Canadian Soccer Association Deals Blow To NASL

Just days after the NASL picked up two additional teams, it was dealt another blow from a new angle.

The Canadian Soccer Association has apparently grown tired of allowing its teams to play in U.S.-based leagues and has put a moratorium on sanctioning Division 2 teams, according to a report at The 24th Minute.

Although this moratorium will apparently not affect FC Edmonton, any further Canadian expansion hopes could be dead.

At the same time, It’s Called Football is reporting that NSC Minnesota Stars — which was supposedly left for dead at the end of last season — was kept alive by a Ottawa investment group that had hoped to eventually move the team to the Canadian capital.

Whether or not the moratorium news endangers the immediate future of the Minnesota team is unknown, but none of this is good news for a league that is still awaiting Division 2 sanctioning from USSF.

If the CSA decides to get serious about getting a league started in Canada — which still lacks a real professional domestic league — that could mean real trouble for NASL or any other Division 2 league in the United States. Last year, Vancouver and Montreal were two of USSF D-2’s top drawing teams. Next year, NASL is planning on having teams in Montreal and Edmonton. Ottawa and Hamilton are also potential D2 cities. Without the possibility of having teams in Canada, it could become impossible for NASL to field a complete eight-team league.