USYS National League

Overview

The National League is the premier national competition platform operated by US Youth Soccer (USYS). It serves as the top tier within the USYS competitive structure, below the ECNL and MLS Next pathways in prestige. The league runs showcase-style weekend events where college coaches attend.

Structure

Organized by conference and age group. Includes showcase series events that draw significant college coach attendance. In 2026-27, the USYS National League is set to merge with the NPL (National Premier League) under the unified “National 1 League” framework led by Marc Frankland, creating a single 10,000-team / 150,000-player competition platform.

Player Pathway

Sits below ECNL and MLS Next but above state-level competition in the youth soccer pyramid. The merger with NPL into National 1 League (2026-27) will consolidate this tier significantly.