Detroit City FC was accepted in the National Independent Soccer Association on December 11, 2019, and began competing in the 2020 Spring season.

[2] After playing a single match, the NISA season was postponed and then ultimately canceled on April 27, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[17] The team did play a friendly match against then NISA member Philadelphia Fury on Saturday, August 31 at home.

Source: Match reports Detroit will enter the 2020 U.S. Open Cup with the rest of the National Independent Soccer Association teams in the Second Round.

[27] It was announced on January 29 that their first opponent would be USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC.