The 1966 World Cup final was televised live by NBC in North America and
generated so much interest that sports promoters decided to start a pro league.
However, two rival groups couldn't agree on a number of matters and therefore,
two rival leagues started in 1967, the FIFA-Sponsored United Soccer Association
and the renegade National Professional Soccer League.  After one disastrous year,
they merged to form the North American Soccer League.

The new NASL contained continued to lose a tremendous amount of money during the
1968 season.  After all but five teams folded, the 1969 NASL season almost didn't happen.
In 1970 the league lost another team but gained two former American Soccer League teams.
Throughout the rest of the early 70's, the league was slowly increasing overall attendance.
American born players were now becoming starters and the likes of Dallas Tornado star Kyle
Rote, Jr. and Philadelphia's Bob Rigby became nationally prominent.  The NASL continued to
expand and increased to 20 teams for 1975.

The signing of Pele by the New York Cosmos forever changed the league in 1975.  More clubs
signed international stars to keep up.  The quality of play and attendance increased but
player salaries increased at an even higher rate.  The rapid increase in attendance
prompted the league to expand to 24 teams for 1978.  This marked the beginning of the end
for the league.  As teams in weaker markets had problems with profitability, the moved on
an almost yearly basis or folded altogether.  The rival indoor league, the MISL, competed
with the NASL for players and popularity.  Teams continued to fold and by 1984, the league
was down to 9 teams.  The league tried increasing the championship from a single game to a
three game series to draw attention, but it was too little, too late.  The Chicago Sting
defeated the Toronto Blizzard on Oct. 3, 1984 to take the championship 2 games to none in
the last NASL game ever played.