Following the cancellation of the
2020 Spring Season on April 27, 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, NISA announced initial Fall 2020 season plans and the creation of a new tournament called the
NISA Independent Cup. The region-based competition would include NISA clubs, including new expansion sides the
New York Cosmos and
New Amsterdam FC, and both independent professional and high quality amateur teams. On July 1, NISA officially announced the cup along with the 15 teams that would be participating. In total, four member clubs took part with the rest of the field consisting of teams from the
National Premier Soccer League,
United Premier Soccer League, and
Gulf Coast Premier League. The participants were split into four geographical regions with each operating independently and making decisions (format, tiebreaker rules, fan attendance policies, etc.) autonomously. All games were live streamed online through
MyCujoo, with some also being broadcast on local television. The Great Lakes Division also served as a rekindling of the
Rust Belt Derby, a former in-season competition previously held in the NPSL, with
2019 NPSL national semifinalist Cleveland SC taking the place of the now folded
AFC Cleveland.
Central Plains Region The four teams were split into pairs before playing two games against one-another. If tied on aggregate after two games, with no away goal rule, teams would play two 10-minute overtime periods followed by a
penalty kick shootout if necessary. Winner of each aggregate competition meet in the Championship match. Both matches between Louisiana Krewe and Gaffa were played at Holden Stadium on the campus of
Pearl River Community College in
Poplarville, Mississippi. Lone Star Republic hosted the first game against Mansfield Revolution at
Greenhill School in
Addison, Texas. The Revolution hosted the second at
Mansfield Summit High School in
Arlington, Texas.
Semifinals Final Great Lakes Region The three teams competed in a round-robin competition, each playing a total of two games. Any games tied after 90 minutes were set to be decided by a
penalty kick shootout. Both games involving Detroit City took place at
Keyworth Stadium in
Hamtramck, Michigan. The remaining match between Cleveland and Buffalo was played at
Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium in
Erie, Pennsylvania. The Great Lakes Champion was determined by most points, followed by head-to head, followed by goal differential.
Standings Results Mid-Atlantic Region The four teams completed in a round-robin competition, playing a total of three games each. The Mid-Atlantic Champion was determined by most points, followed by head-to head, followed by goal differential. All games were originally going to be hosted by the Bobcats at the
Maryland SoccerPlex in
Germantown, Maryland behind closed doors. On July 24, NISA announced that region's tournament was postponed due to a surge of
COVID-19 cases in Maryland and the subsequent closing of Maryland SoccerPlex to professional sports. On July 28, NISA announced that five of the region's six games would be played at Evergreen Sportsplex in
Leesburg, Virginia, with the August 2 match between New Amsterdam and the Cosmos being played at Hudson Sports Complex in
Warwick, New York. The Thursday, August 6 match between New Amsterdam and Maryland Bobcats was called off mid-way through the first half due to inclement weather, with the following match between the Cosmos and Baltimore postponed. On August 22, NISA announced the first make-up date with New Amsterdam taking on Maryland on Sunday, August 23 at YSC Sports Complex in
Wayne, Pennsylvania. The second make-up was announced on September 25 with the Cosmos hosting Baltimore at
Mitchel Athletic Complex in
Uniondale, New York on Saturday, October 10.
Standings Results Southeast Region The four teams competed in a round-robin competition against one-another in various venues in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Both
Finley Stadium in
Chattanooga, Tennessee and Memorial Stadium in
Columbia, South Carolina hosted matches the first two weeks. The final group stage round that was set to be played at
Columbia International University in
Columbia, South Carolina on July 25 was called off due to weather. The Southeast Regional Champion will now be determined by group stage points instead of the originally scheduled championship final and third place match, with the final set of games moved to Finley Stadium on August 1.
Standings Results ==Fall season==