Be a part of something bigger
The National League Desert is one of 13 conferences within the USYS National League.
The National League features 4,500+ teams each season.
Opportunity for direct advancement into US Youth Soccer’s top regional and national competitions.
The ONLY way to earn automatic qualification into USYS National League Quarterfinals.
Format & Scheduling
WHO COMPETES?
The National League Desert has Premier 1 Divisions that include play for top teams in Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The Desert is open to boys and girls teams in the 12U-19U age groups. The 19U age group is a combined 18/19U age group.
WHAT IS THE FORMAT?
The Desert Conference has an event-based league schedule. Each team will compete at two events per season.
- The 12U-14U age groups play at an event in the early fall season and at an event in the late fall season.
- The 15U-19U age groups play at an event in the late fall season and at an event in the early spring season.
WHY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE DESERT?
The National League Desert provides a regional-level league experience for teams in a competitive and structured environment. It also provides Premier 1 teams an opportunity to earn their place in a same seasonal year postseason event, as well as a National League Quarterfinal event for the next seasonal year.
HOW IS IT MANAGED?
The National League Desert is managed by the USYS National League.
WHAT IS THE COST?
The anticipated National League Desert registration fee is $1,755.40 per team, per season for 11U-14U age groups, and $1,858.65 per team, per season for 15U-19U teams (fee includes credit card processing fees). This covers the management of the league and event weekends. Referee fees are not included in this fee.
Your Team’s Path
to the National League Desert
Earn Your Place...
2024-25 Dates & Locations
National League Desert
(Subject to change)
| Dates | City/State | Age Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 6-8, 2024 | Salt Lake City, UT | 12U-14U (Boys & Girls) |
| Nov. 22-24, 2024 | Phoenix, AZ | 12U-19U (Boys & Girls) |
| Feb. 21-23, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV | 15U-19U (Boys & Girls) |
National League Quarterfinals & Semifinals
a next seasonal year event series
Desert Team-Based League
The first place team, plus wildcards, qualify to play in the National League Quarterfinals during the next seasonal year.
National League Quarterfinals
Ten groups of four. Top 3 teams per group advance to the semifinals. A team’s finish at the quarterfinals determines seeding at semifinals.
National League Semifinals
The best teams from the quarterfinal round come together to compete for spots in the USYS National Championships.
National League’s Path to the National Championships
PREMIER 1 DIVISIONS
The highest finishing team in each Premier 1 division can qualify for the following season’s National League Quarterfinals. Teams may also apply for a wildcard slot through an application process.
NATIONAL LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS
The 40 best teams in each age group are placed into 10 groups of four. After three days of group play, the top three teams in each group will advance to the National League Semifinals. The higher a team finishes in its quarterfinal group, the higher the pool placement for the semifinals.
National League SEMIFINALS
Featuring teams from both the team-based and club-based divisions of the National League, all of whom compete in knockout style competition in one of three semifinal pools to determine qualifiers to the USYS National Championships, presented by New York Life.
