The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announced this afternoon that the league is targeting April to return to the pitch and begin its 2025 season. The 2025 NISA Championship final will take place in October, and the league will announce its clubs, format, and schedule at a later date. The NISA League released the following update below in its press release:
NISA’s open system is vital to the long-term success of the game in this country. NISA believes that community clubs that represent their local culture and develop talent deserve a voice at the table. NISA, NISA Nation and its affiliates were created to provide them that voice, creating a true open system for community clubs to climb through the amateur system and eventually to the professional ranks.
This process has taken time, and U.S. Soccer Federation has been aware and supportive of our efforts. Due to our April start, in an agreement with U.S. Soccer, we have decided not to participate in this year’s U.S. Open Cup. We look forward to rejoining the competition in 2026.
NISA and NISA Nation appreciate the support we have received, and we remain committed to building the environment we all desire.
The U.S. Soccer Federation is expected to announce its full participants of clubs for the 2025 U.S. Open Cup early next week. It will be the first time all NISA clubs won’t participate in the Open Cup since the league began in 2019, but the NISA league expects to be back playing in the tournament in 2026. After a drama-filled off-season with reports of the league losing its D3 sanctioning, rumors of clubs leaving, and wondering if the league will have enough teams, it appears NISA has gotten the all-clear from USSF and can now move forward with its plans for the 2025 season. Hopefully, the league will announce more updates in the coming weeks.
NISA Nation Is Back
Meanwhile, NISA Nation announced earlier this week that the full-year amateur league will return for the 2025 spring season. NISA Nation will feature regions such as the Coast, Southwest, Pacific, Tennessee/Arkansas, and North Texas for its upcoming spring season. The league will announce more clubs and regions soon. NISA Nation also announced it has retained its league affiliations with the Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL), the Cascadia Premier League (CPL), the Metroplex Premier League (MPL), the Mountain Premier League (MPL), and the Southwest Premier League (SWPL). The Michigan Premier League will also be added as a new affiliate league for NISA Nation this year. NISA Nation will kickoff its season in March.
What are your thoughts on NISA and NISA Nation returning for the 2025 season? Let me know in the comments section below.
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