The North American Soccer League (NASL) operates as a professional soccer league, established to foster and promote the sport across North America. Its ownership structure is not centralized in the hands of a single individual but rather consists of the collective ownership of the league’s member teams. Geographically, the NASL’s footprint spans across the United States, with its teams located in various cities, reflecting the league’s commitment to expanding and enhancing the popularity of soccer in the United States.
The NASL was re-established in 2009, resurrecting the name of the original North American Soccer League that operated from 1968 to 1984. The revival was driven by the passion for soccer in North America, with an aim to rekindle the spirit of the original league. The NASL’s achievements include providing a competitive platform for numerous clubs and contributing significantly to the growth of professional soccer in the U.S. Notably, it played a crucial role in popularizing the sport, creating opportunities for local talents, and enhancing the overall soccer infrastructure. Today, the NASL holds a unique position in the American soccer landscape, operating as a recognized entity in the sport, while facing the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving sporting environment.
What is the North American Soccer League?
The North American Soccer League, a professional soccer league, operates within the United States. It serves as a platform for fostering soccer talent and contributing to the sport’s growth in North America. The NASL, with its storied history and contemporary challenges, continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of soccer in the region.
The initial logo of the North American Soccer League was pretty cool and futuristic. Designed within a minimalistic concept, it was composed of a stylized black and white football ball, and a sharp and massive wordmark set under it and accompanied by a circular medallion in quiet and red, with the silhouette of the North America map. The lettering was set in dark blue and had its bold square capital letters narrowed and inclined to the right, creating a sense of confident movement forward.
The redesign of 1975 introduced a new concept for the NASL badge. It was an intense-green shield with its bottom edge rounded and the upper one featuring a white rectangular banner on it. The banner had a bright blue wordmark in a blue rectangular frame set on its upper part and an enlarged extra-bold “NASL” abbreviation in a modern sans-serif with an arched “A” under it. As for the main part of the crest, its green background was stylized as a part of the football stadium grass, with two white lines creating an angle in its bottom part, and a white football ball in the center. The ball had blue pentagons with red five-pointed stars on them as the main pattern.