The Dallas Tornado soccer team was a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA) in 1967. In 1968, the team, along with the rest of the USA, merged with the National Soccer League (NSL) to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). One of the most successful teams on the pitch, the Tornado drew well at the get in the late '70s. However, interest in the sport, at least the outdoor version, began to dwindle in the early '80s, and in following the 1981 season, the team merged with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.