However, to fully understand the state of North American soccer in 1985, we must first begin in December 1967, when both the United Soccer Association (League) and the National Professional Soccer League merged. Together they formed the North American Soccer League (NASL), the top-division in Canada and the US. Similar to the MLS’ marketing strategy today, the league attempted to adapt and market itself to an American audience, to whom the sport was quite unknown. Some changes to the traditional game included a modified points system, a playoff system and all matches going into a penalty shootout if they resulted in a draw. The NASL also attracted foreign stars who were past their prime, again similar to what now often occurs in the MLS. These stars included legendary players like Johan Cruyff and Pelé. All of which lead to the league’s average attendance increasing from 2,930 to 7,770 between 1969 and 1974. In fact, soccer had gained so much popularity in the US that in 1973, Sports Illustrated magazine featured Philadelphia Atoms goalkeeper, Bob Rigby on its cover. This was the first time a footballer had been the cover star of the American magazine, at least not including to American football, that is.

There was just one problem, the NASL peaked in the mid-to-late 70s. The league’s heyday coincided with Pelé’s arrival to the New York Cosmos in 1975. Thanks to the Brazilian’s near-immortal status, a record, ten million people tuned in to watch Pele’s debut match and the New York Cosmos saw their home stadium’s attendance triple in just the first half-a-season in which Pelé was there. Despite this success, the NASL and its franchises began rapidly losing money in the early 1980s. This not only resulted in heavy financial losses for the league but the losses of franchises themselves. In 1980 and 1981 alone, seven teams collapsed and another 3 dropped out of the league. This caused longtime-NASL commissioner, Phil Woosnam to be removed from his position in 1983, following a vote from league owners. The league’s downfall would have certainly made Woosnan regret dubbing soccer “the sport of the 80s [in the US].” However the NASL’s collapse is perhaps best exemplified by the contrast of having Sports Illustrated featuring the first footballer on its cover in 1973 to publishing a now archived article, entitled, ‘The NASL: It’s Alive But On Death Row’ eleven years later. In the 1984 article, Lee Stern, the owner of the Chicago Sting at the time, revealed the enormous impact that Pelé and his New York Cosmos side had on the league, eventually leading to its downfall. Stern stated that, "it became fashionable to chase the Cosmos. Everyone had to have a Pelé. Coaches went around the world on talent searches, forcing the prices up." He also noted that, crucially, teams were not generating enough revenue and not attracting enough fans to justify these spendings on foreign players and marketing.

As already noted, the following year in 1985, marked the match in which Canada last beat the US. However the result is put into context when you consider that same year, the NASL was finally put out of its misery and closed its doors. Without a professional league, American soccer was sent into chaos. This sense of disarray is perhaps best evidenced by legendary commentator, John Motson’s preamble to an international friendly between the USA and England on the 16th of June, 1985 (only 80 days after the NASL suspended operations). He explains that “the moderate crowd [in Los Angeles] for this international, reflects the difficult time soccer is experiencing in the United States. They failed in their bid to stage the World Cup, they’ve been knocked out of [contention to make it to] the World Cup, their major outdoor league has collapsed and the main hope for the game here now lies in the colleges and in the schools.” This description paints a bleak picture of the truly dire mess that was soccer in North America at the time; and while it may be better off now than it was 34 years ago, there are still a few parallels between 1985 and current day to take note of.

First of all, Motson mentions that the USA failed to qualify for the World Cup, which would be held the following year in Mexico. This might ring a bell because the US men’s national team failed to meet the exact same objective when it came to qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. It is also mentioned that the US’ bid to host the World Cup fell through. This becomes hugely important in hindsight because the US did eventually host the World Cup nine years later in 1994, resulting in the birth of Major League Soccer and the rebirth of the North American soccer scene as a whole. Additionally, the prospect of North America hosting the World Cup might sound familiar as well because the US is due to host the tournament in 2026 following a successful joint bid with Canada and Mexico.

Ultimately, we might currently be seeing echoes of a dark time in North American soccer but there is reason to believe that it already reached its lowest point in the 80s and now will continue to grow. Growth that is not only limited by the American borders but north of them as well. Remember, when the US missed out on the 1986 World Cup, it was Canada who took their place. So if American soccer is in fact going through a ‘tough time’, Canadian soccer has a chance to do the opposite and as a Canadian soccer fan myself, I am inclined to be optimistic.