Soccer's history in America is littered with overly ambitious owners, poor investments and old players. The NASL was founded in 1960. It was run like a major league. However, attendances were not as high. Then, indoor soccer took over in the 1970s and '80s, with solid fan showings but financial woes. The MISL folded in 1992 but its legacy lives on in the current American soccer pyramid.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer has a long history in America, despite its success. It was formed in 1996 with 10 teams. In 1996 it was divided into two conferences, the Eastern or Western. At first, the sport was overshadowed by the popularity of Football and Basketball in the US, and took several years before it gained widespread popularity. It is now one of the most loved sports in the country with more than 300 teams participating in the league.
Pasuckuakohowog
The late 1800s saw the debut of soccer on American soil. After the Great Depression, soccer was a huge success. The American Soccer League was created in the 1920s, and its foundation teams were drawn from industrial towns. As soccer became more mainstream, more World Cups were hosted in the USA. The US is home to more soccer fans than any other country. Below is a brief history on American soccer.
U.S. National Team Men's
The U.S. men's national team has been a frequent participant in major international tournaments. In 1994, they won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The men went on win the CONCACAF Gold Cup that year. In August of that year, they beat Canada in overtime at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the first game in which the United States had defeated Canada. This set a new record in U.S. soccer history.
Women's National Team
The women's national soccer team was established in 1987 and began to play competitive international soccer. The team played in a series of games against Italy, but their results were mixed. They lost three games against Denmark, and drew one. The US won the game against the Soviet Union 8-0, the team's biggest win. However, the team's luck didn't last forever.
U.S. athletes make World Cup appearances
With this year's qualifiers, the U.S. Men's National Team will make its fourth World Cup appearance. The U.S. Men's National Team finished the qualifying cycle with four wins and one draw. The U.S. men’s National Team won the Nike U.S. Cup Gold Cup and the U.S. Men's National Team clinched the World Cup in the first time ever in history.