In the inaugural year, the Atlanta Chiefs were the champions, by winning the NASL Final 3–0, in a two-game aggregate over the San Diego Toros.
[1] 17 teams competed in this inaugural season, and the Atlanta Chiefs won the championship.
While San Diego won the premiership, Atlanta's winning percentage was higher because a match had been canceled.
[1] This would mark the first of five times in the league's history that the best record did not equate to a premiership.
Oakland had won every competition in the NPSL's 1967 season, but were denied a chance to defend their title in the merged league because of this unique points system.