The National 1 League is the top team-based competition in US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer, elevating teams across the country into a unified national competition platform that culminates in the ECNL Conference League Playoffs and Finals in the postseason. Beginning with its inaugural season in 2026-27, the National 1 League brings together two established league platforms - US Club Soccer’s National Premier Leagues and US Youth Soccer’s National League - in an extraordinary display of collaboration. Participants and their families benefit from a carefully constructed system of conferences and districts that provide clarity, reduce travel and costs, and increase access to talent identification and college scouting opportunities. The National 1 League offers a pathway into the ECNL Regional League for top-performing clubs and a pathway into National 1 for teams excelling within their local competitions and state associations.