MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

SPORTS

SOCCER

[photo, Young soccer player, Glen Burnie, Maryland]
  • Major Arena Soccer League
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association
  • National Premier Soccer League
  • United States Soccer Federation
  • Team USA (Olympics)

    • Young soccer player, Glen Burnie, Maryland, July 2012. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Soccer players, North County High School, 10 East 1st Ave., Glen Burnie, MD] The game known in America as soccer was first played in England during the 19th century as football, and is currently played in over 200 nations throughout the world. Only Canada, the U.S., and Samoa use the term soccer, and the offically recognized title is association football. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) oversees continental and national leagues, as well as makes arrangements for the World Cup, the highest level of soccer competition. Played every four years, the World Cup is held over a period of four weeks, with 32 nations competing. It is next scheduled for June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

    In Maryland, soccer is played by all age groups, and at varying skill levels. The Maryland State Soccer Association oversees six amateur leagues throughout the State, and is an affiliate of the United State Soccer Federation (USSF), the United States Adult Soccer Association, and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Additional levels of skill, ranging from amateur to professional, are included within other USSF affiliates.


    Soccer players, North County High School, 10 East 1st Ave., Glen Burnie, Maryland, October 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE (MASL)
    There have been two Baltimore Blast teams in Baltimore. The first team played from 1980 to 1992 in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They won the Championship in 1984. The first Blast team disbanded when the League ceased operations in 1992.

    The Baltimore Spirit, part of the National Professional Soccer League (American Conference), formed in 1992. They were renamed the Baltimore Blast in 1998. They won the Championship in 2003-04, 2006, 2008-09, 2013, and 2016-18.

    In 2001, the Blast joined the second Major Indoor Soccer League, but the League ceased operations in 2008, and the team joined the National Indoor Soccer League, later known as the third Major Indoor Soccer League. In 2014, the Blast moved to the Professional Arena Soccer League, which was later renamed the Major Arena Soccer League. Early in 2016, the Blast became part of a new League known as the Indoor Professional League, but rejoined the Major Arena Soccer League in August 2016.

    The Blast plays at the Towson Arena at Towson University, 7500 Osler Drive, Towson. The arena seats up to 5,200 patrons.

    [photo, Soccer players, North County High School, 10 East 1st Ave., Glen Burnie, MD]

    NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)

    At the college level, soccer is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and is available at most Maryland colleges and universities. As a fall sport, college soccer is played from August through December. Maryland colleges have won the NCAA championship on a number of occasions, most recently in 2018, when the University of Maryland, College Park men's team defeated the University of Akron for its fourth national title.


    Soccer players, North County High School, 10 East 1st Ave., Glen Burnie, Maryland, October 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    The NCAA structures colleges into three divisions, with schools further organized by conferences.

    Division I
    Men's teams:

    Women's teams:

    Division II
    Men's teams:

    Women's teams:

    Division III
    Men's teams:

    Women's teams:

    NATIONAL PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE (NPSL)
    The National Premier Soccer League was founded in 2003 as the Men's Premier Soccer League, a western region league. Following expansion and the addition of new teams., the League was renamed the National Premier Soccer League in 2005.

    Three Maryland teams are part of the National Premier Soccer League: the DMV ELite Football Club (Bladensburg), Football Club Frederick, and the Hub City Football Club (Hagerstown). The oldest of these, Football Club Frederick was founded in 1986. It joined the National Premier Soccer League in 2015 and plays home games in Buckeystown, Maryland, at St. John's Catholic Prep's Warner Stadium. The DMV Elite Football Club organized in 2022, joined the League in 2024, and plays home games at Bladensburg High School. Also founded in 2022, the Ristozi Football Club became part of the League in 2025 and play their home games at Stevenson University's Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills. The Hub City Football Club was formed in 2025 and joined the League later that year. Their home games are played at North Hagerstown High School.

    UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION (USSF)

    The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of all soccer leagues and teams in the United States. In this capacity, the Federation publishes rules and authorizes the creation and expansion of national leagues. Included within the Federation are the United Soccer League (USL) and the US Club Soccer. The USSF also organizes and maintains Team USA for the US Olympic Committee.

    TEAM USA (men's soccer)
    TEAM USA (women's soccer)

    UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
    The United Soccer League (USL) began as a minor indoor league in 1985. Over the years, outdoor competitions were added and the League's name changed several times. In 1995, the League split into a professional league as well an amateur one, which was renamed League Two in 2018. A women's league, known as the W-League, was added in 1995 and folded in 2015, but a new League was formed in 2022 using the same name. The League formed a youth organization in 1999 called the Super Y League, but renamed it USL Youth in 2024.

    US CLUB SOCCER
    Originally planned as an advocacy group in 2001, US Club Soccer's focus shifted to clubs and their players. The organization oversees four programs: Players First, League-based Programs, Cup-based Programs, and the id2 Program. Within US Club Soccer, the National 1 League (N1) formed in 2026 and oversees the Mid-Atlantic District 1, including its Chesapeake Premier Soccer League.

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