Tennessee State Soccer Association (TSSA) has been selected as a league operator for NewComp, a new competition jointly launched by US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer that is set to premiere ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“We are excited about the NewComp League and believe that TSSA has the knowledge and experience to oversee a what has been called the top TEAM BASED all-inclusive league across the landscape,” said Hans Hobson, CEO of Tennessee State Soccer Association.
TSSA has been designated as the operator of Mid-Atlantic District 4, making Tennessee part of a select group of state associations and league organizations chosen to help develop the new league competition. The designation was part of a full operator announcement made in March, which revealed the national roster of operators across all eight conferences.
What Is NewComp?
NewComp is a new national league competition (temporarily operating under NewComp as working name) created through a historic collaboration between US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer. It brings together two of the most prominent team-based competition platforms in the country, the USYS National League and the National Premier Leagues (NPL), uniting them under a single structure designed to serve 10,000 teams and more than 150,000 players nationwide.
The competition is organized across eight conferences (Northwest, West, Central, South, Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast) featuring multiple districts within each conference. TSSA’s designation as the Mid-Atlantic District 4 operator places Tennessee within a conference that spans a significant and competitive stretch of the country.
The inaugural NewComp season will culminate in summer 2027 with a postseason operated by the Elite Club National League (ECNL), specifically through the newly announced ECNL Conference League Playoffs. The top-performing teams from NewComp will advance to that postseason alongside selected ECNL Regional League (ECNL RL) teams, creating a nationally significant stage for the country’s best programs.
A League Built Around Players and Families
One of the defining principles behind NewComp is its commitment to reducing travel burdens while expanding access and opportunity. By layering multiple districts within each conference, the competition is designed to keep games closer to home without sacrificing the quality or meaning of the competition.
NewComp also sits within the broader U.S. Soccer Pathways Strategy, an initiative aimed at making the sport easier to navigate and more accessible at every level. The structure creates promotion pathways from localized and state-level competitions up into NewComp, and from there into the ECNL RL, giving clubs a clear and transparent ladder for advancement.
“NewComp aligns with the broader goals of the U.S. Soccer Pathway Strategy,” said Marc Frankland, NewComp Commissioner. “The work to connect pathways into NewComp begins now. Our team will partner with selected operators and the respective state associations across the country to develop district-level pathways that are more inclusive and easier for players and parents to understand. The goal is not to disrupt local leagues, but to connect them into a clearer national structure. This work will take time, but we are committed to building it thoughtfully. Access to NewComp will not be tied to whether leagues, teams or players are registered with US Youth Soccer or US Club Soccer.”
Operators across the country were selected based on their commitment to access and inclusivity, quality competition, and player-first decision-making, all of which are values that have long defined TSSA’s approach to growing the game across Tennessee.
What This Means for Tennessee Soccer
TSSA’s selection as a NewComp operator is a significant recognition of its standing within the national youth soccer community. With more than 100 member clubs and a track record of steady growth across both its competitive and developmental programs, TSSA is well-positioned to bring the NewComp model to life for clubs and players in the district.
League operators recently came together in Atlanta to further discuss details, and team registration officially opens this month. As that information takes shape, TSSA will continue to provide updates to its member clubs on what NewComp means for their teams and how to get involved.
For the latest information on NewComp, visit the TSSA NewComp Overview webpage. Also make sure to follow TSSA on social media!