The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States.

ASL I

The original American Soccer League, operating between 1921 and 1933, was the first significant viable professional soccer league in the United States. The league operated primarily in the northeastern United States, particularly in the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia triangle.

Additionally, the ASL was one of the first American soccer leagues prestigious enough to attract talented players from overseas. The league, in fact, was quite well attended, and was quite competitive with the nascent National Football League in terms of popularity.

After the end of the 1933 spring season, the league collapsed.

ASL I Original Teams

The ASL I was founded by eight teams:

• Philadelphia Field Club
• New York Field Club
• Todd Shipyards
• Harrison Soccer Club
• J&P Coats
• Fall River United
• Holyoke Falcos
• Jersey City Celtics

ASL II

In the fall of 1933, a second American Soccer League was established. This second league survived until 1983. Like the original ASL, this league primarily operated in the northeast for much of its existence, but began operating on the west coast in the 1970s. It often operated as a second division for the North American Soccer League at this time. After the ASL II ceased operations, several of its teams formed the original United Soccer League, which played seasons in 1984 and 1985.

ASL III

The final league to call itself the American Soccer League played two seasons in 1988 and 1989. This league conmprised ten teams on the Atlantic coast. During its second season, the league champion Fort Lauderdale Strikers played the San Diego Nomads , champions of the Western Soccer Alliance in a "national championship" game. By 1990, the ASL and WSA had merged to form the American Professional Soccer League.

ASL III Clubs

There were ten teams during the two ASL III seasons:

• Albany Capitals
• Boston Bolts
• Fort Lauderdale Strikers
• Maryland Bays
• Miami Sharks
• New Jersey Eagles
• Orlando Lions
• Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Washington Dipolmats
• Washington Stars