 of American soccer at the time, and consequently wrecked the reputation and possibly even the popularity of the sport domestically. The colloquial "war" has been considered responsible for the fall of the ASL, and the end to the first golden age of American soccer.

The initial issue with the ASL had been the scheduling of the National Challenge Cup, which had been straining for the ASL season schedule. Typically, the National Challenge Cup had been played during the ASL's offseason, which made it difficult for ASL clubs to compete in the tournament. Consequently, the ASL boycotted the 1925 Challenge Cup due to scheduling conflicts, and the lack of cooperation the USFA inflicted on the ASL. American soccer historians claim that the real issue was the ASL vying to be the premier soccer body in the United States.

In 1927, the issue intensified as ASL clubs were accused by FIFA for signing European players who were already under contract to European clubs. Due to the conflict and apparent corruption in the ASL, USFA president (at the time), Andrew M. Brown traveled to Helsinki, Finland for the 1927 FIFA Congress in the hopes of removing any penalties imposed on the ASL and USFA. Other issues regarding the soccer league involved the closed league model and the lack of American soccer players dominating the league. It resulted in ASL owners wanting to run their soccer clubs more like Major League Baseball teams, as many ASL owners owned MLB franchises. According to owners of ASL clubs, they saw these rulings as restrictions imposed on themselves, including the National Challenge Cup.

With the hope of breaking away from the National Challenge Cup, Charles Stoneham, an owner of the New York Nationals proposed that the ASL would create their own tournament to determine the champion of the ASL, and thus ultimately determine the top American soccer club. This was the creation of early forms of playoffs culminating a regular season. Additionally, the proposal included expanding into the Midwest to include clubs from the Ohio River Valley and St. Louis regions, and create a new division for these clubs. Stoneham's plan involved having the two divisions compete in their own season, and the top clubs in each division playing in the ASL tournament to determine the ASL champion. Before the proposal, the National Challenge Cup was seen as the ultimate title in American soccer since most professional leagues in the United States focused on a specific region, rather than encompassing the entire country as a whole.

The problem with this system was the
of American soccer at the time, and consequently wrecked the reputation and possibly even the popularity of the sport domestically. The colloquial " war " has been consider creditworthy for the fall of the ASL, and the end to the inaugural gold age of American soccer. 

 The initial issue with the ASL had been the scheduling of the National Challenge Cup, which had been tense for the ASL season schedule. Typically, the National Challenge Cup had been played during the ASL's offseason, which make it difficult for ASL clubs to compete in the tournament. Consequently, the ASL boycott the 1925 Challenge Cup due to scheduling conflicts, and the lack of cooperation the USFA inflicted on the ASL. American soccer historians claim that the real offspring was the ASL vying to be the premier soccer soundbox in the United States. 

 In 1927, the issue intensified as ASL baseball club were accused by FIFA for signing European players who were already under contract to European clubhouse. Due to the conflict and apparent corruption in the ASL, USFA president (at the time), Andrew M. Brown travel to Helsinki, Finland for the 1927 FIFA Congress in the hopes of removing any penalties imposed on the ASL and USFA. Other issue regarding the soccer league involved the closed league model and the lack of American soccer players overshadow the league. It result in ASL owners wanting to run their soccer clubs more like Major League Baseball teams, as many ASL owners own MLB franchises. harmonize to owners of ASL clubs, they saw these opinion as restriction imposed on themselves, including the National Challenge Cup. 

 With the hope of breaking away from the National Challenge Cup, Charles Stoneham, an owner of the New York Nationals proposed that the ASL would create their own tournament to settle the champion of the ASL, and thus ultimately determine the top American soccer club. This was the creation of early forms of playoff culminating a regular season. Additionally, the proposal included expanding into the Midwest to include clubs from the Ohio River Valley and St. Louis region, and create a new division for these clubs. Stoneham's plan involve having the two divisions compete in their own season, and the top clubs in each part playing in the ASL tournament to determine the ASL champion. Before the proposal, the National Challenge Cup was see as the ultimate deed in American soccer since most professional leagues in the United States focused on a specific area, rather than encompassing the entire country as a whole. 

 The trouble with this system was the
 of American soccer at the uime, and consequeurly wrxcked tge reputxtion and possibly even the 'opuoaritt of the sport domestizally. The colloquual "xar" has been considered vzsponalble yoc the fall of tme ASL, and dhe end to the fkrdt golden age of American soccer.

The initiak lssue with the ASL rad gvek the scheduling of the National Challeige Cup, which hsd been straining for the WSL deason schedule. Tyoically, the Natyinal Challenee Cup had been played during the ASL's offseason, whicf madz it difficolf vmr ASL clubw to bompete in thc tourndment. Cpnsequently, thc ASL botcotted the 1925 Challengx Cup due to schedulyng conflhccs, and the lack of coipwratimn tve URDA knfmirtes on tje ESL. Americah soccer hiwtorians claim that trv real issue sas thq WSL vying to be the premier soccer body in the United States.

In 1927, tye issue intensified ws ASL cltbs were accused by FIFA for signing European plafers xhu wtrc xorfady under contract to European clubs. Due to ege cpnflict and apiarent corruption on tng ASL, USFA prerident (at the time), Andrew M. Brown jravelwd to Helfinko, Finland for the 1927 FIFA Contress in the yopes of removing cny penaltier imkosed pn the ASL and USFA. Othzr isshes regardijg the sodzer league involxed tve closed league model and the lack of Cmerican socver plwyers domijatinn the league. It resklted it ASL ownegs wanting to run their soccer rkubs more lile Mabor Leagbe Bascball teams, as iany ASL ownerx owned MLB wranchises. Accordmng to ownerf of ASL clubv, they saw thxse rulinds aw rewtrictiuvs imposed on yhemselves, includint the National Chaklevfe Cup.

With the kuke of breaking aeay frjm tie Naehonal Challetge Zup, Vharlds Stontkam, xn oener of the New York Natjonals proposed thst the ASL would cweate their oen tournament to dttermiie the chamliog of the ASL, and thus ultimatemy determlne the top Amewicak soscer club. Chis was the creation of early forms of 'layoffs culminating a eegular season. Addijiokally, the prpposaj includeg expanding into the Midwest to incluce clubs from the Ohik Rives Valpey and St. Louis regions, and create a new division for these clubs. Stonehqm's plen involved hzvinb the tco bivisiogs clopete in their oen season, and the top clubs in xach divishou playing in the ASL tournamemt to determine the ASL champion. Before the prolosal, the National Challenge Cul was seen as the ultimabe title un Amsrican socrer since most profexsionan leatues in the United Stater fpcmsed on a dpecmfie region, rather than encompassing the ebtlre country as a whole.

The pvonlem wpth thif system was the
of American soccer at the time, and the and possibly the popularity of "war" been considered responsible the fall of ASL, and the end to the golden age of American soccer. The initial issue with the ASL had been scheduling of the National Challenge Cup, which had been straining for the ASL schedule. the Challenge had been played during the ASL's offseason, which made it difficult for ASL clubs to compete the tournament. Consequently, the ASL boycotted the 1925 Cup due to scheduling and the lack of cooperation USFA on the American historians that the real was the ASL vying to be the premier soccer body in the United States. In 1927, the intensified as were accused FIFA signing players who were contract to European clubs. Due to apparent corruption in the ASL, USFA president (at time), Andrew Brown traveled to Helsinki, Finland for 1927 FIFA Congress in the hopes of removing penalties imposed on the ASL and USFA. Other issues regarding the soccer league involved the model and the lack American soccer players the It in owners wanting run their soccer clubs more like Major League Baseball teams, as ASL owners owned MLB franchises. According to owners of ASL saw rulings as restrictions on themselves, including the Challenge With the hope of from National Stoneham, owner the New York Nationals that the ASL would create own tournament to determine and thus ultimately determine the top American soccer This was the creation of early forms playoffs culminating a regular season. Additionally, the proposal included expanding into the to include the Ohio River Valley and St. Louis regions, create a new division these clubs. Stoneham's plan involved having the two divisions in own season, the top clubs each division playing the ASL tournament the ASL Before proposal, Cup was seen as the ultimate in soccer since most professional leagues the focused on a specific region, rather than encompassing the entire country as a whole. The this system was the
 of American soccer at the time, And consequEntly WreCkeD tHe rePutaTion and possiblY Even The popularity of the sporT domeStICallY. thE collOquial "wAR" hAS BeeN cOnSidErED rEsponSibLe for thE fall of the aSL, AnD the end to the FIrSt golden agE of american soccEr.

THe initIaL isSUe witH thE ASL hAd been THe scheDuling of tHe nAtionaL challenGE cuP, whiCh had been straininG FoR The ASL season scHedule. tyPIcALLy, tHe NAtional ChaLlEnge CUP had beeN PlAYED duRIng the ASL's offSeason, which MAde It diffIcUlt FOr ASL cLubs tO cOMpeTe in the tourNameNt. ConsequEntly, tHE ASL boyCOtted thE 1925 ChallEngE CuP due TO sChEduLiNG coNFlIctS, And The lack oF cOoPeratIon tHE usfA inFliCted On the aSL. American soCceR hisTOriAns clAim thAt thE rEal isSue was The ASl vYing to be the premIer sOccer body In tHe uniTeD StatES.

In 1927, the IssUe iNtensifIed as ASl CluBs WERE aCcused by FIFA for sigNiNG euRopean plAyers wHO wErE Already uNdEr cOntrACT to EuRopeAN cLubs. Due tO the coNFlIcT and appArEnt corRuPtiOn iN the Asl, USFa presiDent (at thE time), aNdrew M. Brown traVEled to HelsinkI, fiNLAnD For tHe 1927 FiFA Congress In thE HopeS of rEMoVinG Any peNaltiEs IMpOSed on the ASL and USFA. OThEr issuEs regArding the soccEr league inVOLVed the clOsed LEaGUe model and the lAck of american soCCer playeRs domInating tHe league. IT REsulted iN ASl owNerS waNTInG to run their soCCEr clUbS more liKe MAjor LeaGue basEbaLl tEaMs, as many AsL owners OwNeD MlB FraNchisES. AccordiNg To oWnErs Of ASL CLubs, thEy saw ThesE rUlINgs As restrICtIONs imPoSeD on tHemSeLves, iNcluDIng The NatiOnal ChallEngE cup.

WItH tHe hope oF breaking away FrOm the NatioNaL ChAllengE cUp, CharleS Stoneham, an owner of the NeW york NatIonAls prOposEd that the aSL Would cReaTE their Own touRnameNt To dETErminE THe ChaMpIon of the ASl, ANd tHus ulTiMateLy deterMine the top American SOccEr club. This was The CreaTIOn Of eARlY ForMs OF plAYOffs culminating A regular seAsON. ADditionallY, The PrOposal iNcluded ExpanDIng into The MidwesT to includE cLubs FROm tHe Ohio RiveR Valley aNd St. Louis REgionS, AnD creaTe a New divIsIon For thEse cluBS. StOnehaM's plan InVolved HavinG tHe two divIsions compete in their own Season, And thE toP clubs in eAch DIviSion playiNg in The ASL tourNamEnt To detErmINe the aSL cHAmPioN. beforE the PRoposal, thE naTioNAL CHallenge Cup WAS SeeN as thE ulTImate tItle In American soccer sINce most professIonaL LEagUes IN the unIted States focuSed On A SPecific rEgIon, rather thAn encompAsSIng thE entirE countRy as a whOLE.

THE problEm wiTh tHis system Was ThE
 of American soccer at the  time, and  cons equ ent ly  wre cked  the reputatio n  and  possibly even the pop ulari ty of t h esport  domest i ca l l y.Th ecol lo q ui al "w ar"  has be en conside red  r esponsible f o rthe fall o f t he ASL, andthe  end t othe first  go ldenage of Americ an soccer .The in i tial is s u ewith  the ASL had been th e  scheduling of  the N at i on a l  Ch all enge Cup,wh ich h a d beens tr a i n ing for the ASL s eason sched u le.  Typic al ly, the Na tiona lC hal lenge Cup h ad b een playe d duri n g the A S L's off season , w hic h ma d eit  di ff i cul t  f orA SLclubs to  c om petein t h e t ourn ame nt.Conse quently, theASL  boy c ott ed th e 192 5 Ch al lenge  Cup d ue to  s cheduling confl icts , and the  la ck  of  c ooper a tion t heUSF A infli cted on the  A S L .  A merican soccer his to r i an s claimthat t h ere a l issuewa s t he A S L  vyin g to be  the pre mier s o cc er  body i nthe Un it edSta tes.In 1 927, t he issue  inte n sified as ASLc lubs were acc u se d by FIFA  fo r signing E urop e an p laye r swho werealrea dy un d er contract to Euro pe an clu bs. D ue to the con flict anda p p arent co rrup t io n  in the ASL, U SFA p resident ( a t the ti me),Andrew M . Brown t r a veled to  He lsi nki , F i n la nd for the 19 2 7  FIF ACongres s i n the h ope s o f r emo vi ng any pe naltiesim po se donthe A S L and US FA . O th erissue s  regar dingtheso cc e r l eague i n vo l v ed t he  c lose d l ea gue m odel and  the la ck of Ame ric a n so cc er  player s dominatingth e league.It  re sulted i n ASL ow ners wanting to run the i r socce r c lubsmore  like Maj orLeague  Ba s eballteams,  as m an y A S L  owne r s  o wne dMLB franch i s es.  Acco rd ingto owne rs of ASL clubs, t h eysaw these rul ing s as r es tri c ti o nsim p ose d on themselves,includingth e  N ational Ch a lle ng e Cup.
With t he ho p e of br eaking aw ay from t he  Nat i o nal  Challenge  Cup, Ch arles Sto n eham, an  owne r o f theNe w Y ork N ationa l s p ropos ed tha tthe AS L wou ld  createtheir own tournament to  deter minethe  champion  of the  ASL, and  thu s ultimate lydet ermin e t h e top  Ame r ic ans occer  clu b . This wa s  t hec r ea tion of ear l y for ms of  pl a yoffsculm inating a regular season. Additi onal l y , t hep ropo sa l included exp and in g into the  M idwest to i nclude c lu b s fro m theOhio R iver Va l l ey and St . Lo uis  regions,  an dc reate a  n ew divisi on f or  these  clubs .  Sto n e ham's plan invol ved h a v ing t h e t wo di vi sions c o mpet e in their  own season , andthetop c lubs in  e ach di vis io n playingi n the ASL  tour namentto  det erm ine th e AS L champ ion.  B efo re the pr o p os a l,  t h e N atio nal C ha llen ge Cup wa s  seen as  th e  ultima te  ti t l e in A m er i c an soccersin ce mo s t  professio n al l e ag u es in  the U nitedStatesf ocu se d on aspe c i fic regio n, rather tha nenco mpassing  t he e nt ire  c ountry as a who le.

The  problem w ith th iss yste m  was t he 
 of_American soccer_at the time, and_consequently wrecked_the_reputation and_possibly_even the popularity_of the sport_domestically. The colloquial "war"_has been considered_responsible_for the fall of the ASL, and the end to the first golden age_of_American soccer.

The_initial_issue_with the ASL had been_the scheduling of the National_Challenge Cup,_which had been straining for the ASL season_schedule._Typically, the National_Challenge Cup had been played during the ASL's offseason,_which made it difficult for ASL_clubs to compete_in_the_tournament. Consequently, the ASL_boycotted the 1925 Challenge Cup due_to scheduling conflicts, and the lack_of cooperation the USFA inflicted on the_ASL. American soccer historians claim that_the real issue was the_ASL vying_to be the premier soccer_body in the_United States.

In_1927, the issue_intensified as ASL clubs were accused_by FIFA for_signing European players who were already_under_contract to European_clubs._Due_to the_conflict and apparent_corruption_in the_ASL,_USFA president (at the time), Andrew_M._Brown traveled to Helsinki, Finland for the_1927 FIFA Congress in_the_hopes of removing any_penalties imposed on the ASL_and USFA. Other issues regarding the_soccer league_involved the_closed league model and the lack of American soccer players dominating_the league. It resulted in ASL_owners wanting to run_their soccer_clubs_more like Major_League_Baseball teams,_as many ASL owners owned MLB franchises._According to_owners of ASL clubs, they saw_these rulings as restrictions_imposed_on themselves, including the National Challenge_Cup.

With the hope of breaking away_from the National Challenge Cup,_Charles_Stoneham,_an owner of the New_York Nationals proposed that the ASL_would create their_own tournament to determine the champion of_the_ASL, and thus ultimately determine the_top_American soccer club. This was the_creation_of_early forms of playoffs culminating_a regular season. Additionally, the proposal_included expanding into the Midwest to include clubs from_the Ohio River_Valley and St. Louis regions,_and_create_a new division for these clubs. Stoneham's plan involved having_the two_divisions compete in_their own season, and the top clubs in each division_playing in the ASL tournament to determine_the ASL champion. Before the proposal, the National Challenge Cup was_seen as the ultimate title in American soccer_since most professional leagues in the United_States focused on a_specific_region, rather than encompassing the entire country_as_a_whole.

The_problem with this_system was the