New Mountain West League launches this season, readies for NPL status in 2023-24

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Dec. 22, 2022) – US Club Soccer is proud to welcome the Mountain West League, a new league featuring competitive U-13 through U-19 boys and girls clubs in Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada and South Dakota. The Mountain West League is a result of collaboration between US Club Soccer and the Junior Premier League USA, an expansion of England’s top youth soccer organization, which will form regional opportunities in the Mountain West region, while also brokering competition for these clubs to play against the best junior teams in England.

Effective this season, top performing teams have a pathway to US Club Soccer’s National Cup, a cup-based championship series encompassing National Cup Regionals, state cups and the heralded National Cup Finals. The league is expected to continue its growth across the Mountain West through its inaugural season, which positions it for National Premier Leagues (NPL) membership, beginning with the 2023-24 season.

Among the special opportunities afforded by this Junior Premier League USA/US Club Soccer collaboration include qualification to the season-ending Junior Premier League playoffs in England, which features the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.

In England, the JPL has established a strong reputation for championing the highest coaching and refereeing standards, and its commitment to those exemplary standards will continue in the U.S., with a coach and referee development plan to ensure standards in both areas continue to improve.

“For years, US Club Soccer has been uncompromisingly ‘Players First,’ and this is an example of going outside the box to extend opportunities to our youth athletes and families,” said Leo Garcia, US Club Soccer VP of Competitions. “We’re excited to expand the national impact of the NPL and provide diverse offerings to grow the game.”

“The Junior Premier League is proud to be working with US Club Soccer to bring an amazing array of opportunities to the clubs, coaches, players, and referees in the Mountain West region,” said Martin Brock, JPL CEO. “The combination of two very professional and development-focused soccer organizations will greatly improve the soccer landscape for all participants in the region.”