Overly ambitious owners, poor investments, aging players have all played a part in the history of American soccer. In 1960s America's Soccer League was established. Although it spent as a major league, attendances weren't reflective of that. In the 1970s and 1980s, indoor soccer took control. There were strong fan attendances but no financial success. Although the MISL was closed in 1992, its legacy is still firmly rooted within 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. 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. 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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In the late 1800s soccer was played on American soil for the first time. As the country experienced massive growth from the Great Depression, soccer spread like wildfire. The American Soccer League was established in 1920 and its founding teams were drawn from the industrial areas. The US hosted more World Cups as the game became more popular. The US today has more fans than any other 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. 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 team was founded and began playing competitive international soccer. The team played a series games in Italy, with mixed results. They lost three to Denmark and drew 1. The US won 8-0 in the Soviet Union game, their greatest win. But the team's fortunes did not last forever.
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 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.