# 2021 National Premier Soccer League season

The 2021 National Premier Soccer League season was the 19th season of the National Premier Soccer League and part of the 109th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States. The 2020 season was cancelled after five weeks of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miami FC, the defending league champions from 2019, left in the previous off-season and joined the National Independent Soccer Association and later the USL Championship.
The regular season started on May 1 and concluded on July 17. In total, 76 teams participated this season with a further 14 playing in conferences that decided not to participate in the summer season.

## Format changes

The 2021 season saw a number of changes with many in part due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Both the Northwest and Golden Gate Conference will not take part in traditional summer season. The NPSL later announced the Golden Gate teams would play a regular season schedule, but with it commencing in June and ending in August meaning none of the teams would be eligible for the postseason or U.S. Open Cup berths. Due to this, the South Region's Lone Star Conference joined the west for 2021 allowing two separate conferences to compete for the regional title.
The changes made ahead of last season, such as the renaming of the Northeast Region to the "East Region", the Southeast Conference's move to the East, and the renaming of the East Conference to the "Rust Belt Conference" all remained in effect. The Gulf Coast Conference, which was created ahead of 2020, will play its inaugural season in 2021.

## Teams

Note: Teams that are italicized previously played in the NPSL and are returning from hiatus.

### Incoming teams

* Appalachian FC (Boone, NC)
* Arkansas Wolves FC (Little Rock, AR)
* Contra Costa FC (Concord/Walnut Creek, CA)
* Florida Roots Futbol Club (Panama City, FL)
* Georgia Storm Soccer Academy (Carrollton, GA)
* Irving FC (Irving, TX)
* Joy St. Louis Park (St. Louis Park, MN)
* Katy 1895 FC (Katy, TX)
* New York Shockers (Albany, NY)
* Oakland Stompers (Oakland, CA)
* OKC 1889 FC (Oklahoma City, OK)
* Panathinaikos Chicago (Chicago, IL)
* Reign FK (Bartlesville, OK)
* Sioux Falls Thunder FC (Sioux Falls, SD)
* Southern States SC (Hattiesburg, MS)

### Departing teams

* Fort Wayne FC (Fort Wayne, IN) (joined USL League Two)
* Kalamazoo FC (Kalamazoo, MI) (joined USL League Two)
* Little Rock Rangers (Little Rock, AR) (joined USL League Two)
* Maryland Bobcats FC (Montgomery County, MD) (joined the National Independent Soccer Association)
* Project 51O (Oakland, CA) (joined USL League Two)
* Toledo Villa FC (Toledo, OH) (joined USL League Two)

### Teams on hiatus

* Austin United FC (Austin, TX)
* Charlottesville Alliance FC (Charlottesville, VA)
* Inter Nashville FC (Nashville, TN)

### Name changes

* Georgia Storm Soccer Academy to Georgia Storm
* East Bay FC Stompers to Oakland Stompers

### Unknown status teams

* A.S. Los Angeles (Whittier, CA)
* Club Atletico Saint Louis (Saint Louis, MO)
* Club Xolos USA U-23 (Riverside, CA)
* High Desert Elite FC (Adelanto, CA)
* Muskegon Risers SC (Muskegon, MI)
* Nashville United (Nashville, TN)
* New York Athletic Club S.C. (Westchester County, NY)
* Oxnard Guerreros FC (Oxnard, CA)
* Ozark FC (Springdale, AR)
* Rhode Island Reds FC (Johnston, RI)

### 2021 Teams

Note: Teams lined out are on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic but still listed on the league website.
West Region :
| Division | Team |
| Golden Gate Conference | Academica SC |
| Golden Gate Conference | Contra Costa FC |
| Golden Gate Conference | El Farolito |
| Golden Gate Conference | FC Davis |
| Golden Gate Conference | Napa Valley 1839 FC |
| Golden Gate Conference | Oakland Stompers |
| Golden Gate Conference | Sacramento Gold FC |
| Golden Gate Conference | Sonoma County Sol |
| Northwest Conference | Crossfire Redmond |
| Northwest Conference | International Portland Select FC |
| Northwest Conference | OSA Seattle FC |
| Northwest Conference | PDX FC |
| Northwest Conference | Spokane Shadow SC |
| Northwest Conference | Tacoma Stars |
| Lone Star Conference | Coyotes FC |
| Lone Star Conference | Denton Diablos FC |
| Lone Star Conference | FC Brownsville |
| Lone Star Conference | Fort Worth Vaqueros FC |
| Lone Star Conference | Irving FC |
| Lone Star Conference | Katy 1895 FC |
| Lone Star Conference | Laredo Heat SC |
| Lone Star Conference | Midland-Odessa Sockers FC |
| Southwest Conference | ASC San Diego |
| Southwest Conference | FC Arizona |
| Southwest Conference | FC Golden State |
| Southwest Conference | Las Vegas Legends FC |
| Southwest Conference | Temecula FC |
Midwest Region :
| Division | Team |
| Great Lakes Conference | Carpathia FC |
| Great Lakes Conference | FC Columbus |
| Great Lakes Conference | FC Indiana |
| Great Lakes Conference | Milwaukee Torrent |
| Great Lakes Conference | Panathinaikos Chicago |
| North Conference | Dakota Fusion FC |
| North Conference | Duluth FC |
| North Conference | Joy St. Louis Park |
| North Conference | LaCrosse Aris FC |
| North Conference | Med City FC |
| North Conference | Minneapolis City SC |
| North Conference | Sioux Falls Thunder FC |
| Rust Belt Conference | Cleveland SC |
| Rust Belt Conference | Erie Commodores FC |
| Rust Belt Conference | FC Buffalo |
| Rust Belt Conference | Pittsburgh Hotspurs |
| Rust Belt Conference | Rochester Lancers |
| Rust Belt Conference | Syracuse FC |
South Region :
| Division | Team |
| Gulf Coast Conference | AFC Mobile |
| Gulf Coast Conference | Florida Roots Futbol Club |
| Gulf Coast Conference | Jacksonville Armada U-23 |
| Gulf Coast Conference | New Orleans Jesters |
| Gulf Coast Conference | Pensacola FC |
| Gulf Coast Conference | Port City FC |
| Gulf Coast Conference | Southern States SC |
| Gulf Coast Conference | Tallahassee SC |
| Heartland Conference | Arkansas Wolves FC |
| Heartland Conference | Dallas City FC |
| Heartland Conference | Demize NPSL |
| Heartland Conference | OKC 1889 FC |
| Heartland Conference | Reign FK |
| Heartland Conference | Tulsa Athletic |
| Sunshine Conference | Boca Raton FC |
| Sunshine Conference | Central Florida Panthers SC |
| Sunshine Conference | Miami Dutch Lions FC |
| Sunshine Conference | Miami United FC |
| Sunshine Conference | Naples United FC |
| Sunshine Conference | Storm FC |
East Region :
| Division | Team |
| Keystone Conference | Atlantic City FC |
| Keystone Conference | Electric City Shock SC |
| Keystone Conference | FC Monmouth |
| Keystone Conference | FC Motown |
| Keystone Conference | First State FC |
| Keystone Conference | Hershey FC |
| Keystone Conference | Torch FC |
| Keystone Conference | West Chester United SC |
| Mid-Atlantic Conference | FC Baltimore Christos |
| Mid-Atlantic Conference | FC Frederick |
| Mid-Atlantic Conference | Northern Virginia United FC |
| Mid-Atlantic Conference | Philadelphia Lone Star FC |
| Mid-Atlantic Conference | Virginia Beach City FC |
| North Atlantic Conference | Boston City FC |
| North Atlantic Conference | Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds |
| North Atlantic Conference | Hartford City FC |
| North Atlantic Conference | Kingston Stockade FC |
| North Atlantic Conference | New York Shockers |
| North Atlantic Conference | Valeo FC |
| Southeast Conference | Appalachian FC |
| Southeast Conference | Georgia Revolution FC |
| Southeast Conference | Georgia Storm |
| Southeast Conference | LSA Athletico Lanier |
| Southeast Conference | Metro Louisville FC |
| Southeast Conference | North Alabama SC |

## Standings and results
### West Region
#### Lone Star Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Denton Diablos FC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 17 | +16 | 25 | Lone Star Conference playoffs |
| 2 | Laredo Heat SC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 8 | +19 | 23 | Lone Star Conference playoffs |
| 3 | Midland-Odessa Sockers FC | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 18 | Lone Star Conference playoffs |
| 4 | Katy 1895 FC | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 14 | Lone Star Conference playoffs |
| 5 | Irving FC | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 13 | |
| 6 | Coyotes FC | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 12 | |
| 7 | FC Brownsville | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 8 | |
| 8 | Fort Worth Vaqueros FC | 10 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 35 | −23 | 1 | |

#### Southwest Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Las Vegas Legends FC | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 28 | +10 | 20 | Southwest Conference Final |
| 2 | FC Golden State | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 37 | 13 | +24 | 19 | Southwest Conference Semifinal |
| 3 | FC Arizona | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 16 | Southwest Conference Semifinal |
| 4 | ASC San Diego | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 24 | −4 | 9 | |
| 5 | Temecula FC | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 47 | −39 | 4 | |
* ^ $^A$ The regular season final between FC Arizona and ASC San Diego on July 10 was cancelled due to inclement weather. This match was later ruled a 0-0 draw, most likely since both teams' place in the standings were secure and that team's are required to play ten games in the regular season in order to be eligible for the next year's U.S. Open Cup tournament. As such, this game is not included in the "Matches played" section in the infobox.

### Midwest Region
#### Great Lakes Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Milwaukee Torrent (C) | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 12 | +17 | 27 | Midwest Region Semifinals |
| 2 | Carpathia FC | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 13 | +14 | 20 | Midwest Region Quarterfinals |
| 3 | FC Columbus | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 14 | |
| 4 | Panathinaikos Chicago | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 26 | −14 | 9 | |
| 5 | FC Indiana | 10 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 34 | −21 | 2 | |

#### North Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Minneapolis City SC (C) | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 11 | +33 | 33 | Midwest Region Semifinals |
| 2 | Duluth FC | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 20 | +19 | 27 | Midwest Region Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Med City FC | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 16 | +17 | 24 | |
| 4 | Joy St. Louis Park | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 26 | +2 | 14 | |
| 5 | Dakota Fusion FC | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 34 | −17 | 12 | |
| 6 | Sioux Falls Thunder FC | 12 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 35 | −17 | 9 | |
| 7 | La Crosse Aris FC | 12 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 44 | −37 | 3 | |

#### Rust Belt Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Cleveland SC (C) | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 9 | +16 | 26 | Midwest Region Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Hotspurs | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 24 | Midwest Region Quarterfinals |
| 3 | FC Buffalo | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 14 | |
| 4 | Erie Commodores | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 16 | −5 | 7 | |
| 5 | Rochester Lancers | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 24 | −12 | 7 | |
| 6 | Syracuse FC | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 6 | |

### South Region
#### Gulf Coast Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Jacksonville Armada FC U-23 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 12 | +25 | 36 | Gulf Coast Conference playoffs |
| 2 | Pensacola FC | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 25 | +10 | 29 | Gulf Coast Conference playoffs |
| 3 | Southern States SC | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 28 | Gulf Coast Conference playoffs |
| 4 | New Orleans Jesters | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 20 | Gulf Coast Conference playoffs |
| 5 | AFC Mobile | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 21 | −9 | 15 | |
| 6 | Port City FC | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 20 | 26 | −6 | 13 | |
| 7 | Tallahassee SC | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 29 | −12 | 13 | |
| 8 | Florida Roots FC | 14 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 39 | −26 | 5 | |

#### Heartland Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Demize NPSL | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 32 | 9 | +23 | 24 | Heartland Conference playoffs |
| 2 | Tulsa Athletic | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 9 | +23 | 21 | Heartland Conference playoffs |
| 3 | OKC 1889 FC | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 10 | +23 | 17 | Heartland Conference playoffs |
| 4 | Arkansas Wolves FC | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 27 | −7 | 12 | Heartland Conference playoffs |
| 5 | Reign FK | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 9 | |
| 6 | Dallas City FC | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 65 | −56 | 0 | |

#### Sunshine Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Miami United FC | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 15 | +8 | 22 | Sunshine Conference playoffs |
| 2 | Miami Dutch Lions FC | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 15 | +16 | 19 | Sunshine Conference playoffs |
| 3 | Naples United FC | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 18 | Sunshine Conference playoffs |
| 4 | Boca Raton FC | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 14 | Sunshine Conference playoffs |
| 5 | Central Florida Panthers SC | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 12 | |
| 6 | Storm FC | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 44 | −34 | 0 | |

### East Region
#### Keystone Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | West Chester United SC | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 11 | +19 | 27 | Keystone Conference playoffs |
| 2 | Atlantic City FC | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 8 | +23 | 26 | Keystone Conference playoffs |
| 3 | FC Motown | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 12 | +15 | 22 | Keystone Conference playoffs |
| 4 | FC Monmouth | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 12 | Keystone Conference playoffs |
| 5 | First State FC | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 30 | −5 | 10 | |
| 6 | Electric City Shock SC | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 10 | |
| 7 | Torch FC | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 38 | −27 | 9 | |
| 8 | Hershey FC | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 32 | −25 | 0 | |

#### Mid-Atlantic Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | FC Baltimore Christos | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 8 | +23 | 26 | Mid-Atlantic Conference Final |
| 2 | Northern Virginia United FC | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 14 | +7 | 17 | Mid-Atlantic Conference Semifinal |
| 3 | Philadelphia Lone Star FC | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 12 | Mid-Atlantic Conference Semifinal |
| 4 | Virginia Beach City FC | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 22 | −12 | 8 | |
| 5 | FC Frederick | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 27 | −10 | 7 | |

#### North Atlantic Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hartford City FC | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 20 | North Atlantic Conference playoffs |
| 2 | New York Shockers | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 10 | +9 | 19 | North Atlantic Conference playoffs |
| 3 | Kingston Stockade FC | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 9 | +14 | 19 | North Atlantic Conference playoffs |
| 4 | Valeo FC | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 12 | +15 | 17 | North Atlantic Conference playoffs |
| 5 | Boston City FC | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 10 | |
| 6 | Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 48 | −42 | 0 | |

#### Southeast Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Georgia Revolution FC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 10 | +15 | 25 | Southeast Conference playoffs |
| 2 | Georgia Storm | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 9 | +17 | 17 | Southeast Conference playoffs |
| 3 | Appalachian FC | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 16 | Southeast Conference playoffs |
| 4 | LSA Athletico Lanier | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 19 | −7 | 13 | Southeast Conference playoffs |
| 5 | Metro Louisville FC | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 30 | −22 | 7 | |
| 6 | North Alabama SC | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 20 | −7 | 7 | |

## Playoffs

Note: Games are hosted by the highest seed unless noted otherwise

### West Region Conference playoffs
#### Lone Star Conference playoffs

| Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 |
| 1 | Denton Diablos FC | 7 | | | |
| 4 | Katy 1895 FC | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Katy 1895 FC | 0 | 1 | Denton Diablos FC | 3 |
| | | | 2 | Laredo Heat SC | 1 |
| 2 | Laredo Heat SC | 3 | 2 | Laredo Heat SC | 1 |
| 3 | Midland-Odessa Sockers | 0 | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

#### Southwest Conference playoffs

| Semifinal July 14 | Semifinal July 14 | Semifinal July 14 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 |
| | | | 1 | Las Vegas Legends FC | 0 |
| 2 | FC Golden State | 2 | 2 | FC Golden State | 3 |
| 3 | FC Arizona | 0 | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

### South Region Conference playoffs
#### Gulf Coast Conference playoffs

| Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Final N/A | Final N/A | Final N/A |
| 1 | Jacksonville Armada U23 | 1 | | | |
| 4 | New Orleans Jesters | 3 | | | |
| 4 | New Orleans Jesters | 3 | 4 | New Orleans Jesters | |
| | | | 3 | Southern States SC | w/o |
| 2 | Pensacola FC | 1 | 3 | Southern States SC | w/o |
| 3 | Southern States SC | 2 | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

#### Heartland Conference playoffs

| Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 |
| 1 | Demize NPSL | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Arkansas Wolves | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Arkansas Wolves | 1 | 1 | Demize NPSL | 1 |
| | | | 2 | Tulsa Athletic | 2 |
| 2 | Tulsa Athletic | 2(5) | 2 | Tulsa Athletic | 2 |
| 3 | OKC 1889 FC | 2(4) | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

#### Sunshine Conference playoffs

| Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 |
| 1 | Miami United FC | 4 | | | |
| 4 | Boca Raton FC | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Boca Raton FC | 2 | 1 | Miami United FC | 1 |
| | | | 3 | Naples United FC | 4 |
| 2 | Miami Dutch Lions | 1 | 3 | Naples United FC | 4 |
| 3 | Naples United FC | 4 | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

### East Region Conference playoffs
#### Keystone Conference playoffs

| Semifinals July 16 | Semifinals July 16 | Semifinals July 16 | Final July 18 | Final July 18 | Final July 18 |
| 1 | West Chester United | 1 | | | |
| 4 | FC Monmouth | 3 | | | |
| 4 | FC Monmouth | 3 | 4 | FC Monmouth | 0 |
| | | | 3 | FC Motown | 2 |
| 2 | Atlantic City FC | 2 | 3 | FC Motown | 2 |
| 3 | FC Motown | 3 | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

#### Mid-Atlantic Conference playoffs

| Semifinal July 14 | Semifinal July 14 | Semifinal July 14 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 |
| | | | 1 | FC Baltimore Christos | 3 |
| 2 | Northern Virginia United | 2 | 3 | Philadelphia Lone Star | 0 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Lone Star | 3 | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

#### North Atlantic Conference playoffs

| Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 |
| 1 | Hartford City FC | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Valeo FC | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Valeo FC | 0 | 1 | Hartford City FC | 3 |
| | | | 3 | Kingston Stockade FC | 2 |
| 2 | New York Shockers | 1(2) | 3 | Kingston Stockade FC | 2 |
| 3 | Kingston Stockade FC | 1(4) | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score

#### Southeast Conference playoffs

| Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Semifinals July 14 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 | Final July 17 |
| 1 | Georgia Revolution | 2(6) | | | |
| 4 | LSA Athletico Lanier | 2(5) | | | |
| 4 | LSA Athletico Lanier | 2(5) | 1 | Georgia Revolution | 2 |
| | | | 2 | Georgia Storm | 1 |
| 2 | Georgia Storm | 2 | 2 | Georgia Storm | 1 |
| 3 | Appalachian FC | 1 | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
* ^ $^B$ The Gulf Coast Conference final was originally scheduled for July 17. The day of the match it was announced that multiple New Orleans Jesters players had tested positive for COVID-19 and the game was called off. Despite originally saying the final would be rescheduled, the NPSL announced on July 22 that Southern States SC would advance to the South Region Semifinal against Naples United FC.

### Regional and National playoffs

| Regional Quarterfinals July 20 | Regional Quarterfinals July 20 | Regional Quarterfinals July 20 | Regional semifinals July 17–23 | Regional semifinals July 17–23 | Regional semifinals July 17–23 | Regional Finals July 24–25 | Regional Finals July 24–25 | Regional Finals July 24–25 | National semifinals July 31 | National semifinals July 31 | National semifinals July 31 | National Final August 7 | National Final August 7 | National Final August 7 |
| | | | MW1 | Minneapolis City SC | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MW6 | Carpathia FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| MW5 | Duluth FC | 2(3) | MW6 | Carpathia FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| MW6 | Carpathia FC | 2(4) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MW6 | Carpathia FC | 2(4) | | | | MW1 | Minneapolis City SC | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | MW3 | Cleveland SC | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | MW2 | FC Milwaukee Torrent | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MW3 | Cleveland SC | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| MW3 | Cleveland SC | 4 | MW3 | Cleveland SC | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| MW4 | Pittsburgh Hotspurs | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MW4 | Pittsburgh Hotspurs | 0 | | | | | | | 2 | Cleveland SC | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Denton Diablos FC | 4* | | | |
| | | | LS1 | Denton Diablos FC | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | LS2 | Laredo Heat SC | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | W1 | Denton Diablos FC | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | W2 | FC Golden State | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | SW1 | Las Vegas Legends FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | SW2 | FC Golden State | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Denton Diablos FC | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Tulsa Athletic | 2 |
| | | | E1 | FC Baltimore Christos | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | E4 | Hartford City FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | E1 | FC Baltimore Christos | 3(4) | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | E3 | FC Motown | 3(3) | | | | | | |
| | | | E2 | Georgia Revolution FC | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | E3 | FC Motown | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | FC Baltimore Christos | 0 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 4 | Tulsa Athletic | 1 | | | |
| | | | HC1 | Demize NPSL | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | HC2 | Tulsa Athletic | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | S1 | Tulsa Athletic | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | S2 | Southern States SC | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | S2 | Southern States SC | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | S3 | Naples United FC | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
* ^ $^C$ The Midwest Region semifinals and final were hosted by Minneapolis City SC at Edor Nelson Field (Minneapolis, MN). The East Region semifinals and final were hosted by FC Baltimore Christos at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Essex (Baltimore, MD).
* ^ $^D$ The remaining four teams are reseeded for the national semifinals.

### 2021 NPSL National Championship

Championship MVP: Trevor Amann (DEN)

## Return to Play Series

In early 2021, the NPSL announced the "Return to Play Series" which was originally meant to act as a series of competitive matches ahead of the 2021 summer season between league members. However, following the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertain nature of west coast conferences the format was altered to act as a separate competition from the summer season. The eight members of the Golden Gate Conference were later announced as participants in the "Golden Gate Competition" with a round robin format scheduled over June and July.

### Golden Gate Competition

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FC Davis | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 10 | +14 | 18 |
| 2 | Academica SC | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 13 |
| 3 | Napa Valley 1839 FC | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 13 |
| 4 | El Farolito | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 13 |
| 5 | Sacramento Gold | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 10 |
| 6 | Contra Costa FC | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 9 |
| 7 | Oakland Stompers | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 31 | −23 | 3 |
| 8 | Sonoma County Sol | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 20 | −9 | 3 |

#### Playoffs

Note: Games are hosted by the highest seed unless noted otherwise
| Quarterfinals July 31–August 1 | Quarterfinals July 31–August 1 | Quarterfinals July 31–August 1 | Semifinals August 7 | Semifinals August 7 | Semifinals August 7 | Final August 14 | Final August 14 | Final August 14 |
| 1 | FC Davis | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Sonoma County Sol | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Sonoma County Sol | 3 | 8 | Sonoma County Sol | 0 | | | |
| | | | 4 | El Farolito | 4 | | | |
| 4 | El Farolito | 7 | 4 | El Farolito | 4 | | | |
| 5 | Sacramento Gold | 4 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sacramento Gold | 4 | | | | 4 | El Farolito | 0 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Academica SC | 2 |
| 2 | Academica SC | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | Academica SC | 2 |
| 7 | Oakland Stompers | 0 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Oakland Stompers | 0 | 2 | Academica SC | 2 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Napa Valley 1839 FC | 0 | | | |
| 3 | Napa Valley 1839 FC | 3* | 3 | Napa Valley 1839 FC | 0 | | | |
| 6 | Contra Costa FC | 2 | | | | | | |
Bold = winner * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score