North American Soccer League

In 1967, two pro soccer leagues started in the United States: the FIFA-sanctioned United Soccer Association and the unsanctioned National Professional Soccer League. It has been suggested that the timing of this was related to the huge amount of attention given throughout the English-speaking world given to the victory by England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup and the resulting documentary film, Goal. The National Professional Soccer League had a national television contract in the U.S. with the CBS television network, but the ratings for matches were unacceptable even by weekend daytime standards and the arrangement was terminated. The leagues merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). The NASL lasted until 1984 when it folded. However, four NASL teams (Chicago, Minnesota, New York, and San Diego) joined the Major Indoor Soccer League for its 1984-85 season. The NASL itself operated an indoor soccer league from 1979-82 and in 1983-84.

NASL Champions

• 1968 Atlanta Chiefs
• 1969 Kansas City Spurs
• 1970 Rochester Lancers
• 1971 Dallas Tornado
• 1972 New York Cosmos
• 1973 Philadelphia Atoms
• 1974 Los Angeles Aztecs
• 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies
• 1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia
• 1977 New York Cosmos
• 1978 New York Cosmos
• 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps
• 1980 New York Cosmos
• 1981 Chicago Sting
• 1982 New York Cosmos
• 1983 Tulsa Roughnecks
• 1984 Chicago Sting