MAJOR LEAGUE INDOOR SOCCER LAUNCHES MLISX

Chicago, Illinois - Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS) announced today the launch of Major League Indoor Soccer Extended (MLISX), a men’s amateur indoor soccer league in North America designed to provide players, coaches, and officials a chance to compete and work toward promotion to the MLIS.

MLISX is run by the MLIS, but each franchise is independently owned and managed. The league is built to be accessible, with a straightforward $1,500 season fee and no multi-year contracts or performance bond requirements. Its cost-conscious structure makes it one of the most affordable options among similar indoor soccer leagues.

MLISX teams will receive a range of benefits including $5,000 in total prize money for the 2025-26 season, a potential pathway of promotion to the MLIS, complimentary game balls, league support in operations, marketing, sponsorships, and much more.

THE OPERATIONS

Mohamad “Mo” Azhar, owner of Summit City United's (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) men's and women's teams within the MLIS and Women’s Major League Indoor Soccer (WMLIS), will act as the director of MLISX. 

In addition to his time within the MLIS and WMLIS, his experience spans competitive high school soccer in Oklahoma, regional success with Rise Futsal Academy, and time in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) with Azul City FC. 

Azhar continued his playing career at Indiana Tech before transitioning into coaching, where he now leads both Alianza, Indiana Futsal Club’s high school team, and the U14 Rangers Academy. 

Under his leadership, Summit City United’s men’s squad finished in the top six league standings in its MLIS season debut, and the women’s team reached the WMLIS finals but fell short to the Chicago Mustangs.

 "We’re excited to launch our MLISX program and couldn’t think of a more deserving person to lead this project,” said Bernie Lilavois, MLIS commissioner. “Mo has been very active and working hard across the country, helping grow soccer at the amateur level for many years.”

In the coming weeks, the league anticipates welcoming teams from across the United States to participate in this program's inaugural season.

For more information on the exciting opportunities available within the MLISX including details on player, coach, and team participation, please visit www.mlispro.com/mlisx.