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Beginning of soccer in America.
In the early 1890 soccer saw a growth in Denver, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and even San Francisco and Los Angeles by the end of the century.Owing to corporate sponsorships, some leagues attained semi-pro statistics. The American League of Professional Football collapsed owing to heavy financial losses during its first season. -
Fifa refused Amrica for membership
1904 Fifa the governing body for wordls soccer was established. they refused the American application for membership because they see it as lack of any national organizing association in the US. After FIFA refused an American application for membership during their 1912 congress, the speedily growing AAFA members formed the United States Football Association, which was then accepted by FIFA. -
The establishment of American Soccer League
The 1920's saw soccer become popular in America. The American soccer League was establish in 1921. it was a mark of creating a soccer league to compete with the european League. -
First WorldCup
In 1930 the US played in their first ever WorldCup in Uruguay and the team from Atlantic Coast league joined together to form the National team. -
US second WorldCup
1950 saw the United States back in the WorldCup for a second time. The most memorable from that WorldCup was the victory over England, the goal was scored by Joe Gaetjens. They called it the goast goal because he came from nowhere to head the ball in the net. -
North American Soccre League
Two new professional soccer leagues was formed in the United States, but by the end of the year Fifa requested that they merged them into one league and thats when the North American Soccer League(NASL) was formed -
USSFA
The USSFA changed their name to the United States Socccer Federation(USSF). Also the NASL reached 18 teams. -
The year of Pele
The New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League signed Pele for $4.5 million. Pele was the world best player at the time and was nearing the end of his career and then also soccer in the US needed a big exposure, so Steve Ross who was the owner of the Cosmos at the time thought it was right to buy Pele. -
MLS
After the Folding of the North American Soccer League, The United States soccer Federation formed a new soccer league called Major League Soccer (MLS). From the lesson learned from the NASL this league was built on different principle. It started with five teams. This time they approach the business in a different way. They were cautious on how they make decision in terms of marketing, managing and making sure the product get to the people on and off the field. -
Second season
The second MLS season was exciting as D.C United Lifted the Cup for the second time. Their newer signing from Bolivia Jaime Moreno was the league top scorer with 16 goals. -
Expansion
The 1998 MLS season was the beginning of something bigger. Two new soccer teams was added to the league. And they were the Chicago Fire and the Maimi Fusion. -
Don Garber
To make sure MLS succeed and that it does'n't end up like the old NASL. the management board selected Don Garber as the MLS commisioner. Before that he has been working with NFL for 16 years. -
Womens Worldcup
On june 1999 the US womens national soccer team beats China to win the 1999 Fifa womens Worldcup. -
Two Teams Folded
Teams in 2002 MLS season was reduced to ten because the Florida teams Miami Fusion FC and Tampa Bay Mutiny folded. -
2002 WorldCup
The United States Soccer team made history by beating potugal who are a power house in the world of International Soccer. And they also reach their first ever WorldCup Quaterfinal. It helped the MLS a lot because of the succees people began to pay attention to he soccer league in America, they were more interested in it than before. -
New Face of American Soccer
DC United signed 14 year old Freddy Adu. Adu is generally from Ghana but came to the US at age 9. He became the youngest soccer player in American soccer history. The planned was attract audience on the field and also at the stadium. He was paid $400,000 a year for five years. it was a good deal for him and the league image. as far as attracting the audience. -
New Teams
After two teams folded MLS board decided to add another teams in this case Real Salt Lake from Colorado and Chivas USA from California. -
Red Bull
MLS popularity with the Americans Change the face of the business as Red Bull energy drink decide to buy an existing MLS team New York Metrostars and then rebranded it to New York Red Bulls. -
Youth Soccer
In 2008 The United States Federation required that each team set up a youth system to develope young players. -
The year of David Beckham
In 2008 MLS management introduced a new rule called the DP rule which allows each team to splash money on a star player from europe. the move was to attract fans to the league. and the Los Angeles Galaxy did it by signing soccer super star David Beckham from Real Madrid in Spain for $400 million. At the time people saw it as a risky or bad move because the player was a wash u. But MLS commissioner saw something else, he saw tickets sales, jersey sales, TV rights, fashion and many more. -
Theirry Henry
Soccer in America was become big on the international market. Teams were spending big money on Star players and New York Red Bull did just that. They Bought French Thierry Henry from Barcelona in Spain. -
Robbie Kane
The 2011 season saw a new player added to the Los Angeles Galaxy roster as David Beckham was retiring from soccer at the end of the season. -
Television
In 2012 NBC and MLS signed a deal with MLS to broadcast live games on their channel. As to turn the face of North American soccer into something bigger like in Europe. This deal was a big break through as more Americans will have access to MLS games without having a cable TV. -
Julio Cesar
In 2004 MLS side Toronto FC signed Brazilian international goalkeeper Julio Cesar on loan from QPR in England. -
Expansion
MLS going into its 19th season anounce two new expansion teams from Florida and New York. The management has learned from what happend to to the North American Soccer League in the 1990's.
