Shawn

I mean, I've heard grumblings on amateur cup matches when the officials are all from the home state...

It's weird to me as a soccer fan that there are officials from the playing teams reffing the gold cup final. Two Canadians, one American, and one Fin.

The Midwest Premier League enters 2026 with 53 clubs, continuing to break the record we set each season.

With 19 Expansion clubs, including a bounty of clubs in Chicagoland and a new region in the Gateway Conference, let's take a look at the new alignment in the MWPL.

🧵⬇️

The Midwest Premier League welcomes the AAC Eagles! ⚽️

A storied club with 85 years of history and national championships joins the MWPL starting Spring 2026. Proud tradition meets Midwest competition. 🏆

#MidwestGrown

www.midwestpl.com/2026/01/12/m...

The Midwest Premier League is excited to welcome FC Select to the league ahead of the upcoming season ⚽

Founded in 2018 and based in Chicago, FC Select brings a strong competitive history and continued ambition to the MWPL.

Welcome to the league!
#MidwestGrown

www.midwestpl.com/2026/01/11/m...

I'm reading @billmarth.bsky.social 'Building an American Soccer Nation' and I find myself agreeing with every page. It's difficult to keep reading because the book makes me want to push for the changes he discusses. I highly recommend it to everyone involved in Amateur soccer.

What a great result for @arsenalfc.bsky.social

So, I'm heading to the #cf97 game this afternoon. I'm bringing 30+ scarves from back in the day. I can't wait to see people. Quck question, @section8chicago.bsky.social Can someone tell me how much parking is at Toyota Park? Cash or card?

Well this is interesting…

Future Heartland Division 1 foes Chicago House and Edgewater Castle match up in the 3rd Round of U.S. Open Cup Qualifiers.

BOHFS St. Louis travels over 400 miles to play UPSL side Omaha Street FC.

November 2nd.

#midwestgrown

BOHFS St. Louis extended their lead to 3-0 through Michael Utley in the 89th minute, and Woodland got a consolation goal in the 90th through Gage Pemberton. BOHFA St. Louis 3, Woodland FC 1

🚨 𝓜𝓦𝓟𝓛 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓐𝓵𝓮𝓻𝓽 🚨

The Midwest Premier League is officially looking to add new clubs for the 2026 season 👀⚽

If you’re ready to bring competitive, community-driven soccer to your city, this is your chance.

Visit midwestpl.com/join for more information.

I'm getting ready for my first referee assignment for the fall. And my loving wife tells me that I pack my kit bag more carefully than a vacation suitcase. 😆😕 And yes I need to replace the old kits with new ones. Don't look at me that way.😎😆

The 2025 MWPL season is in the books. I've read my last referee report, sent my last season related email. I'm stepping away from soccer for the rest of the month. Look for me in September to discuss 2026

If it weren't for the AQI it'd be perfect weather for the @midwestpl.bsky.social game between Edgewater Castle and Rockford FC. 70°F and a slight breeze off the lake.

How about there are two Steel City FC soccer clubs, one in Pittsburgh and the other in Joliet, IL

With tonight's @midwestpl.bsky.social match of RKC Third Coast vs Rockford FC, I have seen every club in the Heartland Division and have visited 12 of 15 team's home venues. I have an addiction to this game

The promotion race in @midwestpl.bsky.social Heartland Division 2 is crazy. The tiebreaker math is getting deep...

Sometimes I just have to shake my head and say 'Welcome to Lower League Soccer.' Some of the stories in this realm would make Welcome to Wrexham-esque storylines.

First place vs second and it's been end to end action

A great afternoon for Chicago soccer soccer today. The first @midwestpl.bsky.social match of the day just kicked off, RKC Third Coast visiting Strikers Fox Valley.

𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑾𝑬𝑬𝑲

The MWPL rolls into a packed seven-day stretch starting with three games tonight and twelve more on Saturday and Sunday. Plenty of midweek action coming too—with matches set for both Monday and Wednesday.

Let’s keep it rolling. 🔴⚫

𝑷𝑶𝑻𝑴 𝒙 𝑮𝑻𝑾

Ethar Belleville FC’s Adam Boykin has been named the Gateway Conference Player of the Month after a standout May, including a brace at AFC Columbia.

🥇 Adam Boykin @EhtarFC
🥈 Baret Etzinger @SESAsoccer

𝑷𝑶𝑻𝑴 𝒙 𝑮𝑳𝑲

5 goals, 1 assist in 3 games — including a debut hat trick — earns Liquid Football midfielder Albahri Albahri top honors in the Great Lakes.

🥇 Albahri Albahri - Liquid Football
🥈 Adrian Martinez - Goshen City FC
🥉 Brooks Boersma - @lansingcommonfc.bsky.social

𝑷𝑶𝑻𝑴 𝒙 𝑯𝑹𝑻

5 goals, 2 assists, and a big role in RWB Adria’s strong start in HRT-1 earns Cameron Williams 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 honors in the Heartland Conference.

🥇 Cameron Williams - RWB Adria Chicago
🥈 Lyndon Hu - AFC Roscoe
🥉 Ben Goldberg - Chicago Ghost FC

This is an awesome, bills move in Chicago soccer. #cf97

After an eventful evening of @midwestpl.bsky.social soccer, I'm shifting gears to mentor youth referees on a beautiful Sunday morning. Let's see how long the good vibes last.

You know something I knew nothing of before I started writing in non league survey... Air Quality Index and it's impact on how to run a soccer match

𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑾𝑬𝑬𝑲

Season in full steam. A packed MWPL week begins with 6 games tonight.

Here are the next 7 days in the MWPL.
👇👇👇

#midwestgrown

🔥 Matchday

Coach Dillard isn’t here to wait and see. Six changes from last week’s XI. You either adjust fast or get left behind in the 10-game sprint.

Rain? That was this morning’s problem. Forecast says it clears well before kickoff.

Steel boots laced. Let’s make Slammers feel like hell again