The ECNL was founded in 2009 and today represents the highest levels of youth soccer in America.
In 2025-26 there are 28 boys ECNL Regional Leagues and 27 girls ECNL Regional Leagues throughout the country.
ECNL Regional League-Twin Cities sits atop the Minnesota NPL, and provides an opportunity for deserving teams to qualify for the top league in Minnesota, while competing for coveted spots in the annual ECNL Regional League postseason. Furthermore, 16U-19U teams have access to ECNL college showcases, where hundreds of college coaches have historically attended.
In 2024-25 the NPL average goal differential was a remarkable 1.9 goals. TCSL believes that there is plenty of good competition locally to avoid excessive travel.
Clubs that perform consistently and at a high level within the ECNL Regional League will be evaluated for invitation to the ECNL (National) club competition.
Club and team qualification into the NPL and ECNL Regional League-Twin Cities is based on on-the-field performance in the previous soccer year.
ECNL Regional League – Twin Cities is a team-based competition, where individual teams within member clubs can earn their way into the competition.
More details about qualification may be viewed the ECNL RL Rules Handbook.
The ECNL Regional League-Twin Cities and Minnesota NPL aims to provide a practical, club-centric, annual schedule. In general, teams play one meaningful season throughout the full soccer year. The benefit to this structure is utmost flexibility for clubs, and appropriate training to match ratios which are in the best interest of player development.
| TOTAL MATCHES (EST.) | FALL SEPT-OCT | WINTER DEC-MARCH | SPRING APRIL-JUNE | |
| 13U-14U | 18-20 | 4-6 | 4-6 | 8-10 |
| 15U-19U | 14-16 | n/a | 4-6 | 8-10 |
ECNL Regional League winners will advance to the ECNL Regional League postseason, with the first leg occurring in June and the ECNL Regional League championships occurring in July.
Division winners advance to the ECNL RL post-season structure.
| Dates | Location | Participating Leagues | |
| Girls | June 24-29, 2026 | St. Charles, Mo. | ECNL RL Great Lakes Alliance, ECNL RL Greater Michigan Alliance, ECNL RL Heartland, ECNL RL Mid-America, and ECNL RL Mountain, ECNL RL Ohio Valley, ECNL Twin Cities |
| Boys | June 27-July 2, 2026 | St. Charles, Mo. | ECNL RL Great Lakes Alliance, ECNL RL Greater Michigan Alliance, ECNL RL Heartland, ECNL RL Mid-America, ECNL RL Mountain EAST, ECNL RL Chicago Metro, ECNL RL Twin Cities, ECNL RL Midwest |
Finals are held in July in Richmond, Va.
Privacy Policy Copyright © Twin Cities Soccer Leagues, 2025
A special thanks to our partners
