KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [Opening Round Schedule] The 2021 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship Opening Round hits the pitch today for Day One games. The 40-team NAIA Opening Round event at 10 campus locations features #1 vs. #4 and #2 vs. #3 matchups today. Each games winner will earn a spot in Saturday's contest with a line at the Final Site in Decatur, Ala. on the line. The 63rd Annual Men's Soccer NAIA National Championship will be played at Jack Allen Soccer Complex from November 30th through December 6th. 

This year’s opening round field includes 27 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large. Automatic berths were given to teams that either won their respective conference tournament title, regular-season championship, finished runner-up at the conference tournament or were awarded the conference automatic berth in the absence of a conference tournament. The at-large bids were determined by the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Selection Committee. This committee consists of one representative from each geographical area, a representative from the National Administrative Council, the president of the NAIA-Men’s Soccer Coaches Association, and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.

All opening round matches will be streamed by the host institution. 

The NAIA Network – the association’s official video streaming home – will broadcast all eight matches live at the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship final site in Decatur, Ala. with the championship game being shown on ESPN3. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-championship tournament package is available at $34.95. For more information and to pre-register, click HERE.

Qualifier Highlights

• Bartlesville Bracket
  • Hosts Oklahoma Wesleyan qualified for the 11th time in program history
  • OKWU ranks first nationally in goals scored and shots on goal
  • Governors State (Ill.) and Oregon Tech are making their first appearance in the national championships
  • Lyon (Ark.) is back in the tournament after missing the cut a year ago
• Bellevue Bracket
  • Olivet Nazarene is the only school in this region not to make the field in 2020
  • McPherson is looking for their first victory in the tournament
  • MidAmerica Nazarene posted eight shutouts in 18 games this season
  • Bellevue (Neb.) tallied 46 assists on their 54 goals scored
• Columbia Bracket
  • Point (Ga.) earns their stripes during its first ever journey to the championships
  • Lindsey Wilson has the most prolific history at the championships with an overall record of 57-17-6
  • Grand View (Iowa) competes at the opening round for the first time since 2019
  • The bracket hosts played 111 of their 238 shots on goal this year
• Columbia - CMU Bracket
  • Central Methodist (Mo.) has won two of the last three red-banners
  • Rio Grande (Ohio) has the second most trips to the championships (21)
  • Northwestern (Iowa) has only previously competed in the Opening Round in 2007
  • Tabor (Kan.) has ended the streak, reaching the field after a 40-year drought
• Costa Mesa Bracket
  • Vanguard (Calif.) is back into the field after a hiatus in 2020
  • Mid-American Christian (Okla.) is one of three teams remaining who do not have a loss in 2021
  • Cumberland (Tenn.) earned an at large bid and looks to earn their first victory in the tournament in school history
  • Marymount California has made two impressive runs to the Semifinals in their six appearances
• Fort Wayne Bracket
  • William Penn (Iowa) and Milligan (Tenn.) are both making their third appearance
  • Hosts Indiana Tech is first in the NAIA with 13 shutouts in 20 games
  • Warner Pacific (Ore.) breaks the second longest streak of missing the championships (2007)
  • This quadrant boasts a combined championship record of 9-13-1
• Marshall Bracket
  • Hosts Missouri Valley are the reigning NAIA National Champions
  • Hastings (Neb.) is one of five schools who have previously won red banners
  • William Carey (Miss.) has played in 38 national tournament games - fourth most in the field
  • Bethel (Ind.) is one of four schools who are competing for the 11th time
• Miami Gardens Bracket
  • Hosted by St. Thomas this is one of two brackets which is scheduled to have weather this week
  • OUAZ is making the field for the first time in the schools brief history
  • UC Merced recorded 70 assists which ranks #1 nationally
  • Georgia Gwinett has only attempted one penalty kick this year
• Mobile Bracket
  • Mobile (Ala.) has an impressive history with a 30-19-3 record and won the championship in 2002
  • In their first year of eligibility, Columbia International (S.C.) punches its ticket into the field
  • Cumberlands (Ky.) is one of 13 teams in the tournament to hold a winning record at the championships
  • Houston-Victoria (Texas) totaled 46 goals on 132 shots on goal this campaign
• West Palm Beach Bracket
  • Keiser (Fla.) was the National Championship Final Site host from 2014 to 2017
  • Florida National is into the field for the first time as a program
  • Dalton State (Ga.) and Tennessee Wesleyan will play on Thursday with the winner earning their programs first ever victory
  • Rain could make an appearance in this bracket, providing challenges on and off the pitch
• For a full look at all of the Opening Round tournaments and matchups, click HERE