The Cosmos won the inaugural Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 5 points to 4.
Glasgow Celtic took the consolation game, and Seattle and New York battled to a championship draw before 40,000 spectators at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
The Chicago Sting, 1981 Soccer Bowl champions, and the New York Cosmos, 1981 regular season leader and 1980 and 1981 TACC titlist, represented the NASL.
Napoli of Italy Serie 'A', and Nacional of Uruguay, the 1981 World Club champion finished the pool.
[3] The Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup's fourth season again featured the New York Cosmos and Seattle Sounders, along with Fiorentina of Italy and São Paulo of Brazil.