Who Remembers The NASL?

[DaveBrett]

2. More on the NASL

Oh sure, the NASL was sanctioned by FIFA. If not, all those stars wouldn't have
played in it. If any soccer player plays in a league that is not sanctioned by
FIFA, then he is forever banned from playing in a league that IS sanctioned
by FIFA.

You are right that the NASL wasn't really sustainable, in large part because
they were playing all their games in rented stadiums. It's the same thing
that caused MLS to lose money for so many years. You have to own the
stadium you are playing in to make a profit.

To answer your question, every NASL team had to have at least three
North American players on the field. But that quota could be (and often
was) filled by only Canadian players. There just weren't many quality
American players at that time. Fortunately, things changed.