Marc Frankland
Role
Commissioner of the National 1 League (N1L), the unified youth soccer competition platform launching in the 2026-27 season. The N1L merges the USYS National League and the US Club Soccer NPL into a single competition framework covering approximately 10,000 teams and 150,000 players.
Background
Named commissioner of the National 1 League following the joint announcement by US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer in December 2025.
Connections
- USYS National League — predecessor platform
- US Club Soccer — co-governing body for National 1 League
- US Youth Soccer (USYS) — co-governing body for National 1 League
Context
The National 1 League merger represents the largest structural consolidation in US youth soccer competition in years. By unifying the USYS National League and US Club Soccer’s NPL under one rulebook and eight conferences, N1L creates a de facto national middle tier below ECNL and MLS Next. Frankland’s role as commissioner puts him in a position to shape competition format, club eligibility, and the national showcase calendar for the 10K-team platform.