After the National Professional Soccer League (1990-2001) folded in 2001, the slow and steady decline in the popularity of professional indoor soccer accelerated rapidly.  Since 2001, the sport has seen an alphabet soup of leagues, re-branding efforts, fly-by-night franchises, and continuously diminishing budgets.

Frankly, none of the chaotic leagues that have hung a shingle since 2001 deserve their own entry here, so we have consolidated all of the 21st century leagues in this catch-all category of “Indoor Soccer (2001-Today)”.  This includes franchises from the following leagues (including a couple of pre-cursor leagues, the Premier Soccer Alliance and the World Indoor Soccer League):

Premier Soccer Alliance Franchise List (1998):

An offshoot of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (1993-1997).  Became the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999.

• Arizona Thunder (1998)
• Dallas Sidekicks (1998)
• Portland Pythons (1998)
• Sacramento Knights (1998)

World Indoor Soccer League Franchise List (1999-2001):

Grew out of the demise of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (1993-1997).  After the 2001 season, Dallas, San Diego and St. Louis merged into the Major Indoor Soccer League.

• Arizona Thunder (1999)
• Arizona Thundercats (2000)
• Dallas Sidekicks (1999-2001)
• Houston Hotshots (1999-2000)
• Monterrey La Raza (1999-2000)
• Portland Pythons (1999)
• Sacramento Knights (1999-2001)
• San Diego Sockers (2001)
• St. Louis Steamers (2000-2001)
• Utah Freezz (1999-2001)

Major Indoor Soccer League Franchise List (2001-2008)

Six surviving clubs from the defunct National Professional Soccer League (1990-2001) re-organized as the Major Indoor Soccer League for the fall/winter of 2001-02.  In doing so, the reclaimed the MISL name, hoping to capitalize on nostalgia for the first and most successful indoor soccer organization, which existed from 1978 to 1992.

This second incarnation of the MISL folded in June 2008, with most of the league’s remaining franchises splitting into two separate camps and forming the National Indoor Soccer League (2008-2009) and the Xtreme Soccer League (2008-2009).

• Baltimore Blast (2001-2008)
• California Cougars (2005-2008)
• Chicago Storm (2004-2008)
• Cleveland Crunch (2001-2002)
• Cleveland Force (2002-2005)
• Dallas Sidekicks (2002-2004)
• Detroit Ignition (2006-2008)
• Harrisburg (PA) Heat (2001-2003)
• Kansas City Comets (2001-2005)
• Milwaukee Wave (2001-2008)
• Monterrey Fury (2003-2004) – Folded midseason 2004
• Monterrey La Raza (2007-2008)
• New Jersey Ironmen (2007-2008)
• Orlando Sharks (2007-2008)
• Philadelphia Kixx (2001-2008)
• San Diego Sockers (2002-2004) – Folded midseason 2004
• St. Louis Steamers (2003-2006)

National Indoor Soccer League Franchise List (2008-2009)

One of the two offshoot leagues, along with the Xtreme Soccer League (2008-2009) which formed out of the break-up of the second Major Indoor Soccer League (2001-2008).  After one desultory season, the NISL clubs reunited with the Milwaukee franchise of the failed Xtreme Soccer League and formed – wait for it – the third incarnation of the Major Indoor Soccer League.  All but a handful of message board obsessive had long since stopped paying attention.

• Baltimore Blast (2008-2009)
• Massachusetts Twisters (2008-2009)
• Monterrey La Raza (2008-2009)
• Philadelphia Kixx (2008-2009)
• Rockford (IL) Rampage (2008-2009)

Xtreme Soccer League (2008-2009)

One of the two offshoot leagues, along with the Xtreme Soccer League (2008-2009) which formed out of the break-up of the second Major Indoor Soccer League (2001-2008).  The XSL laughably attempted to market itself as a “lifestyle brand” that was not simply about indoor soccer, but also a year-long immersive multi-media…oh, who cares.   It failed miserably and folded after one season.  The league’s sole survivor, the indestructible Milwaukee Wave (born 1984) hooked up with its old buddies in the National Indoor Soccer League and formed the THIRD version of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

• Chicago Storm (2008-2009)
• Detroit Ignition (2008-2009)
• Milwaukee Wave (2008-2009)
• New Jersey Ironmen (2008-2009)

Major Indoor Soccer League Franchise List (2009-Present)

• Baltimore Blast (2009-Present)
• Chicago Riot (2010-2011)
• Milwaukee Wave (2009-Present)
• Missouri Comets (2010-Present)
• Monterrey La Raza (2009-2010)
• Norfolk (VA) Sharx (2011-Present)
• Omaha Vipers (2010-2011)
• Philadelphia Kixx (2009-2010)
• Rochester Lancers (2011-Present)
• Rockford (IL) Raptors (2009-2010)
• Syracuse Silver Knights (2011-Present)
• Wichita (KS) Wings (2011-Present)