RICHMOND, Va. (March 2, 2026) - The ECNL is excited to announce an expansion of the ECNL Playoff structure, with the inaugural ECNL Conference League Playoffs set to kick off in the 2026-27 season in a collaboration with the new unified national competition consolidating the team-based competitions of US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer.
The ECNL Conference League Playoffs in summer 2027 will combine qualifying teams from the ECNL Regional League and the new competition that combines US Club Soccer's National Premier Leagues and US Youth Soccer's National League. The combined new competition will be the top team-based competition in the country, integrated into US Club Soccer's youth soccer competitive pathway.
"The new ECNL Conference League Playoffs, and the new competition pathway with US Club Soccer and USYS, will recognize and reward top performing teams at all levels of the pyramid, in a logical and transparent pathway," said ECNL President Christian Lavers. "This collaboration will provide needed clarity and connection in the youth game, and we look forward to the first four ECNL Conference League playoff events in 2027."
The 2026-27 ECNL Conference League Playoffs will feature four regional playoff events, culminating in the ECNL Conference League Finals in the summer of 2027. The 2026-27 ECNL Conference League Playoffs will take place in Dallas, TX, Davis, CA, Greensboro, NC, and St. Louis, MO with the location of ECNL Conference Finals to be announced at a later date. The ECNL Conference League Playoffs will expand to six venues in the 2027-2028 season to include more locations and teams, and to further reduce travel.
This new postseason structure continues the collaborative work between US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and the ECNL, providing a capstone competition to the competitive pathway announced in December.
The release of US Club Soccer's competition pathway also coincided with U.S. Soccer's recently announced Pathways Strategy, an initiative committed to making the game easier to navigate, more accessible and more supportive. To that effect, US Club Soccer welcomes other organizations in the youth soccer ecosystem to collaborate in this vision, and has had positive discussions with many other member organizations.
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About US Club Soccer:
A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible environment for players of all ages.
Anchored by Players First and its pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Referee Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services. US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike, DICK'S Sporting Goods and Gatorade.
About the ECNL:
The ECNL is the nation's leading youth soccer development platform for America's top soccer players. The ECNL mission to provide the best youth sports experience in the world drives constant innovations in competitions and experiences for players, parents, families, coaches, referees, and partners. The ECNL has questioned convention and challenged the status quo of youth sport since 2009, pushing boundaries and striving for unmatched excellence. Together with its clubs and club leaders, the ECNL creates unforgettable memories and supports the development of youth players into college stars, professionals, world champions, and leaders.
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