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Number of American soccer clubs documented for this season: 9 (You can see all of these clubs)
For the selected season, this site documents and maps all "top tier" American soccer clubs in the NASL (North American Soccer League). Note that we do NOT cover reserve teams.
Founded: 1975 [folded 1988] Stadium: Soldier Field Stadium Address: 1410 S Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 League: NASL (North American Soccer League) Winner of cup(s):
History: The Chicago Sting (1975-1988) was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1984 to 1988. They won the Soccer Bowl in 1981 and 1984.
The Sting were founded in 1975 by Lee Stern of Chicago. A few years after founding the Sting, Stern brought Willy Roy on as head coach. Roy coached the Sting for the remainder of their outdoor existence.
The team was named in reference to the popular 1973 film, The Sting, whose action was set in Chicago of the 1930s.
The club played at various venues. The outdoor team spread their games around Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, and Comiskey Park during their 20 years of operation. The indoor entry called both Chicago Stadium and the Rosemont Horizon (now the Allstate Arena) home.
During the fall of 1984, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Minnesota joined the MISL for the indoor season. San Diego, Chicago and Minnesota remained with the MISL.
Founded: 1974 [folded 1988] Stadium: Spartan Stadium Stadium Address: 1257 S 10th St, San Jose, CA 95112 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984 in the North American Soccer League. The team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes from 1983 to 1984, and resurfaced (once again as the San Jose Earthquakes) in the Western Soccer Alliance from 1985 to 1988. The franchise also played indoor soccer in the original MISL and in the NASL's indoor circuit. The name Earthquakes came from a newspaper contest in the San Jose Mercury News.
Minnesota Strikers
Founded: 1984 [folded 1988] Stadium: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Stadium Address: 900 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.
The Strikers' history begins in 1984, when the Fort Lauderdale Strikers were relocated to Minnesota (three seasons after the Minnesota Kicks folded). The team played that year in the North American Soccer League at the Metrodome, but the league collapsed at the end of the season. The team survived, however, moving indoors and joining the Major Indoor Soccer League. The team played four seasons in the MISL, folding after the 1987-88 season. The team played at Met Center during the MISL years.
During the fall of 1984, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Minnesota joined the MISL for the indoor season. San Diego, Chicago and Minnesota remained with the MISL.
New York Cosmos
Founded: 1971 [folded 1985] Nickname: Cosmos Stadium: Giants Stadium Stadium Address: Meadowlands Sports Complex, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 League: NASL (North American Soccer League) Winner of cup(s):
History: The New York Cosmos (1971-1985), known simply as the Cosmos for the 1977 and 1978 seasons, was a soccer franchise based in New York City and its suburbs that operated in the North American Soccer League from 1971 to 1984. Founded by brothers Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegün as well as Warner Bros. President Steve Ross, it was without any doubt the strongest NASL franchises, both athletically and financially.
It became known around the world for signing the great Brazilian player Pelé who, though past his prime, was nonetheless one of the team's, and the league's, top gate draws during his tenure with the Cosmos. The NASL folded after the 1984 season, but the Cosmos attempted to operate as an independent team in 1985 before it ceased activity too.
During the fall of 1984, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Minnesota joined the MISL for the indoor season. San Diego, Chicago and Minnesota remained with the MISL. New York played exhibition games during 1985 before folding.
Founded: 1974 [folded 1996] Nickname: Sockers Stadium: Jack Murphy Stadium Stadium Address: 9449 Friars Road, San Diego, CA 92108 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The San Diego Sockers were one of the most successful indoor soccer teams in the sport's short history. The team won ten championships in both the original Major Indoor Soccer League and the North American Soccer League. The team began as the Baltimore Comets in 1974 but moved to San Diego as the San Diego Jaws in 1976. After a one year stay in Las Vegas, the team returned as the San Diego Sockers in 1978.
The San Diego Sockers, one of the most successful indoor soccer teams in a number of national leagues, kicked off in 1974 as the Baltimore Comets. Within a year, the team packed up for a cross country move to San Diego where they were renamed the San Diego Jaws. After a few rocky seasons, the Jaws departed for Las Vegas in 1977 but moved back to San Diego in 1978, where they were finally dubbed the San Diego Sockers.
Initially, victories came slowly for the San Diego Sockers but mounted quickly. With a building fan base and budding talent pool, the San Diego Sockers won the North American Soccer League (NASL) Championships of 1982 and again in 1984. Success was far from over for the San Diego Sockers. When the NASL folded, the San Diego Sockers moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League and won eight championships: 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. The San Diego Sockers carried their success from one league to the next. They switched to the Continental Indoor Soccer League for three more years from 1993 to 1995. However, after several ownership changes, the San Diego Sockers folded after the 1996 season.
During the fall of 1984, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Minnesota joined the MISL for the indoor season. San Diego, Chicago and Minnesota remained with the MISL.
Notes: Their stadium is now known as Qualcomm Stadium, for sponsorship purposes.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Web site: http://www.tampabayrowdies.com Founded: 1975 [folded 1993] Nickname: Rowdies Stadium: Tampa Stadium Stadium Address: 4201 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33607 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Tampa Bay Rowdies was a professional soccer team from Tampa, Florida, USA. The team played in the North American Soccer League until the league's dissolution and went on to play in several other leagues before folding in 1993. The Rowdies played their outdoor home games at Tampa Stadium and their indoor games at the Bayfront Center Arena in nearby St. Petersburg, Florida.
Originally founded as a North American Soccer League expansion franchise in 1975 by George Strawbridge, the Rowdies played ten seasons at Tampa Stadium and won their only Soccer Bowl championship in their inaugural season defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0. The Rowdies lost in the finals in 1978 and 1979. The team showcased international stars such as midfield captain Rodney Marsh (England), league leading goal scorer Oscar Fabbiani, swift and lethal forward Steve Wegerle (South Africa), rock-solid defenseman Arsene Auguste (Haiti), and popular player and high goal-scoring Derek Smethurst (South Africa). Coached by Eddie Firmani, John Boyle, and Gordon Jago, their catch phrase and marketing slogan was "The Rowdies arrrre...a kick in the grass!"
Fans of the Rowdies were dubbed Fannies. The most famous Fannies were the notorious North End Zone Gang (AKA the Ozone, the Yellow Card Section, The Mooners and the Village Idiots). The gang of college aged beer swilling fans were known for their wild antics, including throwing dead mullets dressed in mini Ft. Lauderdale Strikers uniforms onto the field.
After the 1983 season, the team was sold to Stella Thayer, Bob Blanchard and Dick Corbett.
Toronto Blizzard
Founded: 1971 [folded 1984] Nickname: Blizzard, Metros, Metros-Croatia Stadium: Varsity Stadium Stadium Address: 277 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 3J3 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Toronto Metros were a soccer team based out of Toronto that played in the NASL. They played from 1971 to 1974. Their home field was Varsity Stadium. The Metros merged with National Soccer League side Toronto Croatia in 1975 to form NASL club Toronto Metros-Croatia.
The Toronto Metros-Croatia were formed in 1975 when the Toronto Metros of the North American Soccer League were merged with Toronto Croatia of the National Soccer League. The team competed in the NASL between 1975 and 1978 and was able to become champion of the NASL by winning the 1976 Soccer Bowl. Following the 1978 season, the team split.
The Toronto Blizzard came into existence when the Global Television Network purchased the struggling Toronto Metros-Croatia on February 1, 1979. Following the purchase, Toronto Croatia returned to the National Soccer League. Croatia had left the NSL to merge with NASL side Toronto Metros in 1975 to form Metros-Croatia. The Metros had won the NASL Soccer Bowl trophy in 1976 with the aid of Portuguese soccer legend Eusebio.
Tulsa Roughnecks
Founded: 1978 [folded 1984] Nickname: Roughnecks, 'Necks Stadium: Skelly Stadium Stadium Address: S Florence & E 8th, Tulsa, OK 74104 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Tulsa Roughnecks (1978-1984) were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at the Skelly Stadium, on the campus of the University of Tulsa. They were a regular in the NASL playoffs, winning the Soccer Bowl in 1983.
After the 1984 season, Tulsa folded.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Founded: 1974 [folded 1984] Nickname: The 'Caps Stadium: BC Place Stadium Stadium Address: 777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6B 4Y8 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Whitecaps achieved good success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home grown" stars like Bobby and Sam Lenarduzzi, Buzz Parsons, and Glen Johnson. In 1979 the team from the "Village of Vancouver" (a reference to ABC TV sportscaster Jim McKay's observation that "Vancouver must be like the deserted village right now", with so many people watching the game on TV) beat the powerhouse New York Cosmos in one of the most thrilling playoff series in NASL history to advance to the Soccer Bowl. In the Soccer Bowl, they triumphed against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a disappointed New York City.
It was during this short period that soccer interest peaked in Vancouver. The Whitecaps attendance at Empire Stadium grew to regular sellouts, at 32,000. The team also recorded two tracks, with "White is the Colour" becoming a hit on local radio during the run-up to their championship win.
After playing at Vancouver's 32,000-seat Empire Stadium for most of their existence, the team moved into the cavernous 60,000-seat BC Place Stadium in 1983. Although the novelty of the stadium drew capacity crowds for the first few games, attendance waned quickly, due to the declining league and, in the opinion of many fans, the harsh environment of the domed stadium.
With the subsequent demise of the NASL, in 1984 the Whitecaps, along with many other teams in the NASL, were forced to fold.
Notes: Stadiums used: Empire Stadium (1974-1983), BC Place Stadium (1983-1984).
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NASL (North American Soccer League) 
