The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) has successfully defended itself against an antitrust lawsuit filed by the now-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL).

The NASL had accused US Soccer and Major League Soccer (MLS) of conspiring to block its ability to compete at the highest level of men's professional soccer by repeatedly denying its applications for Division II status.

The league argued that USSF’s sanctioning process unfairly favored MLS, preventing independent leagues from gaining recognition and financial stability.

However, the jury ruled in favor of US Soccer and MLS, stating that the NASL’s failure was due to its own mismanagement rather than an unfair system.

Reacting to the verdict, US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone stated, “This decision reaffirms that our federation operates in the best interests of the sport and its growth in the U.S.”

The ruling comes as a relief to MLS and US Soccer, which faced significant legal challenges over their governance of professional leagues.

The lawsuit had raised concerns over whether the USSF holds too much power in determining league sanctioning, an issue that could have reshaped the landscape of American soccer had the NASL won the case.

Critics, however, believe that the case exposed deeper issues in how professional leagues are structured, with former NASL executive Rishi Sehgal arguing, “The current system remains closed and anti-competitive, limiting opportunities for independent clubs to thrive.”

While the legal battle has ended, discussions over the structure and accessibility of professional soccer in the U.S. will likely continue.

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