United Premier Soccer League#League structure

The UPSL was formed in 2011 with 10 teams, and has grown to include over 400 member clubs across the nation. Now featuring numerous MLS U19 teams including LAFC, Philadelphia Union and LA Galaxy, the Premier Division is widely regarded as occupying the unofficial 4th tier of US Soccer. Each UPSL team is independently owned and operated. The league consists of two seasons each calendar year, with the Spring season beginning in March and ending with national playoffs in July, and a Fall season with play beginning in September with national playoffs in December.{{cite web |url=http://goalnation.com/upsl-commissioner-yan-skwara-soccer-today/ |title=Interview with Yan Skwara, UPSL Commissioner |date=March 3, 2015 |website=Goal Nation }}

UPSL announced it would begin promotion/relegation system beginning in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2016/11/an-american-amateur-fifth-tier-league-is-about-to-introduce-a-prorel-system/ |title=An American amateur fifth-tier league is about to introduce a pro/rel system |date=November 1, 2016 |website=Top Drawer Soccer }}{{cite web |url=http://midfieldpress.com/2016/11/03/united-premier-soccer-league-brings-pro-rel-to-the-usa/ |title=United Premier Soccer League Brings Promotion And Relegation to the USA |date=November 3, 2016 |website=Midfield Press }} Teams will compete in two divisions: Pro Premier and Division One.

In November 2016 the UPSL announced the addition of a Colorado conference set to begin in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://goalnation.com/upsl-expands-to-colorado/ |title=UPSL Expands To Colorado |date=November 17, 2016 |website=Goal Nation }}{{cite web |url=http://www.burgundywave.com/2016/11/19/13660504/upsl-expands-to-colorado-vows-to-bring-pro-rel-to-american-soccer-open-cup-promotion-relegation |title=UPSL expands to Colorado, vows to bring pro/rel to American soccer |date=November 19, 2016 |website=Burgundy Wave }}

In August 2017, the league announced that all eleven clubs of the Premier League of America would be joining the UPSL as a new Midwest Conference. The conference will initiate friendlies during the 2017 Fall Season and begin league play in 2018.

Former member club PSA Elite is known for reaching the fourth round of the 2014 and the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by knocking out higher-level professional teams. Three UPSL teams, La Máquina FC, L.A. Wolves FC, and San Nicolas FC qualified for the 2016 U.S. Open Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.soccernation.com/three-socal-teams-involved-in-u-s-open-cup-second-round-action-wednesday/#more |title=Three SoCal Teams Involved in U.S. Open Cup Second Round Action Wednesday |date=May 18, 2016 |website=Soccer Nation }} La Máquina FC advanced to the fourth round (knocking out Portland Timbers U23, Sacramento Gold, and LA Wolves FC) before falling to LA Galaxy.{{cite web |url=http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/06/15/highlights-la-galaxy-vs-la-maquina-june-14-2016 |title=HIGHLIGHTS: LA Galaxy vs. La Maquina |date=June 15, 2016 |website=LA Galaxy }} The UPSL's participants in the 2016 US Open Cup altogether defeated teams from the PDL (Timbers U-23), NPSL (Sacramento Gold), and USL (Orange County Blues FC). The UPSL had five teams qualify for the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, with the L.A. Wolves FC advancing the furthest, making it to the third round before being knocked out by USL team Orange County SC. 2018 saw five more UPSL teams qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, with Sporting Arizona FC before falling to USL team Fresno FC. Only one team, Florida Soccer Soldiers qualified from UPSL for the 2019 U.S. Open Cup, advancing to the third round prior to losing to USL Championship team North Carolina FC. The U.S. Open cup was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19. UPSL had four teams qualify for the 2022 U.S. Open Cup with two teams advancing to the second round of the competition. In 2023, UPSL only had two teams qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, with UDA Soccer advancing to the second round before falling to USL Championship team New Mexico United. With more slots being taken in the tournament proper by USL League 2 and National Premier Soccer League teams, the UPSL had seen a decrease in the number of teams to make it through the qualifying rounds. Starting in 2024, UPSL is guaranteed a slot in the first round of the Open Cup. This slot is given to the UPSL Spring Champions, and in 2024 was earned by AS Frenzi.{{cite web |url=https://thecup.us/2023/08/07/as-frenzi-wins-2023-upsl-title-secures-2024-us-open-cup-berth/ |title=AS Frenzi wins 2023 UPSL title, secures 2024 US Open Cup berth |last=Wolf |first=Liam |date=August 7, 2023 |website=www.TheCup.us |publisher=theCup.us |access-date=August 8, 2023}} For the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, Soda City FC earned the automatic first round slot by winning the 2024 UPSL Spring season.{{cite web |url=https://thecup.us/2024/08/12/2025-us-open-cup-qualifying-soda-city-fc-punches-ticket-with-wild-upsl-championship-win/ |title=2025 US Open Cup Qualifying: Soda City FC punches ticket with wild UPSL championship win |last=Battista |first=Michael |date=August 12, 2024 |publisher=theCup.us |access-date=September 15, 2024}}

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• {{Official website|https://upsl.com/}}

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Category:United States Adult Soccer Association leagues

Category:Soccer leagues in the United States

Category:2011 establishments in the United States

Category:Sports leagues established in 2011