2018 North American Soccer League season

Cancelled soccer season

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]

## League news

[edit]

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

[edit]

Club  | City  | Stadium  | Capacity  | Founded  | Joined

|
|
|
|
|

California United FC | Fullerton, California | Titan Stadium | 10,000  | 2017  | 2018
Jacksonville Armada FC | Jacksonville, Florida | Hodges Stadium | 9,400  | 2013  | 2015
Miami FC | Miami, Florida | Riccardo Silva Stadium | 20,000  | 2015  | 2016
New York Cosmos | Brooklyn, New York | MCU Park | 7,000  | 2010  | Fall 2013
Puerto Rico FC | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium | 22,000  | 2015  | Fall 2016
San Diego 1904 FC | San Diego, California | Torero Stadium | 6,000  | 2017  | 2018

## See also

[edit]

* 2017 North American Soccer League season

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "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". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 1, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

North American Soccer League (2011–2017)

| Clubs|

* Atlanta Silverbacks
* FC Edmonton
* Fort Lauderdale Strikers
* Indy Eleven
* Jacksonville Armada FC
* Miami FC
* Minnesota United FC
* New York Cosmos
* Montreal Impact
* North Carolina FC
* Ottawa Fury FC
* Puerto Rico FC
* Puerto Rico Islanders
* Rayo OKC
* San Antonio Scorpions
* San Francisco Deltas
* Tampa Bay Rowdies

|

Abandoned expansion teams|

* California United FC
* Oklahoma City FC
* San Diego 1904 FC
* Virginia Cavalry FC

Seasons|

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* ~~2018~~

Soccer Bowls|

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017

Associated competitions|

* USSF Division 2 Professional League (2010)
* CONCACAF Champions League
* U.S. Open Cup
* Canadian Championship

Individual awards|

* Best XI
* Player of the Month
* Golden Ball
* Golden Boot
* Golden Glove
* Coach of the Year
* Fair Play
* Goal of the Year

Records and statistics|

* Records and statistics
* North American Supporters' Trophy
* Players
* Coaches
* Executives

* United States Soccer Federation
* Canadian Soccer Association

* v
* t
* e

2018 in American soccer

« 2017

2019 »

| Leagues|

| Men|

* MLS
* MLS Cup
* Playoffs
* USL
* Playoffs
* ~~NASL~~
* PDL
* NPSL
* UPSL
* Spring
* Fall
* MASL
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* M2
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* NCAA
* Division I
* Spring College Program
* Division II
* Division III

|

Women|

* NWSL
* NWSL Shield
* NWSL Playoffs
* WPSL
* UWS
* NCAA
* Division I
* Division II
* Division III

Cups|

* U.S. Open Cup
* Qualification
* Final
* '19 Qualification
* National Women's Open
* Men's College Cup
* Women's College Cup
* Hank Steinbrecher Cup
* Pre-season cups
* Carolina Challenge Cup
* Mobile Mini Sun Cup
* Dallas Cup

Other|

* MLS All-Star Game
* MLS transfers
* USL transfers
* USSF presidential election

International

Club competitions|

* 2018 CONCACAF Champions League

National teams|

| Women|

SheBelieves Cup

|

Team seasons

Men|

| MLS|

* Atlanta United FC
* Chicago Fire
* Colorado Rapids
* Columbus Crew SC
* D.C. United
* FC Dallas
* Houston Dynamo
* LA Galaxy
* Los Angeles FC
* Minnesota United FC
* Montreal Impact
* New England Revolution
* New York City FC
* New York Red Bulls
* Orlando City SC
* Philadelphia Union
* Portland Timbers
* Real Salt Lake
* San Jose Earthquakes
* Seattle Sounders FC
* Sporting Kansas City
* Toronto FC
* Vancouver Whitecaps

|

USL|

* Atlanta United 2
* Bethlehem Steel
* Charleston Battery
* Charlotte Independence
* Colorado Springs Switchbacks
* FC Cincinnati
* Fresno FC
* Indy Eleven
* LA Galaxy II
* Las Vegas Lights
* Louisville City
* Nashville SC
* New York Red Bulls II
* North Carolina FC
* OKC Energy
* Orange County SC
* Ottawa Fury FC
* Penn FC
* Phoenix Rising
* Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* Portland Timbers 2
* Real Monarchs
* Reno 1868
* Richmond Kickers
* RGVFC Toros
* Sacramento Republic
* Saint Louis FC
* San Antonio FC
* Seattle Sounders FC 2
* Swope Park Rangers
* Tampa Bay Rowdies
* Toronto FC II
* Tulsa Roughnecks

Women|

| NWSL|

* Chicago Red Stars
* Houston Dash
* North Carolina Courage
* Orlando Pride
* Portland Thorns
* Seattle Reign
* Sky Blue FC
* Utah Royals
* Washington Spirit

|

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