A-League (1995–2004)

E28379

A-League (1995–2004) was a professional North American soccer league that operated as the continent’s top or second-tier competition before the rise of Major League Soccer and later evolved into the USL system.

Aliases (1)


Statements (42)

Predicate Object
instanceOf defunct soccer league
professional sports league
second division soccer league
alsoKnownAs USL First Division
surface form: "USL A-League"
competitionFormat league system
playoffs
competitionType closed league
confederation CONCACAF
continent North America
country Canada
United States of America
surface form: "United States"
demotedToSecondTierBy Major League Soccer
dissolved 2004
followedBy USL First Division
governedUnder Laws of the Game of association football
surface form: "FIFA Laws of the Game"
governingBody United Soccer Leagues
hadPromotionRelegation no
historicalRole predecessor of modern USL Championship structure
inception 1995
includedClubsFrom Canada
United States of America
surface form: "United States"
leagueLevel first tier in North America before 1996
second tier in Canada after 1996
second tier in United States after 1996
linkedTo USL Championship
surface form: "USL Championship (as historical ancestor)"
notableFeature bridge between APSL era and modern USL structure
numberOfTeams varied by season
organizedBy United Soccer Leagues
partOf USL system
precededBy American Professional Soccer League
primaryLanguageOfOperation English
professionalStatus fully professional
rebrandedAs USL First Division
region North America
relationToMLS second-tier league beneath MLS after 1996
top competitor before MLS launch
seasonSchedule spring–fall
sport association football
status defunct
successorLeagueLevel USL First Division
topTierUntil 1995
typeOfLeague club association football league

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Richmond Kickers formerLeague A-League (1995–2004)
this entity surface form: "A-League"
Charleston Battery hasFormerLeague A-League (1995–2004)
this entity surface form: "A-League"
1996 U.S. Open Cup includesTeamsFromLeague A-League (1995–2004)
this entity surface form: "A-League"
USL First Division predecessor A-League (1995–2004)