The Midwest Premier League (MWPL) is an American amateur and semi-professional soccer league. The league spans primarily the eastern and central portions of the Midwestern United States.
History The league was founded by four clubs which were all previously members of the United Premier Soccer League Midwest Conference.Erik Long, "Sustainability and Responsible Growth, Protagonist USA, 9 October 2019 Following the 2019 UPSL season, the clubs decided that they could create a stable league that would focus on sustainability of the member clubs by sharing ideas, keeping league costs to a minimum, and maximizing the opportunities for all clubs to compete by limiting end-of-season playoffs that often shorten the season for many teams.
The league announced Union Dubuque F.C. as its first member on September 18, 2019, with the other three founding members being announced in the subsequent weeks. RWB Adria joins the MPWL on September 25, 2019. DeKalb County United joins the MWPL on October 2, 2019. Cedar Rapids Inferno join the MWPL on October 9, 2019 making it the fourth member team. And concludes the joining of the founders.
Cliff Conrad has been elected as the league's first president. Conrad is the co-founder and president of Union Dubuque F.C., one of the league's charter members.
After a period with no expansion news, FC Diablos of Normal, Illinois, was announced on January 10, 2020, and an expansion continues into March. With expansion side Rockford FC being unveiled shortly thereafter on January 30, 2020. Livonia City FC joins the MWPL on Feb. 29th 2020. Lake St.Clair joins the MWPL on March 2, 2020. BiH Grand Rapids joins the MWPL on March 6, 2020.
The league was set to kick off in spring 2020; however, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
The Midwest Premier League appoints Andy Hayes as the league's first commissioner.
On July 27, 2020, the league announced Lansing Common FC from Lansing, Michigan, as a new member club.
On September 3, 2020, the MWPL entered a partnership agreement with the National Independent Soccer Association, a USSF Division 3 professional league, which includes pathways for both players and clubs to go fully pro.
November 2020 kicked off another round of expansions for the league. Starting with Edgewater Castle FC on Nov. 27th 2020.
In the spring of 2021 MWPL launched its inaugural season with 20 teams in two divisions. 12 teams in the West Division and 8 teams in the East Division.Larry O'Connor, "New Midwest Premier League shines spotlight on state's ascending pro-am clubs, The Detroit News, 18 January 2021
It was announced on March 21, 2022 that the MWPL would have 3 Divisions within it.
The schedule for the second season of the league was announced on April 6, 2022, nearly a month ahead of the first game. With Detroit City U23 gone, there would be a new champion in the East Division. And with a finalized Southern Division, 3 champions were to be crowned at the end of the 2022 season.
A new conference alignment was announced by the league on February 6, 2023. The MWPL confirmed that for the 2023 season, the South Conference would now be known as the Gateway Conference, the West Conference would now be the Heartland Conference and the East Conference would be the Great Lakes Conference, with an East and West Division.
On October 27, 2023 MWPL announced plans to implement promotion and regulation within the league starting with the Heartland Conference.Rich Schenck, "MWPL 2030: A Path to Pro/Rel, Protagonist Soccer, 01 November 2023
MWPL announced a strategic partnership with The League for Clubs (TLFC) on May 19, 2025. The partnership is intended to create a new TLFC Midwest conference that will sit on top of the MWPL to facilitate promotion and relegation between the leagues.
Teams Team City Stadium Founded Great Lakes ConferenceWest Division 1927 SC Fort Wayne, IN Fort Wayne Sport Club Fields 1927 Grand Rapids SC Grand Rapids, MI Mehney Field 2024 Goshen City FC Goshen, IN Goshen College Soccer Complex 2022 Holland Struikrovers Holland, MI Mac Bay Soccer Stadium 2016 Lansing Common FC Lansing, MI Eastern High School Stadium 2020 Midwest United FC U23 Grand Rapids, MI Midwest United FC Soccer Complex 2015 Tulip City United SC Holland, MI Holland High School 2020East DivisionCedars FCDearborn, MIFordson High School2019FC PontiacPontiac, MIWisner Stadium2025Futsal Factory AcademyDexter, MIDexter High School2014Legends FCBrighton, MILegacy Center Sports ComplexMichigan Development AcademyPontiac, MIUWM Sports Complex2021Michigan Jaguars FCNovi, MIWalled Lake Central High School1989Oakland County FCRoyal Oak, MIRoyal Oak High School2015Toledo Villa FCToledo, OHPaul Hotmer Field2017Heartland ConferenceDivision 1 AFC Roscoe Chicago, IL Lions for Hope Sports Complex 2022 Bavarian United SC Glendale, WI Heartland Value Fund Stadium 1929 Cedar Rapids Inferno Cedar Rapids, IA Kingston Stadium2019 Chicago House AC Chicago, IL Elmhurst University 2021 Edgewater Castle FC Chicago, IL CIBC Fire Pitch 2017 Green Bay Glory Appleton, WI Banta Bowl 2019Division 2 AAC Eagles Chicago, IL Triton College 1940 Berber City FC Chicago, IL Illinois Institute of Technology 2013 Chicago City SC Chicago, IL Lions for Hope Sports Complex 2013 Chicago Ghost FC Chicago, IL Loyola Academy Munz 2018 Chicago Soccer Academy Chicago, IL East Side Sports Complex 2014 Czarni Jaslo Chicago, IL Olympic Park, Schaumburg 1998 DeKalb County United DeKalb, IL NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex 2017 FC Select Chicago, IL Lazier Field 2018 JaHbat FC Evanston, IL Evanston Township High School 1996 Madison Fire Madison, WI Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium River Light FC Aurora, IL Spartan Athletic Park 2024 RKC Third Coast II Mount Pleasant, WI Pritchard Park Stadium 2022 Steel City FC Joliet, IL Duly Health and Care Field 2021 Sueño FC Bolingbrook, IL Bolingbrook High School Gateway ConferenceWest Division AFC Columbia Columbia, MO R. Marvin Owens Field 2020 First City FC Leavenworth, KS Pioneer Stadium Great Plains FC Shawnee, KS Maranatha Christian Academy Southside FC Grandview, MO Grandview High School 2023 Union FC Kansas City, MO Paragon Star Sports Complex 2005 Woodland FC Overland Park, KS Shawnee Mission District Stadium 2023East Division 314 SC Saint Louis, MO Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex 2020 BOHFS St. Louis Saint Louis, MO St. Mary's High School Ehtar Belleville Belleville, IL Althoff Catholic High School 2022 FC Kirkwood Kirkwood, MO Sandhurst Soccer Complex 2026 Pearl City SC Muscatine, IA Muscatine Soccer Complex 2016 Southeast Soccer Academy Burlington, IA Bracewell Stadium 1997 St. Louis Fusion FC Saint Louis, MO Lou Fusz Athletic Complex 2021 St. Louis Scott Gallagher U23 Saint Louis, MO World Wide Technology Soccer Park 2008 St. Louis Stars SC Saint Louis, MO Cottleville City Fields STL Development Academy Maryland Heights, MO Sportport International United Capital City Athletic Jefferson City, MO Mid America Bank Sports Complex
Location map
Former teams
Team City Joined Final season Fate LK St. Clair Mount Clemens, MI 2020 2021 Left league Chicago Athletic Bensenville, IL 2021 Left league Chicago Mustangs Crystal Lake, IL 2021 Left league Detroit City FC U23 Hamtramck, MI 2021 Left league Union Dubuque Dubuque, IA 2021 suspended FC DiablosBloomington, IL 2021 suspended operationsAim SCDearborn, MI 2012 2023Detroit Union FCWaterford, MI 2021 2023 BiH Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI 2018 2023 United West FC Grand Rapids, MI 2023 Livonia City FC Livonia, MI 2015 2023 West Michigan Bearings Byron Center, MI 2020 2023 Iowa Raptors FC Cedar Rapids, IA 2019 2023 Santa Fe Wanderers Kansas City, KS 1995 2023Thundercats SCChesterfield, MI 2024YPSI Yetis FCSaline, MI 2023 2024 Ajax St. Louis St. Louis, MO 2022 2024 Club Atletico Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO 20182025 Detroit Badgers FC Dearborn Heights, MI20252025 Inter Detroit FC Auburn Hills, MI 2025 Liquid Football Detroit, MI20222025 Michigan Stars U23 Washington Township, MI 2025 RWB Adria Chicago, IL 2025 Rockford FC Rockford, IL 2025 Strikers Fox Valley SC Geneva, IL 2025 AFC Omaha Omaha, NE 2025 CB Captains FC Council Bluffs, IA 2025 Linoma FC Omaha, NE20252025 Warrior FC Everly, IA 2025
Seasons
2021 Fall Season The first season for the MWPL ended on August 1, 2021
The Eastern division contained 8 teams for the 2021 season.Larry O'Connor, "New Midwest Premier League shines spotlight on state's ascending pro-am clubs, The Detroit News, 18 January 2021
This Western division contained 12 teams for the 2021 season. Eastern Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Detroit City U23 (C)3914292Lansing Common3114213West Michigan Bearings2714154BiH Grand Rapids201475Michigan Stars U23191416Livonia City914 -187Inter Detroit814 -188LK St Clair514 -37Western Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Milwaukee Bavarian (C)2811242RWB Adria2811213Steel City201174Berber City201145Cedar Rapids Inferno1611 -26Union Dubuque1511 -87FC Diablos141128Chicago Mustangs131119Edgewater Castle1211 -610Rockford911 -911Dekalb County711 -1512Chicago Athletic411 -19 Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2022 season The first season with 3 divisions in it.
The Eastern division contained 11 teams for the 2022 season.
The Western division contained 12 teams for the 2022 season
The Southern division contained 4 teams for the 2022 season. Eastern Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Inter Detroit (C)211052Lansing Common2010103Tulip City United2010104Michigan Jaguars181095Cedars FC1610 06Grand Haven Admirals1410 47Michigan Stars U23141018Livonia City1210 -19West Michigan Bearings910 -710Detroit Union610 -1711BiH Grand Rapids510 -15Western Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Milwaukee Bavarian (C)2411232RWB Adria2411213Iowa Raptors2411184Chicago House AC2011185DeKalb County United171116Steel City151137Chicago City SC1411 -18Rockford FC1411 -69Cedar Rapids Inferno1411 -1410Berber City811 -1111FC Diablos711 -2412Edgewater Castle311 -28Southern Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Ajax St. Louis (C)15622AFC Columbia12663Santa Fe Wanderers6504Springfield FC05 -10 Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2023 Season
The first season with 4 divisions. Gateway Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Ajax St. Louis (C)2210192Cedar Rapids Inferno191083Iowa Raptors FC161014AFC Columbia1410 -35Club Atletico Saint Louis121006Southeast Soccer Academy310 -25N/ASanta Fe WanderersGreat Lakes West Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD11927 SC (C)2712212West Michigan Bearings SC2712203Lansing Common FC2412184Tulip City United SC201295Livonia City FC201236BiH Grand Rapids1012 -117Futsal Factory Academy812 -48Holland Rovers FC612 -409United West FC412 -35Heartland Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Czarni Jalso (C)2310142RWB Adria1910153Chicago House AC1810234Bavarian United161095Dekalb United161086Chicago City SC1510127Edgewater Castle FC141028Steel City FC1410 -39Berber City FC1110 -610Indy Boyz FC710 -3511Rockford FC210 -39Great Lakes East Division StandingsPosTeamPGPGD1Inter Detroit FC (C)2812372Liquid Football261293Thundercats SC191254Michigan Stars FC U23191225Detroit Union FC1812 -36Cedars FC1712 -37Troy United FC1612 -98Michigan Jaguars FC1312 -19Aim SC412 -20 Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2024 Season
The first season with 5 divisions in it.
The Gateway division contained 8 teams for the 2024 season.
The Great Lakes East division contained 10 teams for the 2024 season
The Great Lakes West division contained 6 teams for the 2024 season.
The Heartland Division was split up into two division for the 2024 season. Withe promotion and relegation between the two.
The Heartland division 1 contained 6 teams for the 2024 season.
The Heartland division 2 contained 7 teams for the 2024 season.