The Midwest Premier League will have some serious competition in 2020, as the US Men’s National Team is set to join the fledgling league for it’s inaugural season.

“We are excited to welcome Gregg and his guys to the league,” said MWPL President Cliff Conrad. “We think they’ll be a great addition and really balance out the competition going forward.”

On the heel of their 2-0 defeat away to Canada for the first time in over thirty years, the US Soccer Federation confirmed their desire to find a competition more suitable for it’s flagship team. “We needed to find an environment where the most elite American team could develop with teams who are more on our level,” stated USSF President Carlo Corsairo. “The CONCACAF Nations League is simply too much for us. We can’t be expected to compete with the likes of Canada or Trinidad and Tobago.”

USMNT General Manager Bernie Stewart and Head Coach Gregg Bersnalter agreed with Corsairo, stating they were looking forward to playing DeKalb County United and RWB Adria. “The Adria derby will be great. Our offices are just a few miles away, and it will be great to have an intense rivalry with such a close neighbor for once.”

Voting members of the Midwest Premier League initially expressed hesitancy in allowing US Soccer admission into the league, citing concerns over the organizations’s vision and structure, as well as its alignment with league values of sustainability and meaningful growth. Potential conflicts of interest were also addressed as concerns. The members ultimately allowed the Americans acceptance on probational status, with strict reform plans being mandated as part of continued membership in the MWPL.

“We will do our best to meet the MWPL’s rigorous guidelines concerning vision and sustainability,” said Stewart. “If our goal is to be prepared for the 2026 FIFA World Cup here on home soil, we will need all the practice we can get, and difficult road trips to Dubuque to take on the Union will get us there faster than you can say ‘Revenue.’”

The Midwest Premier League remains committed to sustainable growth, and hopes that US Soccer’s promised reforms will come to fruition.