2021 National Premier Soccer League season
The 2021 National Premier Soccer League season was the 19th season of the National Premier Soccer League and part of the 109th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States. The 2020 season was cancelled after five weeks of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miami FC, the defending league champions from 2019, left in the previous off-season and joined the National Independent Soccer Association and later the USL Championship.
The regular season started on May 1 and concluded on July 17. In total, 76 teams participated this season with a further 14 playing in conferences that decided not to participate in the summer season.
Format changes
The 2021 season saw a number of changes with many in part due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Both the Northwest and Golden Gate Conference will not take part in traditional summer season. The NPSL later announced the Golden Gate teams would play a regular season schedule, but with it commencing in June and ending in August meaning none of the teams would be eligible for the postseason or U.S. Open Cup berths. Due to this, the South Region's Lone Star Conference joined the west for 2021 allowing two separate conferences to compete for the regional title.The changes made ahead of last season, such as the renaming of the Northeast Region to the "East Region", the Southeast Conference's move to the East, and the renaming of the East Conference to the "Rust Belt Conference" all remained in effect. The Gulf Coast Conference, which was created ahead of 2020, will play its inaugural season in 2021.
Teams
Note: Teams that are italicized previously played in the NPSL and are returning from hiatus.Incoming teams
- Appalachian FC
- Arkansas Wolves FC
- Contra Costa FC
- Florida Roots Futbol Club
- Georgia Storm Soccer Academy
- Irving FC
- Joy St. Louis Park
- Katy 1895 FC
- New York Shockers
- Oakland Stompers
- OKC 1889 FC
- Panathinaikos Chicago
- Reign FK
- Sioux Falls Thunder FC
- Southern States SC
Departing teams
Teams on hiatus
Name changes
Unknown status teams
- A.S. Los Angeles
- Club Atletico Saint Louis
- Club Xolos USA U-23
- High Desert Elite FC
- Muskegon Risers SC
- Nashville United
- New York Athletic Club S.C.
- Oxnard Guerreros FC
- Ozark FC
- Rhode Island Reds FC
2021 Teams
Note: TeamsStandings and results
West Region
Lone Star Conference
Southwest Conference
Midwest Region
Great Lakes Conference
North Conference
Rust Belt Conference
South Region
Gulf Coast Conference
Heartland Conference
Sunshine Conference
East Region
Keystone Conference
Mid-Atlantic Conference
North Atlantic Conference
Southeast Conference
Playoffs
''Note: Games are hosted by the highest seed unless noted otherwise''West Region Conference playoffs
Lone Star Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
Southwest Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
South Region Conference playoffs
Gulf Coast Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
Heartland Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
Sunshine Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
East Region Conference playoffs
Keystone Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
Mid-Atlantic Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
North Atlantic Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
Southeast Conference playoffs
Bold = winner----
Regional and National playoffs
Bold = winnerRegional Quarterfinals
----Regional Semifinals
--------
----
----
----
----
Regional Finals
--------
----
----
National Semifinals
----2021 NPSL National Championship
Championship MVP: Trevor AmannReturn to Play Series
In early 2021, the NPSL announced the "Return to Play Series" which was originally meant to act as a series of competitive matches ahead of the 2021 summer season between league members. However, following the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertain nature of west coast conferences the format was altered to act as a separate competition from the summer season. The eight members of the Golden Gate Conference were later announced as participants in the "Golden Gate Competition" with a round robin format scheduled over June and July.Golden Gate Competition
Playoffs
Note: Games are hosted by the highest seed unless noted otherwiseBold = winner
----
----