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. Indoor soccer was established in the 1970s and 1980s. It saw strong fan support, but also faced financial difficulties. While the MISL was disbanded in 1992, the legacy of this organization is still evident in the 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 founded in 1996 and consisted of 10 teams. The conference was divided into the Eastern and 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. The league now has over 300 participating teams.
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Soccer was first played in America in the late 1800s. Soccer grew rapidly in America as a result of the Great Depression. The American Soccer League was created in the 1920s, and its foundation teams were drawn from industrial towns. The US hosted more World Cups as the game became more popular. The US today has more fans than any other country. Here's a quick history of US Soccer.
U.S. Men’s National Team
Numerous appearances by the U.S. Men's National Team have been made at major international tournaments. The men won in 1994 the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. They then went on to win CONCACAF Gold Cup. They beat Canada by a score of 2-1 in overtime at Pasadena's Rose Bowl. It was the first time that the United States had ever defeated Canada in soccer.
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, while drawing 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.
World Cup appearances by U.S. players
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 ended the qualifying cycle in fourth place 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.