NISA Nation
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2021) |
 | |
| Organizing body | NISA |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 17, 2020 |
| First season | 2021 |
| Country |  United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF (North American Football Union) |
| Number of teams | 25 |
| Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup |
| League cup(s) | NISA Independent Cup |
| International cup(s) | CONCACAF Champions League (via U.S. Open Cup) |
| Current champion(s) | NJ Alliance FC (Northeast Region) Golden State Force (Southwest Region) |
| Most championships | NJ Alliance FC Golden State Force (1 title each) |
| Website | nisanation |
| Current: 2021 NISA Nation season | |
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]
Expansion[edit]
The league is composed by clubs from New Jersey, Maryland, California, Delaware, New York, Nevada, Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida and Pennsylvania.
On August 25, 2021, Atlantic City FC was announced as the first club of the newly formed league.[3] In the second half of 2021, another five clubs were announced to form the Northeast Region and to kick off for the Fall 2021 season.
In the mid 2021 Southwest Region was formed by the first 4 clubs and kicked off into 2021 Fall Season and in late 2021 the Florida Region and the Pacific Region were founded as well to begin to play in 2022 spring.
On January 06, 2022, it was announced that NISA Nation earned from the United States Adult Soccer Association the USASA provisional national league license, a license the give recognition to the league and that opens the way to U.S. Open Cup spots directly from the league.[4][better source needed]
The 2022 Southwest region was announced on March 03, and features 6 teams for the Spring season.[5] The season will be played March 13th to July 2nd for a total of 30 matches.[6]
Nisa Nation expanded with a third region into Florida, which was announced on March 22, 2022.[7] It will be played from March 26th to June 25th. Featuring 5 teams for a total of 30 matches.[8]
The Northeast region was announced on March 24th.[9] The region had a net gain of two to make it eight teams to play 10 matches each. The season will be played April 2nd to July 9th for a total of 40 matches.[10]
Pacific Region season announcement planned for early April.[11]
Associations[edit]
NISA Nation is affiliated and plans to begin a pro-rel system with 7 division 5 leagues all over the country: the Eastern Premier Soccer League[12] in the north east, the Gulf Coast Premier League in the deep south, the Pioneer Premier League in Tennessee and Kentucky, the Midwest Premier League[13] in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Missouri; the Mountain Premier League in the Rocky Mountains region, the Cascadia Premier League in the Cascadia region and the Southwest Premier League in the southwestern United States.
Teams[edit]
Florida Region[edit]
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deportivo Lake Mary | Lake Mary, Florida | Lake Mary High School | 2017 | 2022 |
| InterUnited FC | Davenport, Florida | Bella Citta Blvd Field | 1997 | 2022 |
| Orlando Lions RFC | Orlando, Florida | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Winter Haven United FC | Winter Haven, Florida | Feltrim Sports Village | 2016 | 2022 |
| Athletico Orlando | Orlando, Florida | 2017 | 2022 | |
| Palm Beach Breakers AFC | West Palm Beach, Florida | 2018 | yet to play |
Northeast Region[edit]
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season | Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiolikos FC USA Rush | Boston, Massachusetts | 1975 | 2022 | Yes | |
| Allentown United FC | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Cedar Crest College | 2018 | 2022 | Yes |
| Atlantic City FC | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Annapolis Avenue Recreation Complex | 2017 | 2021 | Yes |
| Bearfight @ Albion SC Delaware | Middletown, Delaware | Appoquinimink High School | 2020 | 2021 | Yes |
| Boston Athletic SC | Boston, Massachusetts | 2005 | 2022 | Yes | |
| New Amsterdam FC II | New York, New York | Orlin & Cohen Sports Complex | 2020 | 2021 | Hiatus |
| New Jersey Alliance FC | Clifton, New Jersey | Montclair State University | 2012 | 2021 | Yes |
| New Jersey Teamsterz FC | Bayonne, New Jersey | Don Ahern Veterans Memorial Stadium | 2017 | 2021 | Hiatus |
| New York Braveheart SC | New York, New York | 2022 | 2022 | Yes | |
| Steel Pulse FC | Baltimore, Maryland | Blandair Regional Park West Playground | 2019 | 2021 | Hiatus |
| Union SC | Union, New Jersey | 1984 | 2022 | Yes |
Pacific Region[edit]
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Solano | Fairfield, California | Armijo High School Stadium | 2020 | 2022 |
| Metro FC | San Francisco, California | Beach Chalet Fields | 2017 | 2022 |
Southwest Region[edit]
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | First season | Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capistrano FC | San Juan Capistrano, California | Vista Hermosa Sports Complex | 2006 | 2022 | Yes |
| Chula Vista FC | Chula Vista, California | Terra Nova Park | 1982 | 2021 | Hiatus |
| FC Golden State Force | Pomona, California | Rio Hondo College | 2015 | 2021 | Yes |
| Las Vegas Legends | Las Vegas, Nevada | Peter Johann Memorial Field | 2012 | 2021 | Yes |
| Oaks FC | Thousand Oaks, California | 1979 | 2022 | Yes | |
| Sporting ID11 | Lake Forest, California | Lake Forest Sports Complex | 2021 | 2022 | Yes |
| Valley United FC U23 | Scottsdale, Arizona | GCU Stadium | 2020 | 2021 | Hiatus |
| Valley FC Raiders | Gilbert, Arizona | 2021[14] | 2022 | Yes |
Location map[edit]
States represented in NISA Nation[edit]
| States | Number | Teams | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 7 | AFC Solano, Capistrano FC, Chula Vista FC, FC Golden State Force, Metro FC, Oaks FC, Sporting ID11 |
| 2 | Florida | 5 | Deportivo Lake Mary, InterUnited FC, Orlando Lions RFC, Palm Beach Brakers AFC, Winter Haven United FC |
| 3 | New Jersey | 4 | Atlantic City FC, New Jersey Alliance FC, New Jersey Teamsterz FC, Union SC |
| 4 | Arizona | 2 | Valley FC Raiders, Valley United FC U23 |
| Massachusetts | Aiolikos FC USA Rush, Boston Athletic SC | ||
| New York | New Amsterdam FC II, New York Braveheart SC | ||
| 7 | Delaware | 1 | Bearfight @ Albion SC Delaware |
| Maryland | Steel Pulse FC | ||
| Nevada | Las Vegas Legends | ||
| Pennsylvania | Allentown United FC |
Champions[edit]
Northeast Region
| Season | Champion | Runner up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2021 | New Jersey Alliance FC | New Amsterdam FC II | Steel Pulse FC |
Southwest Region
| Season | Champion | Runner up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2021 | FC Golden State Force | Las Vegas Legends | Chula Vista FC |
References[edit]
- ^ "NISA NATION PAVES NEW PATH TO PRO SOCCER". NISA Nation. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Michael. "PATHWAY TO THE PROS: NISA Nation is unveiled for amateur clubs seeking greater challenges". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ Ralph, Matthew. "Atlantic City FC first club announced in new NISA Nation league". www.brotherlygame.com. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "NISA NATION EARNS PROVISIONAL NATIONAL LEAGUE DESIGNATION FROM UNITED STATES ADULT SOCCER ASSOCIATION". www.nisanation.com. NISA Nation. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ Southwest region announcement. https://nisanation.com/news/2022/03/03/nisa-nation-announces-2022-southwest-region-spring-schedule
- ^ Southwest schedule https://twitter.com/TheNISANation/status/1499415506209710088
- ^ Florida Region announcement. https://www.nisanation.com/news/2022/03/22/nisa-nation-announces-inaugural-florida-region-schedule
- ^ Florida Match schedule. https://twitter.com/TheNISANation/status/1507000042262913025
- ^ Northeast region announcement https://nisanation.com/news/2022/03/24/northeast-schedule-announcement
- ^ Northeast schedule https://twitter.com/TheNISANation/status/1507393446448828416
- ^ Pacific region announcement https://nisanation.com/news/2022/03/22/nisa-nation-announces-inaugural-florida-region-schedule
- ^ "Pro/Rel focused league NISA secures amateur league affiliation with EPSL". SoccerWire.com. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Michael. "WORKING TOGETHER: NISA partners with Midwest Premier League". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ Creation of the club https://azsportsleague.com/valley-f-c-raiders/