Squadora™Guide
The girls youth soccer pyramid, 2026-27
There is no official pyramid for girls either. Here is how the levels stack up for girls in 2026-27, who runs each one, and what changed this season.
Facts as of October 20, 2026. Every line names the page it comes from.
In short
- At the top, the national girls' leagues are ECNL Girls and Girls Academy. Which one sits higher is argued about, so we show them side by side.
- Below them come the ECNL Regional League, the National 1 League, then state leagues and recreation.
- Girls Academy moves to the August 1 to July 31 age cycle for 2026-27, the same one most other leagues now use.
The levels for girls, top to bottom
Four levels, with the page each fact comes from. The order of the two leagues at the top is argued about, so they are shown together.
National top
GirlsECNL Girls. Girls Academy.
The ECNL was founded in 2009 with girls' programming first; ECNL Boys started with 57 clubs.
Girls Academy has over 120 member clubs in 2025-26, with teams from U13 to U19 in eleven conferences.
Which girls' league sits highest is argued about, so they're shown side by side, not ranked.
Second national tier
GirlsECNL Regional League.
National 1 League
GirlsNational 1 League.
State and local
GirlsState leagues and cups. Town and recreation programs, including AYSO.
What changed for girls in 2026-27
The National 1 League replaces the NPL and US Youth Soccer's National League. The 2026 NPL Finals were the NPL's last event, after 15 seasons.
What it means for you: if your child's team played in the NPL or US Youth Soccer's National League, ask the club where it plays in 2026-27. The National 1 League is where both leagues went, and clubs that do well there can move up to the ECNL Regional League.
US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and AYSO move age groups to the school year, August 1 to July 31, starting with the 2026-27 season.
What it means for you: most players now play with their school class. A child born in the fall can land in a different age group than last season, so check the new group before tryouts and before you pay for a team.
Girls Academy moves to the same August 1 to July 31 cycle, with team formation starting in August 2026.
What it means for you: a girl's age group in Girls Academy now matches the one used by US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer leagues, so moving between them no longer shifts her up or down a year.
Questions people ask
What is the highest level of girls youth soccer in the US?
ECNL Girls and Girls Academy run the top national girls' leagues. Which one sits highest is argued about, so this page shows them side by side.
Is the girls pyramid the same as the boys pyramid?
Below the top, the ECNL Regional League, the National 1 League and state and local leagues serve both. The top differs: boys have MLS NEXT and ECNL Boys, girls have ECNL Girls and Girls Academy.
What changed for girls' age groups in 2026-27?
Girls Academy moves to the same August 1 to July 31 cycle, with team formation starting in August 2026. Most other leagues group by school year too.