The National Soccer League was a soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997. Teams were primarily based in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The league was renamed to Canadian National Soccer League in 1993 following the folding of the Canadian Soccer League, and the accepting of the Winnipeg Fury, making the league more national. In the 1960s, the National Soccer League was one of four major leagues in Canadian soccer alongside the Pacific Coast League, the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and the Western Canada Soccer League.
It was replaced by the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1998, after an agreement between the CNSL and the Ontario Soccer Association.
NSL/CNSL champions Season Playoff champions Score Playoff runners-up Regular season champions Runners-up Cup1926 Toronto Ulster United FC 5–1 /1-0 Montréal Maroons Toronto Ulster United FC Montréal Maroons NSL Cup: Toronto Ulster United FC1927 Not completed1928 Montréal CNR 1–2 / 4–0 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: National Breweries Western: Hamilton Thistles Eastern: Montreal CNR Western: Toronto Scottish FC 1929 Montréal CNR 1–0 / 3–2 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal CNR Western: Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Hamilton Thistles 1930 Toronto Scottish FC 1–1 / 4–3 Montréal CNR Eastern: Montréal CNR Western: Toronto Scottish FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto CNR 1931 Toronto Scottish FC 2–1 / 2–2 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Scottish FC Eastern: Montreal CPR Western: Toronto Ulster United FC 1932 Toronto Ulster United FC 4–3 / 3–1 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal CNR Western: Hamilton City 1933 Toronto Ulster United FC 5–0 / 3–2 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Scottish FC Eastern: Emard St. Paul Western: Toronto Ulster United FC 1934 Toronto Ulster United FC 2–0 / 3–2 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Hamilton United Western: Toronto British Consols 1935 Frood Mines 3–1 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Aldred Northern:Frood Mines Western: Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Emard St. Paul Northern: Western: Toronto Scottish FC 1936 Montréal Carsteel FC 5–3 / 1–0 Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Northern:Falconbridge Falcons Western: Hamilton Thistles Eastern: Notre Dame de Grace Northern:Frood Mines Western: Toronto British Consols 1937 Toronto British Consols 1–3 / 5–1 Falconbridge Falcons Eastern: CNR Scottish Northern:Falconbridge Falcons Western: Toronto British Consols Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Northern:Frood Mines Western: Toronto Ulster United FC 1938 Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital w/o Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital Western: Toronto Maple Leafs 1939 Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital w/o Toronto British Consols Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Ulster United FC Eastern: Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital Western: Toronto British Consols 1940 Montréal Carsteel FC 3–2 / 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Maple Leafs Eastern: Maisonneuve Rovers Western: England United 1941 Toronto Ulster United FC 0–1 / 2–0 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto Maple Leafs Eastern: Montréal Wings Western: Toronto Ulster United FC 1942–46 Not played during World War II.1947 Toronto Greenbacks Montréal Stelco Toronto Ulster United FC 1948 Montréal Carsteel FC 3–1 / 3–3 Hamilton Westinghouse Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Hamilton Westinghouse Eastern: Canadair Falcons Western: 1949 Toronto East End Canadians 7–1 / 4–1 Montréal Carsteel FC Eastern: Montréal Carsteel FC Western: Toronto East End Canadians Eastern: Montréal Stelco Western: Hamilton Westinghouse 1950 Hamilton Westinghouse 3–2 / 1–1 Montréal Canadian Falcons Eastern: Montréal Canadian Falcons Western: Hamilton Westinghouse Eastern: Westmount Western: Toronto St. Andrews 1951 Toronto Ukraina 1–0 Toronto East End Canadians Toronto St. Andrews Toronto Ulster United FC Dominion Cup: Toronto Ulster United FC1952 Toronto Ulster United FC Toronto St. Andrews Toronto East End Canadians Toronto Hungaria Arnold Cup: Toronto Ukraina1953 Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ulster United FC 1954 Toronto Ulster United FC 2–1 / 0–1 / 6–0 Polish White Eagles Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ulster United FC 1955 Toronto Ulster United FC Polish White Eagles Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ulster United FC 1956 Polish White Eagles 2–1 / 2–2 Toronto Italia FC Polish White Eagles Toronto Italia FC 1957 Toronto Italia FC 1–0 / 1–1 / 1–2 / 2–0 Toronto Hungaria Toronto Italia FC Polish White Eagles 1958 Montréal Hungaria 2–2 / 2–2 Toronto Italia FC Montréal Hungaria Toronto Italia FC 1959 Toronto Italia FC 1–0 / 1–1 Montréal Cantalia FC Montréal Cantalia FC Toronto Italia FC 1960 Toronto Italia FC 2–2 / 0–0 / 4–2 Montréal Cantalia FC Toronto Italia FC Toronto Sparta 1961 Toronto Ukraina 1–0 / 1–0 Toronto Hungaria Toronto Roma FC Montréal Concordia 1962 Italian Virtus 2–0 / 2–3 Toronto Ukraina Olympia-Harmonie Toronto Ukraina 1963 Toronto Ukraina 2–0 / 3–2 Toronto Hakoah Italian Virtus Toronto Hakoah 1964 Toronto Ukraina 1–0 / 4–1 Toronto Abruzzi Toronto Ukraina Montréal Cantalia FC 1965 Toronto Hakoah 2–3 / 3–1 Toronto Ukraina Toronto Ukraina Toronto Hakoah 1966 Windsor Teutonia 1–1 / 1–0 Toronto Croatia Sudbury Italia Toronto Hellas 1967 Windsor Teutonia 3–1 / 1–0 Hamilton Primos Hamilton Primos Toronto Roma FC 1968 Sudbury Italia Toronto Hellas Sudbury Italia Toronto Hellas 1969 no play-off Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Hellas NSL Cup: Toronto Italia1970 Hamilton Croatia 3–0 Toronto Croatia Toronto Croatia Hamilton Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto First Portuguese 1971 Toronto Croatia 1–0 Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Croatia Toronto First Portuguese Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto First Portuguese1972 Toronto Italia Serbian White Eagles Toronto Croatia Serbian White Eagles Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia 1973 Toronto Hungaria 2–1 Toronto Croatia Toronto Croatia Serbian White Eagles Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto Hungaria 1974 Toronto Croatia 1–0 Toronto Homer Serbian White Eagles Toronto Homer Canadian Open Cup: Serbian White Eagles NSL Cup: Toronto Italia1975 no play-off Toronto Italia Toronto First Portuguese Canadian Open Cup: Toronto Italia NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia1976 Toronto First Portuguese 2–0 / 2–1 Toronto Italia Toronto Italia Montréal Castors NSL Cup: Toronto Panhellenic1977 no play-off Montréal Castors Toronto Italia NSL Cup: Toronto Panhellenic1978 Toronto Falcons Hamilton Italo-Canadians Montréal Castors Toronto First Portuguese NSL Cup: Toronto Falcons 1979 no play-off Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Falcons NSL Cup: Toronto First Portuguese1980 Toronto Panhellenic 1–0 St. Catharines Roma Toronto Falcons Toronto First Portuguese NSL Cup: Toronto Italia1981 Hamilton Steelers Toronto Italia Hamilton Steelers Toronto Panhellenic NSL Cup: Hamilton Steelers1982Hamilton Steelers2–1 / 1–1Toronto ItaliaToronto ItaliaHamilton SteelersNSL Cup: Toronto Italia1983Toronto Italia0–2 / 2–0 (4–3 p.)Dinamo LatinoToronto PanhellenicToronto ItaliaNSL Cup: Toronto Italia1984 Toronto Italia London Marconi Toronto Italia NSL Cup: Toronto Italia1985 Toronto Italia 1–1 / 1–0 Windsor Roma London Marconi Dinamo Latino NSL Cup: Dinamo Latino1986 Toronto Italia 1–0 Toronto Blizzard Toronto Blizzard Toronto Italia NSL Cup: Toronto Blizzard NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto Blizzard NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Blizzard1987 Toronto Italia 2–0 London Marconi Windsor Wheels Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto Italia NSL Canadian Championship: Windsor Wheels NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Italia1988 Toronto Croatia Toronto Italia Toronto Italia Toronto Panhellenic NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto Italia NSL Canada Cup: Corfinium de St-Léonard 1989 no play-off Toronto Italia Toronto Croatia NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto Italia NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Croatia1990 no play-off Toronto First Portuguese Toronto Italia NSL Cup: St. Catharines Roma NSL Canadian Championship: Toronto First Portuguese 1991 no play-off Toronto Italia Scarbourough International NSL Cup: Toronto Argentina NSL Canada Cup: Toronto Argentina 1992 no play-off Toronto Croatia St. Catharines Roma NSL Cup: Toronto Croatia1993 St. Catharines Roma 0–0 / 1–0 Toronto Rockets Toronto Rockets Croatia de Montréal CNSL Cup: Toronto Croatia1994 Toronto Italia 0–1 / 3–1 St. Catharines Roma Toronto Italia St. Catharines Roma CNSL Cup: St. Catharines Roma1995 St. Catharines Wolves 1–1 / 2–1 Toronto Jets Toronto Jets St. Catharines Wolves CNSL Cup: St. Catharines Wolves1996 Toronto Italia 5–0 / 6–0 St. Catharines Wolves Toronto Italia St. Catharines Wolves CNSL Cup: St. Catharines Wolves1997 St. Catharines Wolves 0–0 / 4–3 Toronto Supra St. Catharines Wolves Toronto Croatia CNSL Cup: Toronto Supra
thecnsl.com – Canadian National Soccer League / Update: 6 June 2022 RSSSF – Canadian National Soccer League / Update: 6 June 2022
Titles Team Playoff championships Regular season championships Total championships Titles Years Titles Years Toronto Italia (1972–96) 8 1972, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1996 9 1975, 1976, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 199617 Toronto Ulster United FC 8 1926, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1941, 1952, 1954, 1955 7 1926, 1929w, 1932w, 1934w, 1935w, 1938w, 1939w15 Montréal Carsteel FC 3 1936, 1940, 1948 11 1931e, 1932e, 1933e, 1934e, 1936e, 1938e, 1939e, 1940e, 1941e, 1948e, 1949e14 Toronto Ukrainia 5 1951, 1953, 1961, 1963, 1964 5 1953, 1954, 1955, 1964, 196510 Toronto Croatia 3 1971, 1974, 1988 5 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 19928 Toronto Italia FC (1953–68) 3 1957, 1959, 1960 2 1957, 19605 Toronto Scottish FC 2 1930, 1931 3 1930w, 1931w, 1933w5 St. Catharines Roma / St. Catharines Wolves 3 1993, 1995, 1997 1 19974 Montréal CNR 2 1928, 1929 2 1929e, 1930e4 Toronto First Portuguese 1 1976 3 1969, 1979, 19904 Hamilton Steelers 2 1981, 1982 1 19813 Hamilton Westinghouse (1948–55) 1 1950 2 1948w, 1950w3 Toronto East End Canadians 1 1949 2 1949w, 19523 Sudbury Italia 1 1968 2 1966, 19683 Montréal Royal Victoria Hospital 2 1938, 1939 0 2 Windsor Teutonia 2 1966, 1967 0 2 Frood Mines 1 1935 1 1935n2 Toronto British Consols 1 1937 1 1937w2 Polish White Eagles 1 1956 1 19562 Montréal Hungaria 1 1958 1 19582 Italian Virtus 1 1962 1 19632 Toronto Falcons 1 1978 1 19802 Toronto Panhellenic 1 1980 1 19832 Hamilton Thistles 0 2 1928w, 1936w2 Falconbridge Falcons 0 2 1936n, 1937n2 Toronto Maple Leafs 0 2 1940w, 1941w2 Montréal Castors 0 2 1977, 19782 Toronto Greenbacks 1 1947 0 1 Toronto Hakoah 1 1965 0 1 Hamilton Croatia 1 1970 0 1 Toronto Hungaria 1 1973 0 1 National Breweries 0 1 1928e1 Montréal Aldred 0 1 1935e1 CNR Scottish 0 1 1937e1 Montréal Stelco 0 1 19471 Montréal Canadian Falcons 0 1 1950e1 Toronto St. Andrews 0 1 19511 Montréal Cantalia FC 0 1 19591 Toronto Roma FC 0 1 19611 Olympia-Harmonie 0 1 19621 Hamilton Primos 0 1 19671 Serbian White Eagles 0 1 19741 London Marconi 0 1 19851 Toronto Blizzard 0 1 19861 Windsor Wheels 0 1 19871 Toronto Rockets 0 1 19931 Toronto Jets 0 1 19951
NSL/CNSL clubs