NASL (North American Soccer League)

The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, operating in various periods from 1968 to 2017. It aimed to raise the profile of soccer in North America, attracting notable international players and fostering local talent. The league featured teams from major cities and contributed to the growth of the sport in the region. Although it faced financial challenges and folded in 2017, NASL played a key role in developing soccer's popularity and laying the groundwork for the current Major League Soccer (MLS) system.