As part of an ongoing series, Hudson River Blue will be profiling local soccer teams to offer our readers a better understanding of what goes into producing the next crop of MLS and national team talent, all while helping soccer grow as a sport in the U.S.
Professional soccer did not get off to the roaring start in Hartford that one would expect from a city that hosts the U.S. men’s and women’s national soccer teams (USMNT and USWNT) almost every other year. Instead, the start was mired with scandal and controversy.
As discussed previously, the first pro soccer team in Hartford was slated to join the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 2017, after playing the 2015-16 season in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).