Greetings, Rangers! Welcome to the 2026 FPR Field Guide! This is your definitive guide to the Midwest Premier League‘s Gateway East division, our future home in 2027!

The Midwest Premier League

The Midwest Premier League (MWPL) is a regional soccer league built around community-driven clubs and local rivalries throughout the Midwest. Founded in 2020, the league has quickly grown into one of the most exciting environments in American lower division soccer.

The MWPL sits within the unofficial “lower division” levels of the American soccer pyramid and features clubs from across the Midwest competing in regional conferences designed to reduce travel and strengthen local supporter culture.

In 2026, the league features:

• More than 70 clubs
• Multiple regional conferences
• Clubs from Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas
• A regular season format built around regional play and postseason qualification

The Gateway East division — home to Forest Park Rangers FC beginning in 2027 — will feature 11 clubs during the 2026 season. If all current clubs remain active, the addition of Forest Park Rangers FC would bring the division to 12 clubs in 2027.

Under MWPL rules, divisions reaching 12 clubs may split into two tiers featuring promotion and relegation — one of the most unique and exciting competitive structures in American soccer.

That means every match matters. Every point matters. And every club has something to play for.

For supporters, the MWPL represents something special:

• Local rivalries
• Independent clubs
• Passionate supporters
• Accessible soccer
• And communities building something of their own

This summer, we invite you to experience it with us.

FPR Expeditions

Throughout the 2026 Midwest Premier League season, Forest Park Rangers FC supporters will gather for a series of official FPR Expeditions — matchday adventures across the St. Louis soccer landscape.

Together, we’ll:

• Visit different MWPL venues
• Support local clubs
• Discover new breweries and restaurants
• Meet fellow supporters
• And experience the growing culture of lower division soccer in our region

Each expedition is more than just a match. It’s a chance to learn the league, build community, create traditions, and prepare for Forest Park Rangers FC’s inaugural season in 2027.

Every supporter who attends an official FPR Expedition will receive a special commemorative expedition badge — one of five collectible FPR summer camp scarf buttons available this season.

Attend multiple expeditions to unlock additional summer camp rewards and recognition.

Whether you attend one match or all five, we hope these expeditions become an opportunity to make new friends, support local soccer, and help build something meaningful together.

So grab your scarf, pack your field guide, and join us on the trail.