2026 NPL Finals crowns champions, capping final season as transition begins to National 1 League
DENVER, Colorado (July 14, 2026) – The 14th annual NPL Finals concluded Tuesday afternoon after a week of competition at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Denver, Colorado. Twenty-four teams earned National Premier Leagues championships, joining rare and coveted company in the NPL record books.
A total of 218 teams representing 160 clubs across 29 states participated in the prestigious tournament. This edition of the NPL Finals – the final one – included more clubs than any previous edition, bringing increased parity to the event. Teams qualified through regular season competition in their respective NPL member leagues, and the top talent from all 18 leagues were on display. For the second consecutive year, the growth of the NPL nationally and regionally among its member leagues forced the addition of an additional competition tier. The implementation of a Gold Division (most competitive) and Black Division has also helped align the tournament’s most competitive teams.
- Tournament HQ: View graphics of champions and finalists, rewatch semifinals and finals games, and more
The biggest club winner of the 2026 NPL Finals was Black Hills Rapids SC, which won three girls titles. Previously, only NEFC Elite had won three divisions at a single NPL Finals, doing so in 2015 and 2016. Ventura Surf SC also had a big showing in Denver, winning two girls titles.
Another record was broken during this year’s edition: the number of NPL member leagues represented on the final day of competition. Fifteen leagues were proudly represented by competing teams on the Players First Stage with 12 of those clinching titles. Five of those were founding member leagues of the NPL 15 years ago, a testament to the legacy and longevity of the platform. Leading the way in the league leaderboard was the Mountain West NPL with six titles in a perfect 6-0 record in the final round, buoyed by Black Hills Rapids SC. The Mountain West NPL was followed by: SOCAL NPL Division (3), Florida Club Leagues NPL Division (2), Midwest Developmental League (2), NISL NPL Division (2), NorCal NPL Division (2) Washington Premier League (2), Frontier Premier League (1), Great Lakes Alliance NPL Division (1), Minnesota NPL (1), Red River NPL (1) and South Atlantic Premier League (1).
Fifteen of the championship games were decided by one goal, including one that went the distance into penalty kicks. Schulz Academy edged Tonka United in the U-17 Boys Black Division 3-2 in penalties after locking at 2 through regulation and two overtime periods.
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U-13 AGE GROUP
GIRLS – GOLD: Ventura Surf SC (SOCAL NPL Division) 1, Tudela FC Los Angeles (SOCAL NPL Division) 0
GIRLS – BLACK: Sporting Nevada (Mountain West NPL) 6, Central Washington Sounders (Washington Premier League) 1
BOYS – GOLD: Stockton TLJ FC (NorCal NPL Division) 1, Hawaiian Gardens Eagles SC (SOCAL NPL Division) 0
BOYS – BLACK: Tri-City United (Minnesota NPL) 2, Dallas Texans (Red River NPL) 1
U-14 AGE GROUP
GIRLS – GOLD: Madera United FC (NorCal NPL Division) 2, CDA Slammers (SOCAL NPL Division) 1
GIRLS – BLACK: Black Hills Rapids SC (Mountain West NPL) 2, Sparta Tacoma (Washington Premier League) 1
BOYS – GOLD: Indiana Elite FC (NISL NPL Division) 2, Grand FC Mustangs (NISL NPL Division) 0
BOYS – BLACK: Soccer Vision Academy (GLA NPL Division) 2, NTX United FC (Texas Club Soccer League) 0
U-15 AGE GROUP
GIRLS – GOLD: Ventura Surf SC (SOCAL NPL Division) 6, Kernow Storm FC (Texas Club Soccer League) 0
GIRLS – BLACK: 7 Elite Academy (Mountain West NPL) 3, Maryland Rush (Chesapeake Premier Soccer League) 1
BOYS – GOLD: Illinois Magic FC (NISL NPL Division) 1, Club Deportivo La Esperanza (SOCAL NPL Division) 0
BOYS – BLACK: Indiana Impact SC (Midwest Developmental League) 2, Boreal FC (Minnesota NPL) 1
U-16 AGE GROUP
GIRLS – GOLD: Black Hills Rapids SC (Mountain West NPL) 1, Legends FC (SOCAL NPL Division) 0
GIRLS – BLACK: Pacific FC Washington (Washington Premier League) 1, Park Valley United FC (Minnesota NPL) 0
BOYS – GOLD: Charlotte Soccer Academy (South Atlantic Premier League) 2, NCFC Youth (Mid-Atlantic Premier League) 1
BOYS – BLACK: Alliance FC (Frontier Premier League) 1, North Star FC (Minnesota NPL) 0
U-17 AGE GROUP
GIRLS – GOLD: Fury FC (SOCAL NPL Division) 4, NCFC Youth (South Atlantic Premier League) 0
GIRLS – BLACK: Colorado Rush (Mountain West NPL) 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds (GLA NPL Division) 0
BOYS – GOLD: Washington East Surf SC (Washington Premier League) 3, Total Futbol Academy (SOCAL NPL Division) 0
BOYS – BLACK: Schulz Academy (Florida Club Leagues NPL Division) 2[3], Tonka United (Minnesota NPL) 2[2]
U-19 AGE GROUP
GIRLS – GOLD: Black Hills Rapids SC (Mountain West NPL) 4, Future FC (SOCAL NPL Division) 2
GIRLS – BLACK: Falls Town FC (Red River NPL) 1, FC Edmonds (Washington Premier League) 0
BOYS – GOLD: St. Petersburg FC (Florida Club Leagues NPL Division) 1, De Anza Force (NorCal NPL Division) 0
BOYS – BLACK: Columbus Express (Midwest Developmental League) 2, Alliance FC (Frontier Premier League) 1
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The NPL has served youth soccer for 15 years by forming and collaborating with leagues, adopting the Players First philosophy and supporting US Club Soccer’s mission to foster the development of clubs. Next season, the NPL sunsets to make way for a new platform: the National 1 League. This will be the top team-based competition in US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer, elevating teams across the country into a unified national platform integrated with the ECNL and backed by U.S. Soccer. The National 1 League concept started by bringing together the NPL and US Youth Soccer’s National League, and it looks to enhance these legacy platforms even further through reduced travel, talent ID integrations and more inclusivity.
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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 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.
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