For a league that is an engine of chaos, this offseason may be NISA’s most chaotic ever. The league has a history of scrambling to cobble together a roster of teams to ensure their continued USSF sanctioning as a Division III men’s professional league. This offseason it seems like NISA’s time may have run out with rumors that US Soccer refused to sanction the league for the 2025 season. But NISA has returned from being seemingly dead a number of times so it’s never a good idea to stick a fork in them prematurely.

But, whether or not individual teams return is a different question from whether the league itself returns. There is an obvious connection between the two, but that particular venn diagram is not a perfect circle. Let’s take a look at what we can expect to see in 2025 from each of the teams that played in 2024.

Best Bets

Los Angeles Force

“If you are going to be a champion, you must be willing to pay a greater price.” — Bud Wilkinson

2024 NISA Champions, 1st in West, 14-2-2, 44 pts, 40 GF & 12 GA, 28 GD*

As goes the Los Angeles Force, so goes NISA. Bob Friedland, primary financial backer of NISA, is the owner and coach of the team. The Force is the only team remaining from the inaugural 2019 season and had not won a title until this past season. Friedland has always been able to bring in talented players but LA has often struggled with consistency especially due to a lack of stable coaching

Dekel Keinan moved fully into the manager role after spending 2023 as a player-manager. He brought the necessary stability to keep a talented roster committed to playing well. Everything came together and Los Angeles won its first title edging Irvine Zeta in penalty kicks.

LA Force returns if NISA returns and vice versa. There is no NISA without the Force and, likely, the Force won’t return without the league. NISA relies on Friedland’s financial resources and Friedland relies on NISA to ensure a slot for his professional side.

Without NISA, Friedland likely cannot move to the USL pro ranks (due to territorial rights at least) and would leave only MLS NextPro as a possible option. Even that option may be closed because the Force have lived a nomadic existence jumping from venue to venue. Without a long-term stadium situation, MLSNP is almost certainly out of the question for LA. At the end of the season, the Force even began referring to themselves as Long Beach’s professional soccer team because of their new stadium location. But, the Force practically sits on top of Friedland’s Golden State amateur organization. So, even if the Force disappears, Friedland will still have a big soccer presence.

Michigan Stars FC

“Everything I've done in my career has started in and around Detroit, you know, the metro area and Michigan.” — Kid Rock

2nd in East, 11-3-6, 36 pts, 38 GF & 25 GA, 13 GD*

The Michigan Stars lost to Irvine Zeta 3-0 in the 2024 NISA semifinal, but the team seemed to be done well before that. Halfway through the season, the squad simply stopped winning. The Stars were winless on the pitch for the last 12 matches of the season. The team had three draws but its final standings were bolstered by four forfeit wins during that streak.

George Juncaj, owner and coach of Michigan, has been another driving force since joining the league. While his politics and personality rubbed many the wrong way, Juncaj always ran a competent and well-funded organization.

This past summer Juncaj purchased NS Mura, a first division club in Slovenia. He brought that team to Michigan for offseason training and sent a number of Michigan Stars’ top players to trial for the Slovenian side. That thinning out of Michigan’s roster and Juncaj’s understandable focus on his new UEFA side sent the Stars into a competitive tailspin.

After the season it was rumored that Juncaj had his fill of NISA and would not return for 2025. But, the rumor mill also lifted up that the Michigan Stars would continue in the league but under new management. I would assume that if NISA returns we will see the Michigan Stars, or a continuation of the team, in the league.

Savannah Clovers FC

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” — Thomas Edison

4th in East, 5-3-12, 18 pts, 24 GF & 42 GA, -18 GD*

A hopeful poster child for independent amateur clubs moving up to the professional ranks, the Savannah Clovers struggled through their second season in NISA. A thin roster had trouble competing. Those issues exacerbated due to the organization’s difficulty in paying its players (among other financial obligations).

Is Savannah planning on a three back set in 2025? *Photo credit: Savannah Clovers*

Ownership instability continued to plague Savannah which saw its primary investor drop out just as the season started. Like many other league teams in the past few seasons, NISA leadership floated the team through the 2024 season. But, indications are that Savannah has a new primary owner who is actively looking to find players and other normal front office operations.

An individual who meets the primary ownership conditions is a boon for NISA. That means the league can checkmark that person and Savannah in their sanctioning documents. Pencil in Savannah if NISA plays in 2025.

Maybes

Irvine Zeta FC

“No reason to stay is a good reason to go.” — Camila Cabello

2024 NISA runners-up, 2nd in West, 11-4-3, 37 pts, 33 GF & 12 GA, 21 GD*

While there were technically four teams in the conference, the West was just a two team race for the entire season. After a bumpy preseason, the expansion Irvine Zeta acquitted themselves well. The organization was well run and put a talented roster on the field. Irvine ended second in the West and easily beat the Michigan Stars in the lone NISA semifinal.

Rumblings during the season that Irvine was unhappy with how the league was being run led to rumors soon after the championship match that Irvine had already decided not to return for the 2025 NISA season. It is understood that the league is actively attempting to woo Zeta back for another season but, as with all things NISA, there has been radio silence otherwise.

Irvine would probably need a very sweet deal from NISA to return in 2025. The club may prefer simply sticking to the club amateur ranks in a crowded Los Angeles soccer scene. My guess is that NISA desperately needs Irvine back in the fold if it hopes to receive another year of sanctioning.

Capo FC

“That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me.” — Leon René

3rd in West, 4-3-9, 15 pts, 18 GF & 29 GA, -11 GD*

Continuing a recent trend, Orange County club Capo FC had a bumpy time moving from the adult amateur ranks to NISA in 2024. Financially strapped, Capo FC fielded an entirely amateur roster in its inaugural NISA campaign.

The team started off strong with a win and two draws in its first three matches. But Capo struggled to keep competitive after that with only three more wins (all over the moribund Arizona Monsoon) and one draw the rest of the season.

Capo FC’s pro side always seemed to be a much lower priority than its robust youth and amateur programs. That has continued during this offseason as public activity has continued in those areas while the professional team has been quiet.

Like Irvine Zeta, NISA needs Capo FC more than the reverse.

Georgia FC

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” — The Wizard of Oz

5th in East, 5-2-13, 14 pts, 24 GF & 39 GA, -15 GD*

Georgia FC is a team owned by NISA to replace another Georgia-based team that lacked the financial resources to play the 2024 season. The team limped through the season. Georgia played afternoon matches in the summer at Silverbacks Park Stadium rather than under the lights.

As a league owned entity, Georgia FC returns if NISA needs a slot to fill and US Soccer is OK with that. As with many things related to NISA, the return of Georgia FC is more of a business need than a competitive one.

Goodbyes

Maryland Bobcats FC

“The secret of life is to have no fear.” — Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

1st in East, 16-2-1, 50 pts, 50 GF & 18 GA, 32 GD*

In 2024, the darlings of lower level soccer became the best team in NISA. The Maryland Bobcats put everything together and ran away with the regular season title.

What should have been the culmination of NISA’s ethos of providing a professional pathway for independent clubs came to a stunning halt at the end of the season. League leadership prohibited the Bobcats from taking part in the playoffs due to noncompliance of league and US Soccer requirements.

The story of the Bobcats in NISA isn’t a good one. And it ended badly. Photo Credit: Maryland Bobcats

The move was widely denounced by the public and lent an air of illegitimacy to the subsequent playoffs. Maryland leadership was publicly vocal about their disdain for the decision while the league attempted an oddly conciliatory stance.

The Maryland Bobcats will not return to NISA. The league would like the team to return but the club has refused NISA’s terms. The Bobcats organization is strong and will continue to be active at the youth and adult amateur club level. But, it is currently unknown if and when the Bobcats will field a men’s professional side.

The club and league are locked in negotiations (and possible litigation) attempting to keep the Bobcats organization locked into NISA. Timing is likely not on Maryland’s side to field a pro team in 2025.

Even if they don’t take part in the professional ranks this coming season, Maryland is eager to get back to that level. Both USL and MLS Next Pro are options on the table. It is rumored that, unshackled by the weight of NISA’s reputation, the Bobcats have been getting more interest from investors. If the organization can find a suitable ownership group and a viable venue in the Baltimore-Washington metro, it is my opinion that we will soon see the Bobcats (or a rebranded version) back in Division III men’s pro soccer.

Club de Lyon FC

“Away from football, life is not just football. People do not see it how life goes on for us off the field.” — Gonzalo Higuain

3rd in East, 5-4-10, 19 pts, 30 GF & 42 GA, -12 GD*

The central Florida based Club de Lyon FC barely scraped by for a second season in NISA. Rumors of front office disorganization, coaching troubles and lack of the ability to finance basic needs continued for the entirety of the team’s time in NISA.

League leadership made insinuations that Club de Lyon was a valued member that would continue. But, it seems those were just words and the team couldn’t continue its paper mache interpretation of a professional soccer club. Unless something unforeseen occurs, Club de Lyon’s time in NISA is over.

Arizona Monsoon FC

“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made.” — Groucho Marx

4th in West, 0-1-15, 1 pts, 7 GF & 45 GA, -38 GD*

The Arizona Monsoon may go down in history as the second-worst team in NISA. The expansion side was a semi-continuation of Valley United FC. While Valley United imploded due to financial issues and alleged immigration problems at least it was competitive. Arizona Monsoon, though, could only eke out a single draw in 16 league matches. Even worse, the team practically folded halfway through the season and forfeited all of its matches after a late July loss to Capo FC.

Arizona Monsoon seems to be a disbanded entity with no obvious chance to return to NISA, or any other league.

- Dan Creel