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New York City, New York Jul 10, 2025  – A New Chapter for NASL-Inspired Football Begins in 2026

The original North American Soccer League (NASL) was instrumental in growing the international appeal of soccer by bringing together global stars and diverse communities for decades. The league, featuring legends like Pelé, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, and Best, is still fondly remembered by fans worldwide.

Now, a new era is beginning.

Football Is For The Fans Ltd, the UK branch of Austin-based Football Is For The Fans Inc, has revealed initial plans for a NASL-inspired soccer festival in the summer of 2026. This traveling competition, called the Soccer Bowl Tour, will celebrate the original league’s heritage while presenting a modern, community-focused interpretation.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that a separate project under the USL umbrella in the United States may involve reviving a New York Cosmos-branded team in New Jersey. While both initiatives acknowledge NASL history, their approaches differ. Football Is For The Fans is dedicated to honoring the league’s spirit – independent, accessible, and centered on its supporters.

Their project will showcase classic NASL-era team names, such as the Cosmos, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Los Angeles Aztecs, Chicago Sting, Washington Diplomats, Atlanta Chiefs, San Antonio Thunder, and California Surf. These teams will be represented through heritage branding and retro-style match formats, including 35-yard shootouts and definitive results with no ties.

Beyond the format and team names, the project is deeply rooted in the community. As a UK Community Interest Company (CIC), Football Is For The Fans is structured to reinvest in players, fans, and underserved communities, offering opportunities to ex-academy players, semi-professionals, and talented football creatives who have been marginalized by the modern system.

Discussions are underway with stadium partners across the UK and mainland Europe. The aim is to provide affordable matchdays with family-friendly pricing, free tickets for schools and local organizations, and a welcoming, grassroots atmosphere.

If successful, the Soccer Bowl Tour will take place over six weekends in the summer of 2026, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional, franchise-based soccer models.

“We are not affiliated with any other organizations using the Cosmos name. This is an independent project inspired by the original NASL’s values — soccer for the people. Our aim is to bring back the joy, affordability, and authenticity of the sport, not to simply repackage it. This isn’t about nostalgia; it’s about revitalizing soccer’s most inclusive ideals.”
— Scott  “Matchmaker” Michaels, Founder, Football Is For The Fans

The organization envisions a global, fan-owned ecosystem, modeled after community-first ownership structures like the Green Bay Packers, and supported by a real estate investment trust (REIT) approach to stadium infrastructure. This strategy is designed to return assets to local communities and ensure long-term sustainability.

As the mainstream soccer industry continues to change, Football Is For The Fans offers an alternative that is built on collaboration, transparency, and shared purpose, rather than corporate control.

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