Though mostly expected, the North American Soccer League was officially reborn Monday as nine teams, most of which are defecting from the United Soccer Leagues First Division, were formally named.
The former USL1 teams are the Atlanta Silverbacks (who were inactive in the 2009 season), the Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC Blues, Minnesota Thunder, the defending USL1 champion Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Also joining are Crystal Palace Baltimore, who are in USL’s Second Division; the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who were set to join USL1 as a 2010 season expansion team, and St. Louis Soccer United, who failed in a bid to become a future expansion team in Major League Soccer.
Most of the USL1 teams were part of the Team Owners Association, who have been feuding with USL for some time over the league’s operation.
The new NASL had already applied for certification as a Division II Professional Outdoor Soccer League, the same designation that USL1 has, with the US Soccer Federation.
The league has not yet launched a website and has a search underway to name their first commissioner.
USL has responded strongly against the league’s creation and has threatened legal action against certain teams for acts the USL feel have damaged their league.
The original NASL operated in the US and Canada from 1968 to 1984.
