The National Independent Soccer Association Thursday announced three new clubs to its professional landscape.

Chattanooga FC, Detroit FC and Oakland Roots SC have joined the league. Chattanooga and Detroit are competing in the NPSL Members Cup this summer and fall, along with the Cosmos.

NISA has 13 teams for the 2020 season.

“Bringing Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC and Oakland Roots SC all in to NISA at the same time is very exciting!” NISA commissioner John Prutch said in a statement. “These clubs truly represent their communities and are proof the open system for soccer is the best way forward. Each has built their support the correct way and that support will sustain them and NISA for years to come. Congratulations to each of them (owners, staff, players, and supporters) for taking that step to play professional soccer.”

Chattanooga FC chairman Tim Kelly expressed his enthusiasm for the club’s step into the professional division.

“Everyone at Chattanooga FC is excited about being accepted into NISA and joining the ranks of American professional soccer,” he said. “This fulfills a promise to our 3,254 supporter-owners while maintaining the philosophical tenets the club has held since our founding in 2009.”

Detroit City FC owner Sean Mann expressed similar sentiments.

“Being accepted in to NISA represents an exciting new chapter for Detroit City FC. With the support of the city we love and represent, what started out as a community organizing project nearly 10 years ago has evolved in to the city’s first professional soccer team in decades,” he said. “As a member of NISA we look to continue growing the sport of soccer in Detroit.”

Oakland Roots SC is set to kick off at home against Cal United Aug. 31.

“Roots is thrilled to join NISA and take this next step in growing professional soccer in the U.S.,” Roots co-founder and president Benno Nagel said. “Acceptance into NISA marks the official return of professional soccer to Oakland, and we couldn’t be more excited to deliver soccer, at this level, to our local community.”

Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC will begin full league play in Spring 2020.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.