clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

NASL set to expand to Los Angeles, according to reports

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

One thing the original NASL had going for it was some truly iconic club names and logos, which spark a certain amount of nostalgia with some U.S. Soccer fans. One of the great nicknames out there is the LA Aztecs, and the NASL still owns the rights to that name. If INDY Week is correct, Los Angeles will soon be announced as the next market to join the North American Soccer League as it looks to expand west.

This is certainly an interesting (rumored) move from the league. Los Angeles already has the well-established Galaxy, and while Chivas USA recently disbanded, MLS has already announced plans to create a new team in the nation's second largest market. The NASL Los Angeles club would be competing in a very saturated market, much like the Cosmos are doing in New York.

Expanding to Los Angeles would finally give the league a presence in the Pacific time zone, something that they need to do in order to retain D2 status with U.S. Soccer going forward. The NASL is also reportedly looking to expand into the Sacramento market, though that's one of the three finalists for MLS expansion as the league looks to expand to 24 teams by 2020.