National Independent Soccer Association

The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019.[1][2][3]

National Independent Soccer Association
FoundedJune 6, 2017 (2017-06-06)
First season2019–20
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
ConferencesEastern Conference
Western Conference
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid3
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
International cup(s)CONCACAF Champions League
(via U.S. Open Cup)
TV partnersMyCujoo
Websitenisaofficial.com
2020–21 NISA season

History

On June 6, 2017, it was announced that the newly formed National Independent Soccer Association would begin play in 2018 targeting an initial 8 to 10 teams, later revised to 8 to 12 teams.[4] Initially, the league outlined plans to introduce a promotion/relegation system, once they reach their goal of 24 teams, the first in US professional soccer and in doing so act as a feeder league to the North American Soccer League (NASL);[5][6] however, the NASL ceased operations prior to those plans being implemented.

On February 13, 2018, NISA co-founder Jack Cummins died suddenly.[7] On May 17, 2018, NISA co-founder Peter Wilt left the NISA to help start up Forward Madison FC in Madison, Wisconsin in USL League One.[8] A committee of club owners has been formed to elect new leadership within the organization.[9]

On August 31, 2018, NISA filed an application with the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a men's professional league, playing at the third division.[10] On February 16, 2019, NISA was provisionally sanctioned as a Division III league by the United States Soccer Federation.[11] In May 2019, it was announced that clubs were not happy with the silence from the league and that Bob Watkins was no longer the President of NISA and that John Prutch had taken the helm as commissioner.[3] During this same timeframe, the league's start date was pushed back from August 2019 to a targeted September start date.[3]

On June 10, 2019, it became known that both Miami FC and California United Strikers FC were approved at the recent board of governors meeting to join NISA, while the previously identified club in Central Florida would play in Baton Rouge, Louisiana instead of Daytona Beach, Florida.[12] However, it was unclear whether either of the teams would start before the league's September start date.[12] On June 27, 2019 it was announced that Oakland Roots SC would have their inaugural season with the league in the spring season, rather than the previously announced NPSL Founders Cup.[13] On August 15, 2019, the league officially announced the addition of Oakland Roots for the 2019 season and Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, and Michigan Stars FC for early 2020.[14]

The inaugural season began on August 31, 2019, with a 3–3 draw for Oakland Roots SC and California United Strikers FC in Oakland.[15] On April 27, 2020, following previous postponements, the remainder of the 2019–20 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

Clubs

Current
Club City Stadium Capacity Founded Joined Head coach
Fall 2020 Clubs
California United Strikers FC Irvine, California Championship Stadium 5,000 2017 2019 Don Ebert
Chattanooga FC Chattanooga, Tennessee Finley Stadium 20,668 2009 2020 Peter Fuller
Detroit City FC Hamtramck, Michigan Keyworth Stadium 7,933 2012 2020 Trevor James
Los Angeles Force Los Angeles, California Jesse Owens Stadium 5,000 2019 2019 Thales Peterson
Michigan Stars FC Pontiac, Michigan Ultimate Soccer Arena 5,000 1982 2020 George Juncaj
New Amsterdam FC Warwick, New York Hudson Sports Complex 2020 2020 Eric Wynalda
New York Cosmos Uniondale, New York Mitchel Athletic Complex 5,000 2010 2020 Carlos Mendes
Oakland Roots SC Oakland, California Laney College 5,500 2018 2019 Jordan Ferrell
Clubs on Hiatus
Stumptown Athletic Matthews, North Carolina CSA OrthoCarolina Sportsplex
Sportsplex at Matthews		 1,200
5,000		 2019 2019 Mark Steffens
San Diego 1904 FC[17] San Diego, California Vic Player Stadium 3,700 2017 2019 Alex Gontran
Other Announced Clubs
NISA Connecticut[18] Connecticut TBD
NISA Providence Providence, Rhode Island TBD
New Jersey Teamsters FC[19] Bayonne, New Jersey Don Ahern Veterans Stadium 2017 2021 Javier Romero
Locations of announced clubs
  • Fall 2020 club
  • Future club
  • Club on hiatus

Former
Club City Joined Final season Fate
Miami FC Miami, Florida Fall 2019 Fall 2019 Moved to USL Championship[20]
Philadelphia Fury Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Fall 2019 Fall 2019 Inactive
Atlanta SC Alpharetta, Georgia Fall 2019 Fall 2019 Inactive

Champions

Teams that no longer participate in the National Independent Soccer Association are in italics.

Team NISA Final Year(s) won Conference
title		 Year(s) won Regular season
title		 Year(s) won NISA
seasons
Miami FC1Fall 20191Fall 20190.5
California United Strikers FC1Fall 20191
Los Angeles Force1Fall 20191

NISA Final results
Season Portion Champions Score Runners–up Venue Attendance MVP
2019–20 Fall No overall association champion decided[lower-alpha 1]
Spring Season not complete due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  1. The "Fall Showcase" had both NISA conferences compete in separate championship games with both winners automatically qualifying for the Spring 2020 playoffs. Miami FC and California United Strikers FC won the East Coast Conference and West Coast Conference respectively.

NISA Independent Cup results
Year Region Champions National Champion Runners–up Venue Attendance MVP
2020 Central Plains Gaffa FC (GCPL) N/A[lower-alpha 1]
Great Lakes Detroit City FC (NISA)
Mid-Atlantic To be determined
Southeast Chattanooga FC (NISA)
  1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regional champions were unable to compete in a National Final tournament

Staff
As of June 2, 2019[21]

Current
  • John Prutch – commissioner
  • Brian Melekian – chief operating officer
  • Joshua Prutch – executive vice president of expansion
  • Jim Thompson – chief financial officer
  • Samantha Prutch – director of communications
  • Nick Mahrt – director of internal affairs
  • Lana Masiuk – director of business operations

Previous leadership
  • Bob Watkins – president (2018–19)
  • Peter Wilt – co-founder (2017–18)
  • Jack Cummins – co-founder (2017–18)

See also

References
  1. "EXCLUSIVE: The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) – A New Division III Professional Soccer League Expects to Launch in 2018". NISA. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  2. "Inaugural Applicant Markets Announced for New US Pro Third Division Soccer League – NISA". nisaofficial.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. Kivlehan, Chris (May 28, 2019). "With New Leadership In Place, NISA Breaks Its Silence". Midfield Press. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  4. "About". NISA. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  5. "New league seeks to finally bring pro/rel to US soccer". NISA. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  6. "City said to be ripe for pro soccer". June 28, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  7. "Obituary: NISA co-founder Jack Cummins". February 13, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  8. "Big Top hires Peter Wilt to launch pro soccer team at Breese Stevens Field in 2019". May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  9. "Committee Formed to Select New NISA Leadership". May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  10. "NISA Submits Application For Division III Pro League Sanctioning". Midfield Press. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  11. Kivlehan, Chris (February 17, 2019). "Breaking: NISA Sanctioned By USSF, To Start In August". Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  12. Kivlehan, Chris (June 11, 2019). "Miami FC, Cal United Accepted Into NISA, Pro Soccer For Baton Rouge & Other News From NISA Board of Governors Meeting". Midfield Press. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  13. "Oakland Roots Statement: League and Membership". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  14. "NISA Announces Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC & Oakland Roots SC". NISA. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  15. Zimmerman, Douglas (September 1, 2019). "Oakland Roots tie first ever game 3-3". SFGate. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  16. "NISA Official Update". NISA Homepage. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  17. Zeigler, Mark (July 28, 2020). "San Diego 1904 FC will skip fall soccer season". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  18. "National Independent Soccer Association Kicks Off Announcements of Markets That Will Host Professional Soccer in 2019". Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  19. https://www.njteamstersfc.com/news/breaking-news
  20. "Ottawa Fury FC Announce Relocation, Sale of Franchise Rights to The Miami FC". uslchampionship.com. USL. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  21. Staff, NISA. "People". Retrieved June 2, 2019.
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