Each season, the make-up of the UPSL Georgia Conference continues to grow more compelling. On the heels of a fantastic Spring\Summer season (that technically is still going at the national level with the national playoffs), plans for expansion and growth are already confirmed for the Fall 2025 season. Approval for an increase to a total of 16 teams from 14 will include the return of the Atlanta United Academy to the Georgia Premier Division.
Note: Though the approval was given for 16 teams, the Division 1 Champions, Atlanta Fire United FC, have pulled out of the competition at a very late time which will leave 15 total teams in the Georgia Premier for the Fall season. Despite this, the Premier will still be split into 2 zones. Zone 1 will have 7 teams and Zone 2 will have 8 teams. Each zone will play a total of 10 regular season games.
Playoffs and Relegation: The top 4 teams in each zone will qualify for the playoffs, with the bottom team in each being relegated to Georgia Division 1. The winner of the conference playoffs will enter the first round of the UPSL National Playoffs.
The members of each zone are listed below.
Premier Division Zone 1
1. Atlético Buford SC
2. FC Columbus Elite
3. Georgia Athletic SC
4. Georgia Impact SC
5. Georgia Revolution FC
6. Kalonji Pro-Profile
7. Filial Pachuca Georgia
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Premier Division Zone 2:
1. Atlanta United Academy
2. FC Birmingham
3. Dalton United FC
4. Limeño Georgia
5. North Georgia United FC
6. Potros FC
7. Scenic City FC
8. Soccer Saves Lives FC
Of note, UMA FC have also decided not to compete in Premier for the Fall season thought they will be putting in a Division 1 team for the Fall season and a women’s team for the Spring 2026 season.
New team to the conference, Chattanooga FC will enter their 2’s in the UPSL Georgia conference, but have decided to start in Division 1 rather than Premier. All intentions are for Chattanooga FC 2 to move on to fill the open spot in Premier for the Spring 2026 season.
Note: (New teams entering the UPSL must enter at the Division I level unless
the UPSL Application Committee determines that the new team qualifies for
immediate entry to the Premier Division, and, the relevant Division is not already
operating at maximum size. Qualification for entry to the Premier Division can
include, but is not limited to the following:
* Team comes with previous experience in a National League such as NPSL, USL league 2, or higher.
* Team has participated in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup and advanced beyond the first qualifying round not via a forfeit or bye.
* Team has participated in National Amateur Cup competition and advanced to the National Finals.
* Team is the U19 age group of an existing MLS Next member club.
* Club can demonstrate that UPSL Premier Division Minimum Standards can be met.)
An interesting move from Fountain City FC is that they are dissolving their club to merge with UMA FC for the Fall season. Which means the 2 clubs will become one and combine resources starting this Fall in Division 1. Again, UMA FC is another team that will qualify to return to Premier in the Spring if the circumstances remain the same based on the information posted above.
FC Birmingham were given the choice to stay in the Premier Division, even though they were set to be relegated, due to the increase in teams. They accepted. The other potential team relegated, Albion SC Atlanta, did not register for the fall season but they could have also been offered a space, especially now since Atlanta Fire United FC have pulled out.
Scenic City FC qualified for promotion to Premier by winning the Division 1 playoffs with a very entertaining final against Atlético Buford SC. With two extra spots in the top division, Atlético Buford SC qualified as the playoff runner-up to be placed in Premier for the Fall to fill the new, available spot created. Atlético had a fantastic run in Division 1 and are professionally run, only narrowly losing one game in the regular season to eventual winners Scenic City FC and runner up in the Division 1 playoff final to the same Scenic City side.
Georgia Impact, who finished 4th in the Georgia North Zone behind the 3 promoted clubs, were invited up for the final spot.
As far as the Atlanta Fire puling out, it was decided not to fill the spot left vacant by their departure with any other Division 1 team at this time and go in as configured and explained above. The plan will be to move to 16 or maybe even 18 teams in the Spring 2026 season, still in 2 zones.
Whatever the configuration, competition in Premier will be as fierce as ever with even more potentially compelling match ups added and more to play for this season. Pro-Profile will be looking to repeat as Conference Champions and include the goal of winning the division playoffs to get back to the national stage!
Stay Tuned for more….
