The historical top-level professional championship of the United States and Canada from 1968 through 1984. It is legally and statistically separate from the league of the same name that operated from 2011 through 2017.
SeasonNASL championRunner-upTrophy
1984Chicago StingToronto Blizzard
Soccer Bowl Series '84; two wins in the best-of-three series
1983Tulsa RoughnecksToronto Blizzard
Soccer Bowl '83: 2:0
1982New York CosmosSeattle Sounders
Soccer Bowl '82: 1:0
1981Chicago StingNew York Cosmos
Soccer Bowl '81
1980New York CosmosFort Lauderdale Strikers
Soccer Bowl '80: 3:0
1979Vancouver WhitecapsTampa Bay Rowdies
Soccer Bowl '79: 2:1
1978New York CosmosTampa Bay Rowdies
Soccer Bowl '78: 3:1
1977New York CosmosSeattle Sounders
Soccer Bowl '77: 2:1
1976Toronto Metros-CroatiaMinnesota Kicks
Soccer Bowl '76
1975Tampa Bay RowdiesPortland Timbers
Soccer Bowl '75: 2:0
1974Los Angeles AztecsMiami Toros
NASL Final		—
1973Philadelphia AtomsDallas Tornado
NASL Final		—
1972New York CosmosSt. Louis Stars
NASL Final		—
1971Dallas TornadoAtlanta Chiefs
Best-of-three championship series		—
1970Rochester LancersWashington Darts
Two-legged final		—
1969Kansas City Spurs-
Champion based on the regular season; no final was played in 1969.		—
1968Atlanta ChiefsSan Diego Toros
Two-legged final		—