The North American Soccer League Draft first overall pick was the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the annual North American Soccer League (NASL) Draft. The first pick was awarded to the club with the poorest regular season record during the previous NASL campaign. Exceptions were when there was an expansion club, where the expansion side has the opportunity to select the first overall draft pick.
The draft was held in 1968 and annually from 1972 until 1984.
| ^ | Denotes players who have been selected to the All-Star Game or NASL Best XI |
| * | Elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame |
| ^* | Denotes Hall of Famers who have been selected to the All-Star Game |
| Player (in bold text) | Rookie of the Year |
| App. | NASL appearances |
| Goals | NASL goals |
| Asst. | NASL assists |
The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It is considered the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the United States. The league final was called the Soccer Bowl from 1975 to 1983 and the Soccer Bowl Series in its final year, 1984. The league was headed by Commissioner Phil Woosnam from 1969 to 1983. The NASL laid the foundations for soccer in the United States that helped lead to the country hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the set-up of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.
Hunter Freeman is a retired American soccer player who currently is the director of domestic scouting for FC Cincinnati
Kyle Rote Jr. is an American former professional soccer forward who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and earned five caps with the United States men's national soccer team between 1973 and 1975. He led the NASL in scoring in 1973. He later coached the Memphis Americans of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Patrick "Pat" McBride is an American retired soccer midfielder and indoor soccer coach. He earned five caps with the U.S. national team and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Glenn "Mooch" Myernick was an American soccer player and coach. He won the 1976 Hermann Trophy as that year's outstanding collegiate player. He then spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and one in Major Indoor Soccer League. Myernick also earned 10 caps with the U.S. national team. After retiring from playing professionally, Myernick spent over twenty years as a professional and national team coach.
Mike Seerey is a former U.S. soccer forward, and a two-time recipient of the Hermann Trophy as the outstanding collegiate soccer player of the year. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League and was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
David D'Errico is an American soccer player who played as a defender. He spent eight years in the North American Soccer League (NASL), five in Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and one in the United Soccer League (USL). He won three MISL championships with the NY Arrows and earned 21 caps with the United States national team between 1974 and 1977, also captaining the team.
Bradley Burton Knighton is an American former professional soccer player.
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Al Miller is an American former collegiate and professional soccer coach. After leaving coaching, he then became a general manager for two indoor soccer clubs in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
James Pollihan is a former U.S. soccer player who was an outstanding collegiate forward with Quincy University but moved to defense as a professional. He earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1976 and 1979.
Alain F. Maca is a retired Belgian-American soccer defender and former President of the JFK International Air Terminal. Maca was the first person drafted by the North American Soccer League and spent four seasons in the league. He also earned five caps with the U.S. national team between 1973 and 1975.
Tom Galati is a former U.S. soccer defensive midfielder who five seasons in the North American Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team.
Rauwshan Isaam McKenzie is an American former professional soccer player.
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Justin Davis is an American soccer player.
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Benjamin Sweat is an American former professional soccer player who played as a left-back.
Alec Kann is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.
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