The history of soccer in the US is a mixed bag of overly ambitious owners, poor investments, and aging players. The NASL was established in 1960 and managed to attract a large number of fans. 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
Despite the success of the American League of Professional Football, Major League Soccer's history in the US has been somewhat obscure. It was established in 1996. There were 10 teams, and it was then divided into two conferences: Eastern and Western. It took several years before the sport gained widespread popularity. Now, it is one the most popular sports in America with over 300 teams participating in this league.
Pasuckuakohowog
In the late 1800s, soccer was played for the first time on American soil. Soccer grew rapidly in America as a result of the Great Depression. The American Soccer League was established in 1920 and its founding teams were drawn from the industrial areas. The US started hosting more World Cups, as the game became more mainstream. Today, the US has more fans than any country on earth. Below is a brief history of US soccer.
U.S. Men’s National Team
The U.S. Men's National Team has made numerous appearances 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. In August of that year, they beat Canada in overtime at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. This was the first match in U.S. Soccer history in which the United States defeated Canada.
Women's National Team
In 1987, the women’s national soccer team was formed and began playing international competitive soccer. They played a series in Italy and the results were mixed. They lost three games to Denmark and drew one. The team's greatest win came in a game against the Soviet Union, which the US won 8-0. However, the team's fortunes didn't last forever.
U.S. athletes make World Cup appearances
The U.S. Men’s National Team will be making its fourth appearance at the World Cup with this year's qualifiers. The U.S. Men's National Team finished the qualifying cycle with four wins and one draw. The U.S. men’s team won the Nike U.S. Cup as well as the Gold Cup. They also won the World Cup for only the second time in their history.