North American Soccer League facts for kids
| Founded | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1985 (last season 1984) |
| Country | United States and Canada |
| Most championships | New York Cosmos (5) |
The North American Soccer League (NASL) is the name of two different men's soccer leagues. Both leagues played in North America.
The first NASL had teams in the United States and Canada. It was the top soccer league in both countries. This league played from 1968 to 1984.
The second NASL started playing on April 9, 2011. It had teams in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. This league was the second-highest level of soccer in the U.S. and Canada. It was just below Major League Soccer.
Teams of the NASL (2012 Season)
In 2012, several exciting teams played in the NASL. These teams came from different cities across North America. Take a look at the teams and where they played:
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Joined | Colors | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Silverbacks | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta Silverbacks Park | 1995 | 2011 | Red, Black, White |  Alex Pineda Chacón |
| Carolina RailHawks | Cary, NC | WakeMed Soccer Park | 2006 | 2010 | Orange, Blue, White |  Colin Clarke |
| FC Edmonton | Edmonton, AB | Foote Field | 2010 | 2011 | Blue, White |  Harry Sinkgraven |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Lockhart Stadium | 2006 | 2010 | Yellow, Red, Black |  Daryl Shore |
| Minnesota Stars | Blaine, MN | National Sports Center | 2010 | 2010 | Blue, Gold | Manny Lagos |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | Bayamón, PR | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium | 2003 | 2011 | Orange, White, Sky Blue |  Adrian Whitbread |
| San Antonio Scorpions | San Antonio, TX | Heroes Stadium | 2010 | 2012 | Red, Black. Gold | Tim Hankinson |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | St. Petersburg, FL | Progress Energy Park | 2008 | 2010 | Green, Gold | Ricky Hill |
NASL Champions (1968-1984)
The first NASL was the top soccer league in North America during its time. Here are the teams that won the championship each year:
| Season | Champions | Runner-up |
| 1968 | Atlanta Chiefs | San Diego Toros |
| 1969 | Kansas City Spurs | Atlanta Chiefs |
| 1970 | Rochester Lancers | Washington Darts |
| 1971 | Dallas Tornado | Atlanta Chiefs |
| 1972 | New York Cosmos | St. Louis Stars |
| 1973 | Philadelphia Atoms | Dallas Tornado |
| 1974 | Los Angeles Aztecs | Miami Toros |
| 1975 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Portland Timbers |
| 1976 | Toronto Metros-Croatia | Minnesota Kicks |
| 1977 | New York Cosmos | Seattle Sounders |
| 1978 | New York Cosmos | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| 1979 | Vancouver Whitecaps | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| 1980 | New York Cosmos | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
| 1981 | Chicago Sting | New York Cosmos |
| 1982 | New York Cosmos | Seattle Sounders |
| 1983 | Tulsa Roughnecks | Toronto Blizzard |
| 1984 | Chicago Sting | Toronto Blizzard |
The team with the most championships in the old NASL was the New York Cosmos. They won five titles!
See also
In Spanish: North American Soccer League para niños
