In 2018, U.S. Soccer outright denied the league Division II status for 2018, as the NASL had not demonstrated a plan for moving into compliance with required standards.

[6] Several of the modern NASL teams, in particular the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Tampa Bay Rowdies, and New York Cosmos, shared the same names and similar jersey designs as their original-NASL predecessors.

[13] According to the official press release, the NASL name was intended to "pay respect to the players, coaches and leaders who were pioneers for men's professional soccer in North America, many of whom remain involved and committed to the growth of the game in various capacities throughout the U.S. and Canada".

[19][20] The provisional sanctioning was briefly revoked by U.S. Soccer in January 2011 due to the collapse of two of the ownership groups involved with NASL and serious questions about several others[21] but was reinstated before the 2011 season.

Traffic was an early investor in four of the league's clubs, and the president of its American subsidiary, Aaron Davidson, also served as the chairman of the NASL's board of governors.

Traffic Sports continued to hold a large amount of stock in the NASL until the league finally arranged for a sale to an unnamed buyer in November 2016.

To that end, the league sent a letter to U.S. Soccer president, Sunil Gulati, objecting to proposed updates to the Division I PLS.

"[3] On September 19, 2017, NASL filed suit against U.S. Soccer citing antitrust violations related to the change of sanctioning criteria.

[34] The announcement was met with skepticism, with commentators pointing out the difficulty in playing a winter schedule in northern markets such as New York or Indiana.

[38] At that time, the New York Cosmos, Miami FC and Jacksonville Armada, chose to participate in the National Premier Soccer League for the 2018 season while the NASL's future was being determined.

The number one seed was awarded to whichever of the Spring or Fall champions posts the better combined regular season record.

Two NASL clubs did switch leagues to MLS (Montreal Impact in 2012, Minnesota United FC in 2017) as expansion teams following an application.

[51] Teams playing in the NASL represented three separate CONCACAF members, the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The NASL did not participate in the 2011 U.S. Open Cup during the league's first season, but joined the tournament in 2012 to some success as the Carolina RailHawks reached the quarterfinals that year.

This tournament consists of the Canadian Soccer Association's professional clubs, the winner representing Canada in the Champions League.

FC Edmonton was an expansion team that was founded in 2010 and joined the Canadian Premier League in 2019 after suspending operations in late 2017.

[55][56] AC St. Louis, part of the initial TOA group that formed NASL, closed in late 2010 after only one season due to financial difficulties.

[63] The league played its 2013 spring season with seven teams, as the Puerto Rico Islanders suspended operations with uncertainty regarding a government subsidy.

[64] The New York Cosmos restored the league to eight teams when it joined for the fall 2013 season, playing its home games at Hofstra University's James M. Shuart Stadium.

[84] Also, the owners of Detroit City FC expressed a desire to join the NASL or USL if additional investors could be found.

[85] In addition, Peterson criticized the MLS expansion plans in cities with existing NASL teams (Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and San Antonio), suggesting a turf war and increased competition between the two leagues.

[88] In June 2015, professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony, announced that his new club Puerto Rico FC would join the league.

[90] In February 2016, former Indy Eleven president Peter Wilt announced his ambition to create an NASL team in Chicago.

On May 10, 2017, it was announced that California United FC would join the league in Spring 2018 and play its home games at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.

The club's founders include professional soccer players Demba Ba, Eden Hazard, Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sow.

[102] The NASL had a decentralized business model, in which many responsibilities that would fall to the league in other North American sports, such as marketing, were instead borne by the clubs.

[109] Bill Peterson, formerly the Senior VP of AEG Sports and managing director of the Home Depot Center from 2000 to 2006, replaced Downs as commissioner.

[123] The Rowdies announced they had reach a sponsorship agreement with Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa for the 2014 season.

[136] Starting in 2010 when the Tampa Bay Rowdies returned, the Florida Derby was revived with the creation of the Coastal Cup with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

[140] They planned to collect money from each group, and design and commission a traveling trophy to be loaned to the winning team each year.