2018 North American Soccer League season

Last updated

The 2018 North American Soccer League season would have been the eighth season of the modern North American Soccer League (NASL), but was canceled after the league was denied a preliminary injunction to prevent the loss of their Division II status. [1]

Contents

League news

The previous season's champion was the San Francisco Deltas who defeated the New York Cosmos in Soccer Bowl 2017. The Deltas folded after the 2017 season, citing financial difficulty and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the league.

Prior to the 2017 season, the league's Division II status was downgraded by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to a provisional sanctioning after league membership decreased to less than the 12 required by the Federation. At the same time, the USSF also promoted the former Division III league, the United Soccer League (USL), to a provisional Division II sanctioning.

During the 2017 season, the NASL announced two more expansion teams in California: San Diego 1904 FC in San Diego [2] [3] and California United FC [4] in Orange County. The additions would have brought the 2018 league members only up to 10, still short of the 12 required for Division II.

On September 5, 2017, the USSF announced the NASL would not be granted Division II sanctioning for the upcoming 2018 season. [5] Two weeks later on September 19, the NASL announced it was filing an antitrust lawsuit against the USSF over the sanctioning. [6] A federal judge denied the league's request for a mandatory injunction against the USSF to regain its Division II designation in November 2017. [7]

Two weeks later on November 16, North Carolina FC left the league to join the USL. FC Edmonton and the San Francisco Deltas then announced they would cease professional operations citing the uncertainty about the divisional status of the league. Indy Eleven would also join the USL in January 2018. [8]

Due to the continuing litigation in regards to its status with the USSF, the league announced a move to an international season in January 2018. The new schedule postponed the start of the season until August 2018. [9] Following the postponement of the 2018 season, Jacksonville Armada FC and Miami FC announced they would launch teams in the lower division National Premier Soccer League for at least the spring portion of the 2018 season, but had not ruled out continuing in the NASL once the season begins. [10]

On February 23, 2018, the appeals court denied that NASL a preliminary injunction to prevent the loss of their Division II sanctioning. [11] Four days later, the NASL announced that it had canceled the 2018 season entirely and hoped to return for a 2019 season. [1] Following that announcement, San Diego 1904 FC announced that it had withdrawn from the NASL the previous month and was looking to move to the USL for 2019 instead. [12]

Proposed 2018 clubs

ClubCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoined
California United FC Fullerton, California Titan Stadium 10,00020172018
Jacksonville Armada FC Jacksonville, Florida Hodges Stadium 9,40020132015
Miami FC Miami, Florida Riccardo Silva Stadium 20,00020152016
New York Cosmos Brooklyn, New York MCU Park 7,0002010Fall 2013
Puerto Rico FC Bayamón, Puerto Rico Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium 22,0002015Fall 2016
San Diego 1904 FC San Diego, California Torero Stadium 6,00020172018

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Soccer Federation</span> Governing body of soccer in the United States

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, the federation is a full member of FIFA and governs American soccer at the international, professional, and amateur levels, including: the men's and women's national teams, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, youth organizations, beach soccer, futsal, Paralympic and deaf national teams. U.S. Soccer sanctions referees and soccer tournaments for most soccer leagues in the United States. The U.S. Soccer Federation also administers and operates the U.S. Open Cup and the SheBelieves Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL First Division</span> Football league

The USL First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States and Canada from 2005 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Soccer League</span> American sports governing body

United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues currently organized are the USL Championship, USL League One, USL League Two, and the youth Super Y League. A new women's league, the USL W League, began play in 2022. It is directly affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Adult Soccer Association. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer in the United States</span> Aspect of association football in the U.S.

Soccer in the United States is run by multiple organizations. The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) governs most levels of soccer in the country, including the national teams, professional leagues, and amateur leagues, being the highest soccer authority in the country. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) governs most colleges; secondary schools are governed by state-level associations, with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) setting the rules at that level. The match regulations are generally the same between the three governing bodies although there are many subtle differences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States soccer league system</span> Series of professional and amateur soccer leagues

The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the U.S. soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of promotion and relegation typical in soccer elsewhere. Instead, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) defines professional leagues in three levels, called divisions, with all other leagues sanctioned by the USSF not having an official designated level or division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina FC</span> Soccer team based in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina

North Carolina FC is an American professional soccer team in Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh. Founded in 2006, the team plays in USL League One, the third tier of the American league system.

The Canadian soccer league system, also called the Canadian soccer pyramid, is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), which oversees the system and domestic cups but does not operate any of its component leagues. In addition, some Canadian teams compete in leagues that are based in the United States.

Daryl Sattler is an American soccer player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USSF Division 2 Professional League</span> Soccer league

The USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) for the 2010 season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL). The D2 Pro League was the second tier of the United States soccer league system below Major League Soccer. The league also included two clubs from Canada and one club from Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Championship</span> Professional soccer league in the United States

The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacksonville Armada U-23</span> Football club

Jacksonville Armada U-23 are an American soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They play in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid, and are part of the development system of the Jacksonville Armada FC of the North American Soccer League (NASL). They started play in 2016, replacing Jacksonville United FC in the NPSL. The team plays its home games at Jangro Stadium in Jacksonville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa Fury FC</span> Canadian association football team

Ottawa Fury Football Club was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Ottawa, Ontario. The club competed in the North American Soccer League and USL Championship and played its home games at TD Place Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Soccer League (2011–2017)</span> Soccer league

The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league based in the United States. The league was named for, but had no connection to, the original North American Soccer League. The later NASL was founded in 2009, and began play in 2011 with eight teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacksonville Armada FC</span> Football club

Jacksonville Armada FC is an American professional soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They most recently played in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid, during the 2018 season while also retaining their membership in the North American Soccer League (NASL), a league that was in the second tier but postponed its 2018 season.

The 2017 USL season was the seventh season of the United Soccer League. The league was granted provisional Division II status by the USSF. It is organized by the United Soccer League.

The 2017 New York Cosmos season was the new Cosmos' fifth season of existence, playing in the new North American Soccer League. Including the previous franchise, this was the 19th season of a club entitled New York Cosmos playing professional soccer in the New York metropolitan area.

The 2017 North American Soccer League season was the 50th season of Division II soccer in the United States and Canada, and the 7th season of the modern North American Soccer League. The defending champions are the New York Cosmos who defeated Indy Eleven in Soccer Bowl 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL League One</span> American professional soccer league

USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championship and other leagues. As of 2023, the league has 12 teams who play 32 regular season games, followed by playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Independent Soccer Association</span> Third division American soccer league

The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019. NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season format with a winter break but have switched to spring-to-fall which is more common in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego 1904 FC</span> Football club

San Diego 1904 FC was an American professional soccer team based in San Diego, California, United States. In December 2021, the team was absorbed by Albion San Diego, which effectively took over 1904's membership in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

References

  1. 1 2 "North American Soccer League Announces Cancellation of 2018 Season". nasl.com. North American Soccer League. February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ "NASL ANNOUNCES EXPANSION CLUB IN SAN DIEGO FOR 2018 SEASON". NASL. June 26, 2017.
  3. ↑ "San Diego's NASL soccer team unveils name". The San Diego Union-Tribune . October 18, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Inverted Triangle: Michael Collins previews Orange County NASL". WRAL-TV. July 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Soccer denies NASL Division 2 status for 2018". ESPN . September 5, 2017.
  6. ↑ "NASL Files Antitrust Lawsuit vs. U.S. Soccer Over Division Sanctioning". Sports Illustrated . September 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Judge denies NASL's request for injunction to regain Division II status". ESPN. November 4, 2017.
  8. ↑ Tricia Whitaker (January 10, 2018). "Indy Eleven announces it will join USL for 2018 season". WXIN .
  9. ↑ "North American Soccer League Announces Move To International Calendar". NASL.com. NASL. January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ "In wake of NASL turmoil, Armada to join NPSL for spring of 2018". The Florida Times-Union . January 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ Carlisle, Jeff (February 23, 2018). "Court denies NASL appeal for injunction to reinstate Division II status". www.espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  12. ↑ Zeigler, Mark (February 27, 2018). "San Diego's 1904 FC soccer team to join USL after NASL cancels season". sandiegouniontribune.com. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.