Midwest Premier League

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Promotion Relegation

Steel City FC becomes the first ever relegated club in the Heartland Conference

Photo: Miles Whitworth

In a dramatic and heart-wrenching match, Joliet, IL-based Steel City FC became the first team ever to be relegated from the Heartland Conference to Division 2 after a 2-1 defeat to Czarni Jaslo. This historic game determined the fate of both clubs, as they were tied in points with only two games left in the season. The winner of this match would likely secure their Division 1 survival, given that head-to-head points are the league’s primary tiebreaker.

The match was a true battle for survival, with both teams fighting fiercely to maintain their position in Division 1. Steel City FC appeared to be on the path to victory when Tre Adams scored in the 74th minute, giving his team a crucial lead. The Steel City fans were on the edge of their seats, hoping that their team could hold on for the win.

However, the tide turned in the final minutes of the game. Czarni Jaslo, the Heartland Conference champions of 2023, displayed their resilience and determination by scoring two incredibly late goals. The equalizer came in the 87th minute, and the decisive goal followed shortly after in the 91st minute, breaking the hearts of Steel City FC and their supporters.

The relegation of Steel City FC marks a significant moment in the Heartland Conference history. The club’s journey this season has been filled with challenges, and despite their efforts, they could not avoid the drop to Division 2. The unexpected involvement of Czarni Jaslo in the relegation battle, especially after their championship win last season, added an extra layer of intensity to this critical match. Earlier this year, the league implemented a two division Heartland Conference in 2024, assigning one relegation spot and two promotion spots in this first season, as plan of the league’s 2030 Plan.

Ivaldo Basso, Steel City FC Chairman, reflected on the match and the broader implications for the league, stating, “Semi-professional soccer won tonight. When the final whistle blew, one end of the field erupted in elation while the other slumped to a low somberness. Pro/rel did that. Historically, a late season game between two bottom teams would be a pedestrian exercise. Kudos to the MWPL brass for boldly pushing pro rel.

As Steel City FC prepares for their new chapter in Division 2, they will undoubtedly reflect on this season’s lessons and aim to return stronger and contest for a promotion spot next year.

2030 MWPL Plan: Heartland Conference Update

The clubs of the Heartland Conference have proposed a two-division plan, based on sporting merit, to the league’s Board of Directors for the 2024 season. As the league grows through expansion and conferences shift geographically, the final determination on the establishment of the tiered system will be made early in the calendar year. 

If the Heartland Conference does not reach a minimum number of clubs in ’24, a single-division format will be used, the results of which may serve to seed clubs into multiple divisions in ’25. 

The multi-division system will include some form of promotion and relegation, which will be determined prospectively.

For clubs interested in joining the MWPL, you can find more information here: midwestpl.com/membershipinfo. Applications will be accepted until the Expansion Deadline on December 31st.

You can stay up to date on all the latest league news by following the MWPL on Facebook (mwplsoccer), Instagram (midwest_pl), and Twitter (midwestpl).

2030 Plan: The MWPL Announces New League Vision

The Midwest Premier League is excited to announce the “MWPL 2030 Plan”, a vision that will restructure the competition model.

Originally presented to the league’s member clubs during the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March, the plan is a road map for a future tiered system that will feature promotion and relegation.

Implementation of the plan, by conference – the Great Lakes, Gateway, and Heartland – will vary depending on the pace of expansion over the coming seasons. It’s anticipated that some competition formats for certain conferences will change well prior to 2030, even as early as 2025, as our conferences make progress toward the future vision.  The 35-team league will continue to seek to grow within the current footprint as well as the rest of the Midwest region.