Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1972. This was the 5th season of the NASL.

Overview

Eight teams took part in the league with the New York Cosmos winning the championship.

Changes from previous season

Rules changes

The league changed its offside rule during the season on June 26. They created a "Blue Line" which was an offside line across the field, 35 yards from the goal line. Thereafter, no player could be offside unless he had crossed the 35-yard line. This made the NASL unique in the soccer world; the league received temporary approval for the change from FIFA on an experimental basis only. The league also switched the playoff format to single-match elimination contests rather than series.

New teams

Teams folding

Teams moving

Name changes

Map of clubs

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, T= Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PT= point system 6 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored up to three per game.

NASL All-Stars

Playoffs

All playoff games in all rounds including the NASL Final were single game elimination match ups.

Bracket

Semifinals

NASL Final 1972

1972 NASL Champions: New York Cosmos

Post season awards