San Francisco Soccer Football League
American soccer league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The San Francisco Soccer Football League or SFSFL, established in 1902, is "the oldest American soccer league in continuous existence."[1][2]
| |
| Founded | 1902 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF (NAFU) |
| Number of clubs | 31 |
| Domestic cup | U.S. Open Cup |
| International cup | CONCACAF Champions League |
| Website | sfsfl.com |
The SFSFL is a men's semi-professional and amateur soccer league consisting of teams from San Francisco, California and surrounding cities in the Bay Area. The SFSFL is affiliated with the United States Adult Soccer Association region IV California Soccer Association-North[3] and regularly sends teams to the National Amateur Cup.[4] SFSFL teams have won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup four times.[5][6]
History
Established in 1902 as the California Football Association, the SFSFL is the oldest soccer league continuously operating in the United States,[7] pre-dating even the 1913 foundation of the United States Soccer Federation. The next-oldest U.S. leagues, the Cosmopolitan Soccer League of New York City and the National Soccer League of Chicago, were formed in 1923 and 1938, respectively. With several community leaders and soccer enthusiasts, alike, they created football (soccer) clubs, such as: Pickwicks, Pastimes, Barbarians, Hornets, Vampires, American Rifles, Independents, Albion Rovers and the Thistles FC. These clubs help lay the foundation for organized adult soccer which led to the inception of the SFSFL. Teams played soccer matches on Sundays, competing with teams as far north as Sacramento when transportation was only by ferry-boat. Over time, the SFSFL helped launch the California Soccer Association and would compete in the first California State Cup in 1904. Dominating the national soccer scene from the earliest days, SFSFL teams have won four Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and numerous state and national titles, and hosted and played international. The SFSFL would be known across the country, producing memorable clubs, players, personalities, all-star games and national champions. SFSFL members have been inducted into both the US Soccer and CSAN Halls of Fame for contributing to the game.
Some of the league's earliest teams still in operation are:
- Olympic Club (1916)[8]
- SFIAC (1917)[9]
- SF Vikings SC (1922)[10]
- Club Peru (1926)
Organization
The league currently has three divisions, playing from March through November. Premier Division games are played at Boxer Stadium. Other divisions split games between Crocker Amazon Park, West Sunset, Beach Chalet, and the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park.
Each team is individually owned and team owners approve new team membership. Annual divisional promotion and relegation occur keeping teams competitive. Division winners are awarded a permanent trophy with teams' names placed on the century-old trophy as well as awarded prize money. Players are granted amateur status preserving NCAA eligibility.[11] Standard FIFA games laws are used.[12] Teams are allowed 22 roster players, of whom 17 can play on game day. A three-referee crew are assigned to each match. Elite officials from FIFA to the state level travel across California to officiate in the SFSFL.
2026 team list
This is a list of the participants in the 2026 season:[13]
Premier Division
- Club Marin
- International San Francisco
- Lands End FC
- Olympic Club
- Mexicali
- San Francisco Celtic
- San Francisco City
- San Francisco Elite SC
- San Francisco Glens
- San Francisco Hibernian FC
- San Francisco Italian AC
- San Francisco Vikings SC
Majors Division
- Azteca FC
- CD San Nicolás
- Club Tepa
- Deportivo Cometa
- Indy Athletic FC
- Inter San Francisco [n 1]
- FC Jabronis [n 2]
- Oakland SC [n 3]
- San Francisco Corinthians
- San Francisco Glens [n 1]
- SF Young Boys
- Valencia Street Rovers
First Division
- 7x7 Club Deportivo
- Berenice SC
- Bluff City FC
- C.A. San Francisco
- El Farolito
- FC Jabronis [n 1]
- Inter San Francisco [n 3]
- Kopê FC
- Norcal Shockwaves FC
- Peninsula FC
- Persepolis SF
- San Francisco Glens (u-23)
Former clubs
- DZ United
- Juventus F.C.
- San Francisco Fog
- Sport Alianza FC
- Tornado
- Sport & Social Club
- United SC
- Club Marin [n 1]
- FC Dirty Birds
- Innisfree FC
- MCFC
- Melchester Rovers FC
- Oakland Leopards FC
- Olympic Club [n 1]
- San Francisco Battery FC
- Total Football FC
- Cobras FC
- Oakland SC [n 1]
- Notes
Champions
| Season | Premier Champion | Majors Division Champion | First Division Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1958 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1961 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1967 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1969 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1970 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1971 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1973 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1978 | Greek-American A.C. | San Francisco Glens | |
| 1979 | San Francisco Glens | ||
| 1981 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1983 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1984 | San Francisco Glens | ||
| 1985 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1986 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1987 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1988 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1989 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1990 | San Francisco Glens | ||
| 1991 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1992 | El Farolito Soccer Club | ||
| 1993 | El Farolito Soccer Club | ||
| 1994 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1995 | Greek-American A.C. | ||
| 1996 | El Farolito Soccer Club | ||
| 1999 | El Farolito Soccer Club | ||
| 2001 | El Farolito Soccer Club | San Francisco Glens | |
| 2003 | El Farolito Soccer Club | ||
| 2011 | Deportivo GIMS | SF Celtic | SF City FC |
| 2012 | Mezcala SC | Tyneside FC | Berenice Reserves |
| 2013 | Mezcala SC | Bay City Rovers | Kezar FC |
| 2014 | Olympic Club | Olympic Club Reserves | SF Battery |
| 2015 | El Farolito | SF City FC Black | Primero de Mayo |
| 2016 | Olympic Club[14] | Berenice | Total Football FC |
| 2017 | El Farolito Soccer Club | SF Celtic SC | Innisfree FC |
| 2018 | Olympic Club | SF Battery FC | SF Metropolitan FC |
| 2019 | Olympic Club | SF Metropolitan FC | Cantalao-Peru |
| 2020 | El Farolito Soccer Club | SF Celtic SC | Innisfree FC |
| 2021 | SF Vikings | San Francisco Glens | |
| 2022 | SF Italian Athletic Club | International San Francisco | SF Young Boys |
| 2023 | Olympic Club | SF Metro Elite FC | Oakland SC Dev |
| 2024 | SFIAC | SF Young Boys | SF Glens SC U23 |
| 2025 | Olympic Club | Mexicali FC | Valencia Street Rovers |
Notable Members
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions:
- 1976 San Francisco Italian Athletic Club
- 1985 Greek-American AC
- 1993 El Farolito Soccer Club
- 1994 Greek-American AC
National Amateur Cup Finalists:
- 1979 San Francisco Glens
- 1990 San Francisco Glens
- 1991 El Farolito Soccer Club
National Soccer Hall of Fame members:[15][16]
- Matthew Boxer (1961)
- Ernie Feibusch (1984)
- Stephen Negoesco (2003)
United States men's national soccer team coach Lothar Osiander[17]
United States men's national soccer team capped players:[18]
Major League Soccer players:
