Confirming reports from earlier in the week, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) announced the formation of a new professional soccer league in conjunction with the remnants of the North American Soccer League (NASL).

The 11 founding clubs of this new endeavor will begin play in 2019 with the first-ever NPSL Founders Cup competition that will run from August to November 2019. According to the NPSL, this Founders Cup competition will lead to a full league schedule, operating at yet to be determined division 2 or 3 level, in the spring to fall of 2020.

The NPSL is currently one of two division 4 leagues in the United States along with the USL PDL (recently renamed to USL League 2). In conjunction with a few clubs from the defunct NASL, which was a division 2 or 3 league at various times, the NPSL clubs are making a "full-time commitment to their markets and will include professional players, coaches, and staff."

The 11 founding members of this new league include ASC San Diego, Cal FC, California United Strikers FC, Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, FC Arizona, Miami FC, Miami United FC, Milwaukee Torrent, New York Cosmos, and Oakland Roots. According to the NPSL, plans are being developed to add additional clubs.

Fort Worth Vaqueros (blue) take on NTX Rayados (black) in US Open Cup play. (5-9-18) (Craig Marcho / 3rd Degree)

And that's where the Fort Worth Vaqueros come in. Both the well-entrenched Vaqueros and the brand new Denton Diablos play in the NPSL. Fort Worth is a big enough market on its own to attract any professional league's attention and the Metroplex at large even more so.

Fort Worth Vaqueros general manager Tobias Lopez says the club has always had ambitions. "We have said from the beginning, five seasons ago, that we will grow and move up the pyramid as the market demands and our course remains to rise through the ranks."

One aspect of how the Vaqueros club has been run that is worthy of particular mention in this scenario is their slow, careful, and perhaps even methodical methods. The club hasn't overextended themselves and yet year to year consistently improves the product on and off the field. That style seems to be carrying over to any talk of moving up divisions too.

"Obviously, there will be so many things to consider in the future when it comes to a higher league," Lopez says when discussing the cost and revenue realities of lower division soccer in the US. "So now we have to look at what makes sense regarding the obvious things like salary requirements, investment capital, and travel costs but also the more subtle considerations such as intellectual property rights, broadcast rights, technological advances, and revenue sharing models."

When seen in the spotlight of the Vaqueros' stated desire to someday move up, perhaps Vaqueros owner Michael Hitchcock's investment in a 2nd NPSL team, the Denton Diablos, makes more sense. "No matter where we end up our plan includes maintaining an NPSL side as a developmental squad for our higher level club," Lopez says without mentioning specifics.

So just how ambitious are the Vaqueros? Many fans in the Metroplex has long complained about the distance from the western half of the region to Frisco to watch FC Dallas play. Could MLS have a second club in North Texas someday?

Fort Worth Vaqueros fans march to a match. (Fort Worth Vaqueros)

Lopez for one doesn't seem to think so, at least not that he's willing to admit. "Clearly, MLS ranks as the highest level of soccer in the United States and MLS deserves that spot. It would be purely foolish and frankly disrespectful to the original investors in that league to try and compete with MLS as the top division."

While Lopez clearly has respect for MLS, he does seem to think the sky's the limit for the Vaqueros. "It's an interesting time for minor league soccer isn't?" Lopez continued. "Below [MLS] things are a bit in flux still. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the second and third division. I think we have a future in there somewhere."

"We have an incredibly talented front office, successful head coach and players, one of the nation's top brands from minor leagues all the way up to MLS, and, finally, a committed group of investors," Lopez concluded.

Whichever way the wind blows for the Vaqueros, the Fort Worth pro-soccer seems to be in good hands. That's something fans in this soccer-rich community should feel good about.

Fort Worth Vaqueros fans file into Farrington Field on Saturday for the club's 2018 home opener against Tyler FC. (5-12-19) (Fort Worth Vaqueros)