Midwest Premier League

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.

Midwest Premier League
Founded2019
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
Divisions4
Number of teams36
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
(via qualifying tournament & NAC)
National Amateur Cup
(via USASA Region II)
International cup(s)CONCACAF Champions League
(via U.S. Open Cup)
Current championsInter Detroit (East),

Milwaukee Bavarian SC (West),Ajax St. Louis (South)

(2021 season)
Most championshipsMilwaukee Bavarian SC (2 division titles)
Websitemidwestpl.com
Current: 2023 MWPL season

History

The league was founded by four clubs which were all previously members of the United Premier Soccer League Midwest Conference.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] RWB Adria joins the MPWL on September 25, 2019.[4] DeKalb County United joins the MWPL on October 2, 2019.[5] Cedar Rapids Inferno join the MWPL on October 9, 2019 making it the fourth member team.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8][9] Livonia City FC joins the MWPL on Feb. 29th 2020.[10] Lake St.Clair joins the MWPL on March 2, 2020.[11] BiH Grand Rapids joins the MWPL on March 6, 2020.[12]

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.[13][14]

The Midwest Premier League appoints Andy Hayes as the league's first commissioner.[15]

On July 27, 2020, the league announced Lansing Common FC from Lansing, Michigan as a new member club.[16][17]

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.[18][19]

November 2020 kicked off another round of expansions for the league. Starting with Edgewater Castle FC on Nov. 27th 2020.[20]

It was announced on March 21, 2022 that the MWPL would have 3 Divisions within it.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23]

Teams

TeamCityStadiumFounded
Great Lakes East Division
Aim SCDearborn, MIFordson High School2012
Cedars FCDearborn, MIFordson High School2019
Detroit Union FCWaterford, MIWaterford Mott High School2021
Inter Detroit FCAuburn Hills, MIEvolution Sportsplex2017
Liquid FootballDetroit MIUniversity Liggett School2022
Michigan Jaguars FCNovi, MIWalled Lake Central High School1989
Michigan Stars U23Washington Township, MIRomeo High School1982
Thundercats SCChesterfield, Michigan
Troy United FCTroy, MIThe Hawk2021
YPSI Yetis FCSaline, MISaline High School2023
Heartland Division
Bavarian United SCGlendale, WIHeartland Value Fund Stadium1929
Berber City FCChicago, ILIllinois Institute of Technology2013
Chicago City SCChicago, ILLions for Hope Sports Complex
Chicago House ACChicago, ILDePaul College Prep2021
Czarni JasloChicago, ILOlympic Park, Schaumburg1998
DeKalb County UnitedDeKalb, ILNIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex2017
Edgewater Castle FCChicago, ILCIBC Fire Pitch2017
Rockford FCRockford, ILAuburn High School2019
RWB AdriaChicago, ILHales Franciscan High School1959
Steel City FCJoliet, ILDuly Health and Care Field2021
Great Lakes West Division
1927 SCFort Wayne, INFort Wayne Sport Club Fields1927
BiH Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MICrestwood High School2018
Futsal Factory AcademyDexter, MI
Holland Rovers FCHolland, MI2016
Lansing Common FCLansing, MIEastern High School Stadium2020
Livonia City FCLivonia, MIMadonna University2015
Tulip City United SCHolland, MIHolland High School2020
United West FCGrand Rapids, MIHudsonville's Freshman Campus2022
West Michigan BearingsByron Center, MISouth Christian High School2020
Gateway Division
AFC ColumbiaColumbia, MOR. Marvin Owens Field2020
Ajax St. LouisSt. Louis, MOAjax Fields
Cedar Rapids Inferno[24]Cedar Rapids, IAKingston Stadium2019
Club Atletico Saint LouisSaint Louis, MO
Iowa Raptors FCCedar Rapids, IAPrairie High School
Santa Fe WanderersKansas City, KSAvila University

Rockhurst University

1995
Southeast Soccer AcademyBurlington, Iowa

Location map

Berber City
Chicago City
CHI House
Czarni Jaslo
Edgewater Castle
RWB Adria
Iowa Raptors
Cedar Rapids
Steel City
DeKalb
Rockford
1927 SC
BiH GR
Grand Haven
United West
Holland Rovers
West Michigan
Tulip City
Lansing
Livonia
Fustal FA
Columbia
Ajax STL
Atletico STL
SESA
Santa Fe
Aim SC
Cedars FC
Detroit Union
Inter Detroit
Liquid Football
MI Jaguars
MI Stars
Thundercats
Troy FC
YPSI Yetis FC
Current team locations:
  • Heartland Division
  • Great Lakes West Division
  • Gateway Division
  • Great Lakes East Division

Former teams

TeamCityJoinedFinal seasonFate
LK St. ClairMount Clemens, Michigan20202021Left league
Chicago AthleticBensenville, Illinois2021Left league
Chicago MustangsCrystal Lake, Illinois2021Left league
Detroit City FC U23Hamtramck, Michigan2021Left league
Union DubuqueDubuque, IA2021suspended[25]
FC DiablosBloomington, IL2021suspended operations

Seasons

2021 Fall Season

The first season for the MWPL ended on August 1, 2021[26]

The Eastern division contained 8 teams for the 2021 season.

This Western division contained 12 teams for the 2021 season.

Eastern Division Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Detroit City U23 (C)391429
2Lansing Common311421
3West Michigan Bearings271415
4BiH Grand Rapids20147
5Michigan Stars U2319141
6Livonia City914-18
7Inter Detroit814-18
8LK St Clair514-37
Western Division Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Milwaukee Bavarian (C)281124
2RWB Adria281121
3Steel City20117
4Berber City20114
5Cedar Rapids Inferno1611-2
6Union Dubuque1511-8
7FC Diablos14112
8Chicago Mustangs13111
9Edgewater Castle1211-6
10Rockford911-9
11Dekalb County711-15
12Chicago 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 Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Inter Detroit (C)21105
2Lansing Common201010
3Tulip City United201010
4Michigan Jaguars18109
5Cedars FC16100
6Grand Haven Admirals14104
7Michigan Stars U2314101
8Livonia City1210-1
9West Michigan Bearings910-7
10Detroit Union610-17
11BiH Grand Rapids510-15
Western Division Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Milwaukee Bavarian (C)241123
2RWB Adria241121
3Iowa Raptors241118
4Chicago House AC201118
5DeKalb County United17111
6Steel City15113
7Chicago City SC1411-1
8Rockford FC1411-6
9Cedar Rapids Inferno1411-14
10Berber City811-11
11FC Diablos711-24
12Edgewater Castle311-28
Southern Division Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Ajax St. Louis (C)1562
2AFC Columbia1266
3Santa Fe Wanderers650
4Springfield 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 Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Ajax St. Louis (C)221019
2Cedar Rapids Inferno19108
3Iowa Raptors FC16101
4AFC Columbia1410-3
5Club Atletico Saint Louis12100
6Southeast Soccer Academy310-25
N/ASanta Fe Wanderers
Great Lakes West Division Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
11927 SC (C)271221
2West Michigan Bearings SC271220
3Lansing Common FC241218
4Tulip City United SC20129
5Livonia City FC20123
6BiH Grand Rapids1012-11
7Futsal Factory Academy812-4
8Holland Rovers FC612-40
9United West FC412-35
Heartland Division Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Czarni Jalso (C)231014
2RWB Adria191015
3Chicago House AC181023
4Bavarian United16109
5Dekalb United16108
6Chicago City SC151012
7Edgewater Castle FC14102
8Steel City FC1410-3
9Berber City FC1110-6
10Indy Boyz FC710-35
11Rockford FC210-39
Great Lakes East Division Standings
PosTeamPGPGD
1Inter Detroit FC (C)281237
2Liquid Football26129
3Thundercats SC19125
4Michigan Stars FC U2319122
5Detroit Union FC1812-3
6Cedars FC1712-3
7Troy United FC1612-9
8Michigan Jaguars FC1312-1
9Aim SC412-20

Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;

(C) Champion

Division Winners

Great Lakes Conference Winner

Note: Formerly the East Division

SeasonWinnerRunner-up
2021Detroit City U23[27]Lansing Common
2022Inter DetroitLansing Common
2023West: 1927 SC
East: Inter Detroit
West: West Michigan Bearings
East: Liquid Football

Heartland Conference Winner

Note: Formerly the West Division

SeasonWinnerRunner-up
2021Milwaukee Bavarian SC[28]RWB Adria
2022Milwaukee BavarianRWB Adria
2023Czarni JasloRWB Adria

Gateway Conference Winner

Note: Formerly the South Division

SeasonWinnerRunner-up
2022Ajax St. LouisAFC Columbia
2023Ajax St. LouisCedar Rapids Inferno

Golden Boot winner

The golden boot winners were announced on September 15, 2021.[29][30]

East Division Winner
SeasonTeamWinnerGoals
2021Lansing CommonShady Omar10
2022
West Division Winner
SeasonTeamWinnerGoals
2021FC DiablosJordan Walker15
2022Steel City FCShea Bechtel9
South Division Winner
SeasonTeamWinnerGoals
2022

Notable Players

The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for a Midwest Premier League team:

Shady Omar, Lansing Common FC - 2021, played professionally at Ittihad El-Shorta (Egypt) 2015-2017 and Al Hilal Matruah (Egypt) in 2022

Damon Almazan, Steel City FC - 2020, played professionally at Chicago House AC for a season (2021).

[32]

  • Albaraa Alsoufi, Liquid Football - 2023, played professionally at Gold Star FC for a season (2023). [33]

References