The Central States NPL will head into its fifth season in the National Premier Leagues with an expanded membership. The league is excited to announce the addition of several new member clubs in both boys and girls divisions for the 2021-22 season.

Central States NPL member clubs span Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, and consist of approximately 2,400 players from more than 120 teams.

Central States NPL has made significant progress on and off the field. Lou Fusz SC and Sporting St. Louis both won 2019 Girls NPL Final championships, and a number of clubs have been accepted as Players First-licensed clubs in recent terms.

“We are thrilled with the continued growth and success of the Central States NPL,” said Leo Garcia, US Club Soccer’s VP of Competitions and NPL General Manager. “The league has continued to make strides to improve year after year, and we look forward to working with these new members clubs to provide the highest quality resources and services.”

Quotes from member clubs:

• Robert Schneider, JB Marine Executive Director: “J.B. Marine SC is thrilled to be accepted as a new member of the NPL. The player development, player ID opportunities, standards and competitive platforms that NPL provides are a strong match with the mission, goals and long-standing traditions of our Club. We are looking forward to the quality competition and numerous opportunities that the NPL will provide to our members.”
• Bill Ajram, FC United Executive Director: “On behalf of FC United, we look forward to our expanded participation with US Club Soccer. The US Club competitive platforms are cognizant of the needs of our members and align with many of our organizational objectives. In particular, it has allowed us to provide our players developmentally appropriate games where we can designate our most experienced and credentialed coaches to manage the competitive environment.”
• Jeff Davis, Kansas City Scott Gallagher Boys Director of Coaching: “KCSG is proud to be a part of the NPL and looks forward to the great competition this platform has to offer on both the Boys and Girls sides for our club.”
• Ryan Kruse, Sporting Omaha FC Boys Director of Coaching: “Sporting Omaha FC is pleased to join the Central States NPL division for 2021-22. The NPL brings a quality platform that will enhance our player development model by exposing our boys’ players to diverse competition in an appropriate and challenging environment. Participating in the NPL provides a necessary piece in a proper pathway to get the most out of our players. Sporting Omaha FC embraces this opportunity and thanks the NPL for making it happen.”
• Qaies Alamood, Sporting Wichita Academy Technical Director: “As a club with a focus on both individual and team development, Sporting Wichita is excited about the pathway and level of competition that NPL, through US Club Soccer, will provide to all of our top teams. We are looking forward to consistent high-quality regional league competition, offering the opportunity for advancement to a regional and national platform, enhancing opportunities for our players to achieve success in the future at every level. We also appreciate the effort and emphasis from US Club Soccer and NPL in creating a league that offers an exceptional level of play, and also takes into account time, travel and cost considerations of the players.”
• Jorge Sambarato, Villarreal Nebraska Academy Director: “Villarreal Nebraska Academy is excited and honored to be joining the National Premier Leagues. NPL and the US Club Soccer family will bring a level of competition and opportunity for our VNA players that we are thrilled about. NPL is a great fit for Villarreal Nebraska, to join a national league, that also has a club and family focus on their scheduling and events. Our academy will organize and compete together, which will strengthen the bonds of our culture and developmental objectives. This partnership with our Central State partners is exciting and we are thrilled to bring this to our players and to Nebraska.”