American soccer writing, history & data.
Please check out my Atom and RSS feeds (your choice) where you'll get reminders when I post pieces on occasion on this site's soccer blog.
I'm also on Bluesky if you want to see my more cheeky, off-the-cuff soccer (and other) takes. @dancreel.com on Bluesky
A summary of the competitions prior to the entry of MLS teams
Posted on Sept. 12, 2025, 9:47 a.m. | Categories: Data1960s
1961 & 1962
none
1963
| New York Hungaria (German-American Soccer Association, Major Division) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1962 National Challenge Cup title |
| First Round: W vs. Oro (MEX); 3-2, 2-2 (5-4 aggregate) |
| Second Round: L vs. Guadalajara (MEX); 0-0, 0-2 (0-2 aggregate) |
1964
| Ukrainian Nationals (American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1963 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: W vs. Club América (MEX) (Club América withdrew) |
| Second Round: W vs. Guadalajara (MEX) (Guadalajara withdrew) |
| (seeded into Caribbean Section, Second Round) |
| Caribbean Section |
| Second Round: vs. Industriales (CUB) (both teams withdrew) |
1965
none
1966
tournament not held
1967
| Ukrainian Nationals (American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1966 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| Advanced to semifinals because no other North American entrants. |
| Semifinals: vs. Alianza F.C. (SLV); 1-2, 0-1 (1-3 aggregate) |
| (both games in San Salvador) |
1968
| New York Greek-American (German-American Soccer Association, Major Division) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1967 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: W vs. Somerset C.C. Trojans (BER); 1-2, 1-0 (2-2 aggregate), 2-1 (playoff) |
| Second Round: L vs. Club Deportivo Toluca (MEX); 1-4, 2-3 (3-7 aggregate) |
1969
none
1970s
1970
| New York Greek-American (German-American Soccer Association, Major Division North) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1969 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: L vs. Cruz Azul (MEX); 0-1, 0-5 (0-6 aggregate) |
1971
| S.C. Elizabeth (German-American Soccer Association, Major Division South) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1970 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: L vs. Cruz Azul (MEX); 0-0, 0-2 (forfeit) (0-2 aggregate) |
| Rochester Lancers (North American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1970 North American Soccer League title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: W vs. Pembroke Hamilton Club (BER); 4-1, 1-3 (asdet) (5-4 aggregate) |
| Final Tournament (at Guatemala City) |
| Fourth of six (WDL: 2-1-2, 5 pts.) |
1972
Unknown if any U.S. clubs entered
1973
none
1974
| Maccabee A.C. (Greater Los Angeles Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1973 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| withdrew |
1975
none
1976
| Inter-Giuliana (German-American Soccer Association, Major Division North) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1975 National Challenge Cup runners-up |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: L vs. Toronto Italia (CAN); 1-2, 2-3 (3-5 aggregate) |
1977
| Inter-Giuliana (Cosmopolitan Soccer League, Major Division North) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1976 National Challenge Cup runners-up |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: L vs. Club América (MEX) (withdrew) |
1978
| Maccabee A.C. (Greater Los Angeles Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1977 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: L vs. U.N.A.M. (MEX) (withdrew) |
1979
none
1980s
1980
| Sacramento Gold (American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1979 American Soccer League title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: L vs. U.N.A.M. (MEX) (withdrew) |
| Brooklyn Dodgers (Cosmopolitan Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1979 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: W vs. Hotel Internacional F.C. (BER); 2-2, 1-0 (3-2 aggregate) |
| Second Round: L vs. Cruz Azul (MEX); 1-9, 2-3 (3-12 aggregate) |
1981
none
1982
| Brooklyn Dodgers (Cosmopolitan Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1981 National Challenge Cup runners-up |
| Northern Section |
| First(?) Round: L vs. New York Pancyprian Freedoms (USA) (two-leg aggregate) |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (Cosmopolitan Soccer League, Major Division) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1980 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First(?) Round: W vs. Brooklyn Dodgers (USA) (two-leg aggregate) |
| Second(?) Round: vs. Deportivo FAS (SLV) (unknown result) |
1983
| Detroit Express (American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1982 American Soccer League title |
| Northern/Central Section |
| First Round: L vs. Independiente (SLV) (withdrew) |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (Hellenic-American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1982 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: W v. Motagua (HON); 1-2, 3-1 (4-3 aggregate) |
| Second Round: L vs. Atalante F.C. (MEX); 1-1, 2-3 (aet) (3-4 aggregate) |
1984
| Jacksonville Tea Men (American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1983 American Soccer League title |
| Northern/Central Section |
| First Round: L vs. C.D. Vida (HON); 0-3, 1-3 (1-6 aggregate) |
| New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (Hellenic-American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1983 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern/Central Section |
| First Round: W vs. Hotel Internacional F.C. (BER); 2-2, 0-0 (2-2 aggregate) (4-3 pks) |
| Second Round: W vs. Puebla F.C. (MEX); 0-0, 2-2 (aet) (2-2 aggregate) (4-2 pks) |
| (both legs in New York) |
| Third Round: W vs. C.D. Vida (HON); 1-1, 1-1 (2-2 aggregate) (5-3 pks) |
| (both legs in New York) |
| Fourth Round: vs. Guadalajara (MEX) |
| (both teams disqualified after failing to agree on match dates) |
1985
| Croatian S.C. (National Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1984 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern/Central Section |
| First Round: L vs. C.D. Olimpia (HON); 0-4, 0-2 (0-6 aggregate) |
| (both legs in Tegucigalpa) |
1986
| Greek-American A.C. (San Francisco Soccer Football League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1985 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern Group |
| First Round: L vs. Pembroke Hamilton Club (BER); 0-1, 0-1 (0-2 aggregate) |
1987
| Kutis S.C. (Budweiser Major League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1986 National Challenge Cup title |
| Northern/Central Section |
| First Round: L vs. C.F. Monterrey (MEX); 0-1, 1-3 (1-4 aggregate) |
| San Pedro Yugoslavs (Greater Los Angeles Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1986 National Challenge Cup runners-up |
| Northern/Central Section |
| First Round: L vs. Club América (MEX); 0-2 (forfeit), 0-2 (forfeit) (0-4 aggregate) (San Pedro withdrew) |
1988
| Washington Diplomats (American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1987 National Challenge Cup title (as Club España) |
| North/Central Zone, Group USA/Mexico |
| First Round: L vs. Morelia (MEX); 1-2, 1-2 (2-4 aggregate) |
| (both legs in Washington, D.C.) |
| Mitre Eagles (independent?) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1987 National Challenge Cup runners-up |
| North/Central Zone, Group USA/Mexico |
| First Round: L vs. Cruz Azul (MEX); 0-9, 0-0 (0-9 aggregate) |
1989
| Busch S.C. (Budweiser Select League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1988 National Challenge Cup title |
| North/Central Section, Group USA/Mexico |
| First Round: L vs. Univ. de Guadalajara (MEX); 1-0, 0-8 (1-8 aggregate) |
| Greek-American A.C. (San Francisco Soccer Football League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1988 National Challenge Cup runners-up |
| North/Central Section, Group USA/Mexico |
| First Round: L vs. U.N.A.M. (MEX); 2-2, 1-5 (3-7 aggregate) |
| (second leg in Colima) |
1990s
1990
| St. Petersburg Kickers (Florida Suncoast Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1989 National Challenge Cup title (as Datagraphic St. Petersburg Kickers) |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: W vs. New York Greek-American Atlas (USA); 2-0, 0-1 (2-1 aggregate) |
| Second Round: L vs. Club América (MEX), 0-1 |
| (played in Tampa) |
| New York Greek-American Atlas (Hellenic-American Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1989 National Challenge Cup runners-up |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: L vs. St. Petersburg Kickers (USA); 0-2, 1-0 (1-2 aggregate) |
1991
| A.A.C. Eagles (Metropolitan Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1990 U.S. Open Cup title |
| Northern Zone |
| First Round: L vs. Pembroke-Hamilton Zebras (BER); 0-2, 1-2 (1-4 aggregate) |
| Brooklyn Italians (Northeastern Super Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1990 U.S. Open Cup runners-up |
| Northern Section |
| First Round: W vs. Dandy Town Hornets (BER); 1-3, 3-0 (4-3 aggregate) |
| Second Round: L vs. Puebla F.C. (MEX) (withdrew) |
1992
| San Francisco Bay Blackhawks (American Professional Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1991 American Professional Soccer League title |
| North/Central Zone, Group 2 |
| First Round: W vs. A.F.C. Euro Kickers (PAN); 10-0, 0-1 (10-1 aggregate) |
| Second Round: W vs. La Victoria F.C. (BLZ); 3-2, 2-0 (5-2 aggregate) |
| Third Round: W vs. Real C.D. España (HON); 3-0, 3-0 (6-0 aggregate) |
| Fourth Round: bye |
| Fifth Round: L vs. Club América (MEX); 1-3, 2-1 (3-4 aggregate) |
| Richardson/Dallas Rockets (U.S. Interregional Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1991 U.S. Open Cup runners-up |
| North/Central Zone, Group 2 |
| First Round: W vs. Cemcol-Crown (BLZ); 1-0, 2-1 (3-1 aggregate) |
| Second Round: W vs. Hamilton International (BER); 4-0, 2-1 (6-1 aggregate) |
| Third Round: W vs. Tauro F.C. (PAN); 3-1, 2-2 (5-3 aggregate) |
| Fourth Round: L vs. Club América (MEX); 1-2, 1-5 (2-5 aggregate) |
1994
| Los Angeles Salsa (American Professional Soccer League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1994 American Professional Soccer League runners-up |
| North/Central Zone, Group 2 |
| First Round: L vs. Alianza F.C. (SLV); 0-1, 2-2 (2-3 aggregate) |
1995
none
1996
| Seattle Sounders (USISL A-League) |
|---|
| How qualified: 1995 USISL A-League title |
| U.S./Caribbean Playoff |
| W vs. SV Transvaal (SUR), 10-0 |
| Final Tournament (in Guatemala City) |
| Fourth of four (WDL: 0-0-3, 0 pts.) |
| L vs. Comunicaciones, 0-2 |
| L vs. Necaxa, 1-4 |
| L vs. Cruz Azul, 0-11 |