The US's soccer history has been marred by overly ambitious owners as well as poor investments and aging athletes. The NASL was established in 1960 and managed to attract a large number of fans. Indoor soccer began to take over in the 1970s. The MISL folded in 1992 but its legacy lives on in the current American soccer pyramid.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a relatively new American sport. It was founded in 1996. It had 10 teams. Later, it was split into two conferences: Eastern or Western. The popularity of Basketball and Football in the USA meant that the sport was initially overlooked. It was not until many years later that it began to gain popularity. It is now one of the most loved sports in the country with more than 300 teams participating in the league.
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Soccer was first played on American soil in the late 1800s. The Great Depression saw the country grow rapidly and soccer became a popular sport. The American Soccer League, whose foundation teams were drawn mainly from industrial cities, was founded in the 1920s. The US started hosting more World Cups, as the game became more mainstream. Today, the US boasts more soccer fans than any country. Here is a brief history about American soccer.
U.S. Men’s National Team
The U.S. men's national team has been a frequent participant in major international tournaments. Most notably, in the summer of 1994, the men won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, and they went on to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002. They beat Canada in overtime in August 1994 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 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 team was founded and began playing competitive international soccer. The team played in a series of games against Italy, but their results were mixed. They lost three of their games to Denmark and won one. The team's greatest win came in a game against the Soviet Union, which the US won 8-0. However, the team didn't enjoy a long-lasting success.
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 had four wins and one draw in the qualifying round. The U.S. men’s national team won both the Nike U.S. Cup & the Gold Cup, and secured the World Cup for first time in American history.