Last Friday, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announced the full 2024 NISA Independent Cup schedule. The league confirmed all the amateur sides joining the 9 NISA pro clubs in this year’s tournament. Twenty-one amateur clubs, some familiar names, and some new ones, will participate. Below is the list of all 21 amateur clubs.
- ASC Silicon Valley (NISA Nation/1st appearance) – Redwood City, CA
- Alloy SC (EPSL/1st appearance) – Lancaster, PA
- AS Frenzi (UPSL/1st appearance) – Lake Mary, FL
- Bay Area United (NISA Nation/2nd appearance) – Richmond, CA
- Dakota Fusion FC (NPSL/2nd appearance) – Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN
- FC Milwaukee Torrent (NPSL/5th appearance) – Wauwatosa, WI
- Golden Ball Soccer Academy (EPSL/1st appearance) – Hampton Roads, VA
- Indios Denver FC (UPSL/1st appearance) – Denver, CO
- Inter Detroit (MWPL/3rd appearance) – Pontiac, MI
- Kalonji Pro Profile (UPSL/2nd appearance) – Lawrenceville, GA
- Laguna FC (NISA Nation/1st appearance) – San Francisco, CA
- Lobos FC (SOCAL Premier League/1st appearance) – West Covina, CA
- NOVA FC (EPSL/2nd appearance) – Leesburg, VA
- Olympiacos CA (NISA Nation/3rd appearance) – Huntington Beach, CA
- PASS FC (UPSL/1st appearance) – Grand Rapids, MI
- SC Union Maricopa (UPSL/2nd appearance) – Phoenix, AZ
- SC United Heat (UPSL/2nd appearance) – Columbia, SC
- Silicon Valley Rush (NISA Nation/1st appearance) – Silicon Valley, CA
- UMA FC (UPSL/1st appearance) – Columbus, GA
- United Soccer Alliance (UPSL/2nd appearance) – Fleming Island, FL
- Vlora FC (UPSL/2nd appearance) – Burnsville, MN
NISA clubs/regions
- Arizona Monsoon FC – West Coast Region
- Capo FC – Pacific Region
- Club de Lyon FC – Southeast Region
- Georgia FC – East Region
- Irvine Zeta FC – Pacific Region
- LA Force – West Coast Region
- Maryland Bobcats FC – East Region
- Michigan Stars FC – Great Lakes Region
- Savannah Clovers FC – Southeast Region
This will be the fifth edition of the NISA Independent Cup and will be under a new format this summer. All 9 NISA clubs will start in the first round instead of hosting the regional championship in the final round like in previous competition editions. Also, with condensed regions, NISA clubs will share brackets. Plus, we see pros vs. amateurs faceoff from the beginning of the competition. Amateur sides who received a bye in round I will get to host matches in round II, which starts on the weekend of July 14. The final round of the NISA Independent Cup will be on the weekend of July 28, with the regional championship finals.
The first round of the NISA Independent Cup will kick off on Saturday, July 6, and will feature ten matches. Below are your opening matchups.
Saturday July 6
LA Force vs Laguna FC – Veterans Memorial Stadium
Arizona Monsoon FC vs SC Union Maricopa – Willow Canyon Stadium
Capo FC vs ASC Silicon Valley – JSerra Stadium
Maryland Bobcats FC vs Alloy SC – Maryland SoccerPlex
Georgia FC vs Uma FC – Dalton Stadium
Club de Lyon FC vs AS Frenzi – Showalter Field
Savannah Clovers FC vs Kalonji Pro Profile – Memorial Stadium
Sunday July 7
Dakota Fusion FC vs Vlora FC – Jim Gotta Stadium
Wednesday July 10
Irvine Zeta FC vs Bay Area United – Championship Stadium
Michigan Stars FC vs Inter Detroit – Romeo Stadium
I’m excited about this new format change as we move from the group stage/regional final setup to a straight knockout competition. We know that with tournaments like this, we love a good underdog story, such as David vs. Goliath and the upsets. I like the new element that if the NISA pro clubs win their round I match, they would have to travel to the amateur club’s home for round II, which will be fun to watch. We have plenty of UPSL sides in this one and some NPSL, NISA Nation, and one MWPL and SOCAL Premier League side in this year’s NISA Independent Cup. July 6 can’t get here fast enough, and I’m looking forward to watching all these matchups. You can watch all the NISA Independent Cup action only on NISA+.
Are you excited for the 5th edition of the NISA Independent Cup? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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