NISA ANNOUNCES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT FOR NISA NATION AND REGIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE AFFILIATES

CHICAGO (October 12, 2023) – The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), in coordination with NISA Nation and its regional premier league affiliates, is pleased to announce a new national title event: the 2023 NISA Nation National Championship, a four-team tournament to be held later this year, December 1st and 3rd, in Southern California at Championship Stadium in Irvine. The inaugural event is the first to place regional league champions in competition to crown a national champion.

“The NISA Nation National Championship is a key piece for the regional leagues to compete and even grow in the crowded space of men’s soccer in the United States. The need for a true champion is obvious. There can be as many as four or five every year,” says NISA Nation Director Matt Morse. “Again, some of our regional league affiliates have been around so much longer than any of the professional leagues, and we want to harness that history to create a better future. Our intent is for the NISA Nation National Championship to be a culminating event on our calendar.”

Clubs representing each active NISA Nation region as well as affiliate clubs from the Cascadia Premier League, Eastern Premier Soccer League, Florida Gold Coast League, Mountain Premier League and Southwest Premier League are eligible to participate.

Eastern Premier Soccer League champion Northern Virginia FC is the first club to claim a spot at the NISA Nation National Championship. The three other semifinalists will be determined from regional playoff matchups as follows:

Match 1: NISA Nation Southwest Region champion vs. SWPL Pacific Premier League champion, Nov. 18
Match 2: NISA Nation Pacific Region champion vs. SWPL SoCal Premier League champion, Nov. 18
Match 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, Nov. 19
Match 4: Mountain Premier League champion vs. Cascadia Premier League champion, TBA

The 2023 NISA Nation National Championship schedule:
SEMIFINAL Match I
Friday, December 1 - 4:00 PM PT
NISA Nation Texas Champion v. Eastern Premier League (EPSL) Champion
SEMIFINAL Match II
Friday, Dec. 1 - 7:00 PM PT
NISA Nation Pacific / Southwest Premier League (SWPL) Champion v. Cascadia Premier League (CPL) / Mountain Premier League (MPL) Champion
2023 NISA NATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 - 3:00 PM PT
Winner Semifinal Match I v. Winner Semifinal Match II

All matches will broadcast on FIFA+