NPSL Announces Schedule for Inaugural 2019 Founders Cup
A new chapter for the NPSL soccer teams is just beginning with the Founders Cup with the announcement of the inaugural Founders Cup schedule
Men’s Soccer News: The National Premier Soccer League NPSL Founders Cup schedule is out and teams are preparing their run to become the first ever champions.
The NPSL has 98 teams competing in their regular season kicking off in less than 70 days but all eyes are on the launch of the Founders Cup this year with its 11 founding clubs.
ASC San Diego, Cal FC, California United Strikers FC, Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, FC Arizona, Miami FC, Miami United FC, Milwaukee Torrent, New York Cosmos, and Oakland Roots are the founding members of the Founders Cup.
Announced in 2018, the first-ever NPSL Founders Cup competition has taken select clubs and split them into two regions playing an expanded schedule to better build rivalries and maximize interest in the property, with plans for a full league schedule in the future.
“We are all looking forward to the Founders Cup as the beginning of a new era of open, competitive soccer in the USA,” said Tim Kelly.
Kelly helped found Chattanooga FC in 2009 and is the club’s chairman.”We expect a very high level of play from our professional players and some fierce rivalries between our storied clubs,” added Kelly.
READ: BECOME AN OWNER OF A SOCCER TEAM – CHATTANOOGA FC OFFERS FANS OWNERSHIP
The Founders Cup competition will begin their home and away divisional contests in two sessions; the East Region starting August 10, and the West Region starting the weekend of August 24.
The Founders Cup semifinals will be held at the home of the highest remaining seeds on November 2, with the final to be held at a TBD location on November 9.
Kenny Farrrell, NPSL’s Chairman of the Board believes the Founders Cup is taking the NPSL to the next level. “People have been waiting for these high-level games for quite a while,” said Farrell. “The NPSL has had several flagship clubs and we can’t wait to see these teams compete. Someone is going to come out of the Founders Cup with huge bragging rights.”
READ NPSL’S KENNY FARRELL ON THE FOUNDERS CUP, CREATING A TOP TIER AND STRATEGY BEHIND IT ALL
“We are beyond excited to move into the Founders Cup and compete with top clubs,” said Noah Gins – ASC San Diego
Gins is the CEO of ASC San Diego and his youth soccer club Albion SC is highly respected for player development. “We are committed to working on building a new top tier league for pro players.”
Andreas Davi, Owner and CEO of Milwaukee Torrent said, “Everywhere around the world professional soccer is feasible even with a lower budget and without owners who have millions of dollars. It’s important that we finally come up with a solution in the US for well run clubs and organizations who don’t have those million dollars just to become a member of a league.”
“There are not many teams who can say they compete against the teams who are in the Founders cup! Miami FC, Cosmos, Miami United, and Chattanooga never played in Milwaukee,” said Davi. “It will be exciting to bring all those teams to Milwaukee and have our fans and supporters in the stand to bring them a new, higher level of football to their home state.”
FC Arizona’s owner Scott Taylor said, “The new league is groundbreaking because it’s organic and supporter driven. It takes the NPSL to the next level.”
“The level of competition will be a step above and we are already attracting some excellent professional players,” said Taylor. “We drew with Kansas City Sporting‘s 2nd team which was comprised of Swope Park Rangers players in the Pre Season. So I think many teams will be on par with those in the USL. We are looking forward to pushing the limits on competition, and at the same time making sure it is sustainable.”
The NPSL Founders Cup East Region:
Chattanooga FC Detroit City FC, Miami FC, Miami United FC, Milwaukee Torrent, and New York Cosmos.
The opening matches in the East Region are:
- New York Cosmos @ Chattanooga FC
- Miami United @ Milwaukee Torrent
- Detroit City FC @ Miami FC
The NPSL Founders Cup West Region:
ASC San Diego, Cal FC, California United Strikers FC, FC Arizona, and Oakland Roots.
The West Region openers on August 24 will be Oakland Roots at ASC San Diego and FC Arizona at Cal FC, with Napa Valley 1839 FC receiving a bye.
READ: ASC-SAN DIEGO’S ZIGGY KORYTOSKI ON THE NEW NPSL FOUNDERS CUP
2019 FOUNDERS CUP SCHEDULE
Match times and venues TBD. Schedule subject to change – please always check the Founders Cup schedule for the latest updates.
