MISO is proud to have been selected as the operators of the brand new National 1 League, better known as simply N1

ABOUT NATIONAL 1 LEAGUE

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 platform integrated with the ECNL and supported by U.S. Soccer. 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.

We’re looking at kicking off this coming August, 2026, with some games commencing on August 22nd. The season will run through Spring 2027 only pausing for High School Soccer.

All Teams are welcome to apply for admission into the N1

For the inaugural season, we will be selecting the top 6 ranked applicants from each Division (U13-U18/19). Our goal is to have the top 6 teams state wide to provide good competition. Plans are in place to expand to 8 teams in the coming future seasons.

Teams will play a double Round-Robin format, that will equal to 10 games

Projected fees will be $1800 per team, which will include a 10 games season, the fields rental fees, set up, referees, Athletic Trainer and awards.

Projected schedule will include 5-6 games during the Fall season and 4-5 games during either the Winter or Spring seasons, depending on age Division, avoiding conflicts with the high school seasons.

Additional fees would include a $400 annual fee to N1 as well as the players registration to N1

Each Division winner will be required to travel to the Conference Championship, where they’ll be joined by the winners of the other Northwest Conference districts, as well as ECNL-RL teams, to make a Division of 16 teams (they may include son N1 2nd Place teams as well)

For more information feel free to visit: National 1 League - US Club Soccer Website

N1 LEAGUE OVERVIEW

For the 2026/27 season, the National 1 League will replace the MISO Juniors Platinum Division as the top team-based league in Hawaii. The National 1 League (N1) brings together two established league platforms – US Club Soccer’s National Premier League and US Youth Soccer’s National League – in an extraordinary display of collaboration. Teams participating in N1 in Hawaii will join a carefully constructed system of conferences and districts that will create a more robust national footprint for the league.

NATIONAL STRUCTURE

The National 1 League brings the best of both worlds together, providing local competition, aimed at reducing travel costs for families, while being part of a truly national infrastructure. Teams participating in the MISO Juniors N1 will be part of a national landscape with 37 different districts across the country, competing for a National Championship in the ECNL Conference League Playoffs.

HAWAII LEAGUE ARCHITECTURE  

The National 1 League will replace the MISO Juniors Platinum Division in the Hawaii competition structure; MISO Juniors provides merit-based pathways for team and club advancement to N1. Any team from a Hawaii member Club may earn promotion to the highest level of MISO Juniors N1 competition through their performance within MISO Juniors Leagues. Clubs can earn promotion into the highest level of US Club competition and Showcases (ECNL) based on their performance within the Hawaii structure.

ECNL-        ECNL-RL-         N1-        MISO Juniors (Gold, Silver, Bronze)

Team Promotion Pathways

Merit based competition is a core philosophy of MISO Juniors. We believe that providing pathways for ambitious teams to advance, and for underperforming teams to fall, is not only healthy for our soccer environment, but that it creates better competition, which in turn, helps create better players. While not a strictly Promotion / Relegation system throughout every age and level, team placement is based on previous team performance in order to form the most competitive Division possible.

·      MISO Juniors Gold, Silver and Bronze Divisions: teams may request their placement. While past performance is taken into account, team requests are heavily favored, but not guaranteed. 

·      National 1 League: for 2026/27 season, any team that participated in the MISO Juniors Platinum Division will be eligible for a placement into N1 for the Fall of 2026.

Club Promotions Pathways

In partnering up with US Club Soccer over twenty-five years ago, our intent was to create a merit-based pathway for ambitious clubs to be able to earn their way to the highest-level competition available within the US Club ecosystem, this may include showcase opportunities. This pathway is real and the most advanced merit-based pathway in Hawaii.

·      National 1 League: the National 1 League is a fully team-based competition available to any MISO Juniors team that is at the appropriate level. There’s no guaranteed access to N1 based on Club status.

NATIONAL 1 HAWAII LEAGUE STRUCTURE

Fall 2026 – Spring 2027: Regional Division Oahu

In the Fall, a Regional Division will be formed based on the number of teams and their locations. A regional Division will allow all teams to start the season with a chance to win the league and earn postseason spot, while reducing travel and cost on families

TEAM APPLICATION AND REQUIREMENTS

For the 2026/27 season, due to the age group change, the National 1 League will be open to any team that has participated in the 2025/26 MISO Juniors Platinum and Gold Divisions. This expanded format will allow teams to start on equal footing in the Fall of 2026 and earn their way to a National Championship. Regardless of where you started in the 2025/26 season, any team can earn its way to the top!

Team applications will be open with all other MISO Juniors Hawaii 2026/27 season applications on May 15th.

*Fall 2027 will include a new structure on Maui, Big Island and Kauai*