NCFC Youth is proud to share an exciting milestone for our club - beginning in the 2026–27 season, NCFC Youth has been officially accepted into the National 1 League.

This new platform represents a significant step forward for our players and teams. The current NPL North and South boys and girls in the U13 - U19 age groups will transition into the National 1 League. In addition, several of our current Classic teams across all of our Regions will have the opportunity to compete in the team-based format, providing access to elevated competition and a clearly defined pathway for development for more players within our program.

The National 1 League is the top team-based competition within both US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer, bringing together high-level clubs from across the country into one unified national platform. The league will culminate in a postseason opportunity at the ECNL Conference League Playoffs and Finals, offering our teams the chance to compete on a national stage.

“The National 1 League provides a strong platform for competition and development across our club. It creates more opportunities for our players within a clear pathway, while connecting our teams to a broader national landscape. We’re excited to see how our players and teams grow within this environment.” - Paul Forster, Director of Soccer

The 2026–27 season will mark the inaugural year of the National 1 League, which combines two long-standing and respected platforms, National Premier Leagues (NPL) and National League, into a single, streamlined competition. Both leagues will officially conclude at the end of the current season, making way for this new era of national competition.

Importantly, the National 1 League also strengthens the player pathway within our club and beyond. Top-performing clubs in National 1 will have a pathway into the ECNL Regional League, while teams excelling at the local and state levels will have opportunities to advance into National 1.

This acceptance reflects the continued growth, commitment, and quality of our players, coaches, and families. We are excited about what this means for the future of NCFC Youth and the opportunities it creates for everyone in our community.

More information, including team placements and league details, will be shared in the coming months.