Overly ambitious owners, poor investments, aging players have all played a part in the history of American soccer. In the 1960s, the NASL was formed and spent like a major league, but attendances didn't reflect that. In the 1970s and 1980s, indoor soccer took control. There were strong fan attendances but no financial success. While the MISL was disbanded in 1992, the legacy of this organization is still evident in the American soccer pyramid.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer has a long history in America, despite its success. Founded in 1996, it consisted of 10 teams and was split into two conferences: the Eastern and Western. It took many years for the sport to gain widespread popularity. The league now has over 300 participating teams.
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The late 1800s saw the debut of soccer on American soil. Because of the Great Depression, soccer exploded in popularity. The American Soccer League, whose foundation teams were drawn mainly from industrial cities, was founded in the 1920s. As soccer became more mainstream, more World Cups were hosted in the USA. The US today has more fans than any other country. Below is a brief history on American soccer.
U.S. Men’s National Team
Numerous appearances by the U.S. Men's National Team have been made at major international tournaments. In 1994, they won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The men went on win the CONCACAF Gold Cup that year. They beat Canada by a score of 2-1 in overtime at Pasadena's Rose Bowl. This was the first ever time that the United States beat Canada in a soccer match. It also set a record for U.S. soccer.
Women's National Team
In 1987, the women's national team was founded and began playing competitive international soccer. The team played a series of games in Italy, but the 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 fortunes didn't last forever.
World Cup appearances by U.S. players
This year's qualifiers will mark the fourth World Cup appearance for the U.S. National Team. The U.S. Men's National Team won four of the qualifying rounds and drew one. The U.S. men's national team won the Nike U.S. Cup and the Gold Cup, and they clinched the World Cup for the first time in history.