The US's soccer history has been marred by overly ambitious owners as well as poor investments and aging athletes. In the 1960s, the NASL was formed and spent like a major league, but attendances didn't reflect that. 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 has a long history in America, despite its success. It was founded in 1996. It had 10 teams. Later, it was split into two conferences: Eastern or Western. It took many years for the sport to gain widespread popularity. But now it is one of the most popular sports in the country, with over 300 teams competing in the league.
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Soccer was first played in America in the late 1800s. 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 the game became more mainstream, the US began to host more World Cups. Today, the US has more fans than any country on earth. Below is a brief history on American soccer.
U.S. National Team Men's
The U.S. National Team Men's has participated in many major international tournaments. The men won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 1994. They also went on to win CONCACAF Gold Cup 2002. 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, women's soccer was started in competitive international soccer. The team played several games in Italy but had mixed results. 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 didn't enjoy a long-lasting success.
U.S. players 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 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.