

About the league

Answers to general questions

  • What is the National 1 League?
    The National 1 League, or National 1, is a new national league structure that brings together US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues (NPL) and US Youth Soccer’s National League (NL), totaling approximately 10,000 teams and 150,000 players. National 1 is a joint effort by US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer in collaboration with U.S. Soccer.

    Why is the National 1 League being created?
    National 1 is intended to reduce fragmentation, simplify competitive pathways, reduce travel, and create a clear merit-based competition structure that connects local leagues to higher levels of play. Based on market analysis, integrating these competitions will create more localized play opportunities and reduce participant travel and cost throughout the season.

    Why does this matter?
    A clearer and more transparent pathway will help provide more competitive matches by aligning teams with appropriate levels of play. Over time, this structure is also intended to reduce costs by minimizing unnecessary travel and improving league efficiency.

    Who is leading the National 1 League?
    National 1 was developed through pathway discussions between US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer. These two National Associations are leading the design process, while U.S. Soccer is supporting alignment as it relates to the broader U.S. Soccer Pathways Strategy.

    When will the National 1 League launch?
    The league will launch in the 2026–27 season.

    Are the organizations merging?
    US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer will remain separate organizations that operate their own programs and services. Some services or programs may align or consolidate over time where it benefits the sport.

  • Where does the National 1 League sit in the national pathway?
    National 1 will serve as the top level of the team-based competitive segment for US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer.

    What age groups are included?
    National 1 will include U-13 through U-19 age groups, utilizing the August 1-July 31 age matrix. Younger age groups (U-9–U-12) will continue to be served primarily through localized programming.

    What is the general structure?
    The National 1 League will operate across eight geographic conferences, designed primarily around population density to balance competition level and travel demands. Each conference will be divided into districts, emphasizing localized competition.

    Is it team-based or club-based?
    National 1 is primarily team-based, with merit-based promotion and relegation alongside defined competition standards and policies. Transition periods may exist for operators with current club-based competition models.

  • Do teams qualify for National 1 through state or local leagues?
    Inclusive qualification pathways are a core component of NewComp. These pathways will be developed over the next year to create stronger connections between local leagues and district competitions. For the 2026–27 season, teams will be accepted through an application process managed by league operators.

    Can teams move up to higher national platforms?
    National 1 will be the top team-based competition platform within US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer. Performance within the National 1 League will contribute to evaluation for club-based leagues.

    Does National 1 have a connection to club-based leagues?
    National 1 is designed to support both team and club development and to incentivize upward mobility toward the pre-professional segment, such as ECNL Regional League (ECNL RL), based on on-field performance and club standards.

    Does this announcement change how ECNL or ECNL Regional League operate?
    ECNL and ECNL-RL are managed separately from the National 1 League. While N1 and ECNL-RL will have an integrated postseason, the operations of these leagues are not impacted by National 1.

    Will National 1 have a postseason?
    The inaugural season will conclude in summer 2027 with participation in the ECNL Conference League Playoffs. This event will combine qualifying teams from ECNL Regional League and National 1, creating the top team-based playoff competition in the country.