NorCal Celebrates 2025/26 League Champions Across ECNL RL, NPL, and State Premier
After nearly 10 months of play, all of NorCal Premier Soccer’s competitions have concluded for the 2025/26 season.
Throughout leagues such as the ECNL RL, NorCal’s highest level of play, the NPL, and NorCal’s State Premier Leagues, a number of teams distinguished themselves at the top, winning league titles, and for some, earning promotion.
Here, NorCal Premier Soccer takes a look back at each of the teams who found success at the various levels:
ECNL Regional League – NorCal
NorCal Premier Soccer would like to congratulate the 12 teams who won their respective divisions in the ECNL RL – NorCal this year, the highest level of league play that NorCal offers.
In the merit-based ECNL RL, teams began their campaigns all the way back in August, playing up to 16 league matches against similarly skilled opposition, with little to no margin for error as they chased a title.
“The first year of the ECNL RL – NorCal was a strong success, showcasing many high-level matches across both the fall and spring seasons,” said NorCal ECNL RL Coordinator Kelcey Chaidez. “Each team had to prove themselves every weekend throughout a nine month season. With some of the divisions having up to 24 teams, those who came out on top truly deserved it.”
Overall, nine different clubs claimed ECNL RL – NorCal titles, with Stanislaus United leading the way after winning the U15, U17, and U19 divisions all on the Girls side.
Folsom Lake Surf also won two titles, with their U15 and U16 Boys teams each finishing top of the table. For the U16 Boys side, the RL title capped the end of an excellent season that also saw them claim the inaugural League Cup title.
Other clubs to come out victorious were: AC Marin (U13 Girls), Burlingame SC (U14 Girls), Clovis Crossfire (U19 Boys), Eastshore Alliance (U14 Boys), FC Fresno (U13 Boys), Legends FC (U17 Boys), and Livermore Fusion (U16 Girls).
“We’re pleased with how the inaugural season of the ECNL RL – NorCal went,” Chaidez said. “This year only reinforced our belief that merit-based leagues are paramount in both ensuring competitive games and developing players at the highest level. We will continue to tweak and improve the format to make it the most competitive league possible.”
The top four teams overall in each U13 – U17 division earned their spot in the ECNL Regional League Playoffs – West, a six-day playoff hosted at SilverLakes Sports Park in Norco, California, featuring 136 qualifying ECNL RL Boys teams and 128 qualifying ECNL RL Girls teams from the West looking to Claim their Region and earn their spot in the ECNL RL Finals in July; while the top two performing U18/19 teams earned their spot in West Playoffs to compete crowned the ECNL RL – West Champions.
For more information about the ECNL RL, click here.
National Premier League
Like with the ECNL RL, the National Premier League splits to a state-wide competition starting at the U13 age group. Though unlike the ECNL RL, teams begin with a fall season that is more regional based, with those who perform the best then earning a spot in the spring’s competition.
The best teams and overall clubs in the NPL then are promoted to the ECNL RL for the following season, making each game paramount.
“The NPL is an excellent proving ground for teams and clubs looking to make their way up the youth soccer ladder while playing in meaningful and competitive games,” said NorCal Director of Competitions Daniel Chamberlain. “While it will be replaced by the National 1 League next year, much of the structure and process will remain the same to ensure that teams still have the opportunity to earn spots in higher leagues through merit.”
Amazingly, for the 12 division champions in the NPL, a full 11 different clubs claimed titles with the only side to win more than one being Santa Clara Sporting, who captured the U13 and U19 Girls titles.
The other 11 clubs who each lifted the trophy were: CV Futbol Academy (U14 Boys), De Anza Force (U19 Boys), Madera United (U14 Girls), Merced United (U16 Girls), Mt. Diablo Mustang (U17 Girls), Reno APEX (U15 Boys), Silicon Valley Eagles (U16 Boys), South Tahoe FC (U15 Girls), Stockton TLJ (U13 Boys), and Sunnyvale Alliance (U17 Boys).
NPL1 group winners punched their ticket to NPL Finals this July in Denver.
For more information on the NPL, click here.
NPL will be replaced by National 1 League starting Fall 2026/27 season, learn more about N1 here.
State Premier Leagues
One step below the NPL are the State Premier Leagues, a group of leagues that coaches and teams can place themselves towards the lower set of leagues, but where teams must earn promotion to participate in the higher levels.
The State Premier Leagues are NorCal’s pathway to the NPL, with those who do well in the fall earning a place in the spring’s State Premier Championship leagues. While these leagues encompass a larger area, they are split into two leagues on the boys side to mitigate travel requirements.
Those who do well in the State Premier Championship may then earn promotion to the NPL for the following season.
“The State Premier Leagues encompass a wide variety of skills and commitment levels, but the top leagues are just as competitive as anything else we offer at NorCal Premier Soccer,” said NorCal State Premier Leagues Coordinator Jason Drury. “It’s difficult for teams to earn promotion to the NPL, but every year many deserving squads do and some even then go on to continue rising up the pyramid and reach the highest levels of the youth game.”
Like with the NPL, just one club picked up multiple wins in the State Premier Championship, with USA Stars winning the U15 Girls State Premier Championship and the U16 Boys State Premier Championship – East.
However, with 18 total titles up for grabs, that means that 16 other clubs each lifted the trophy in the State Premier Championship.
Those clubs were: Atletico Santa Rosa (U16 Girls), Central California Soccer Alliance (U19 Boys), Dnamo FC (U14 Boys), Elk Grove United (U14 Boys), Lincoln FC (U17 Boys), Mendocino County Sports Academy (U19 Girls), Merced United (U13 Girls), Monterey Surf (U15 Boys), MVLA (U14 Girls), North Coast FC (U17 Boys), North Bay Premier (U13 Boys), Oakdale SC (U17 Girls), Oakley YSC (U16 Boys), Sacramento Alliance (U13 Boys), San Juan South (U15 Boys), and Santa Cruz United (U19 Boys).
For more information on the State Premier Leagues, click here.
State Premier will be replaced by National 1 League starting Fall 2026/27 season, learn more about N1 here.
