Founded in 2024, the Mid-Atlantic Premier League was created by like-minded clubs looking to provide players and families with a high-quality Club v. Club youth soccer experience. What began with nine girls clubs building on the ECNL-RL Northeast foundation has grown into a full league platform, adding boys competition in Fall 2024, joining the National 1 League competition in 2026, and launching the Foundational League for U8-U12 players.

Each season, new clubs and players continue to strengthen MAPL, creating a connected pathway for development, competition, and long-term growth.

Beginning with its inaugural season in 2026-27, the National 1 League brings together two established league platforms — US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues and US Youth Soccer’s National League — in an extraordinary display of collaboration.

In alignment with the U.S. Soccer Pathways Strategy, National 1 represents the top team-based competition structure in US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer.

This landmark partnership takes the first step in a broader effort to strengthen soccer competition platforms among national organizations and local/state leagues.