As soccer takes center stage in the U.S. ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one name deserves special recognition: William D. Cox. A man whose vision helped shape the modern era of soccer in America.
Before Cox’s efforts, soccer in the U.S. was confined to ethnic enclaves. That began to change in 1961 when Cox, a former baseball team owner from Pennsylvania, organized a groundbreaking tournament in New York featuring English and Scottish clubs. It attracted international media attention and sparked conversations about launching a professional league.
Roger Allaway's "The Archives Room" series continues with "Bill Cox and the ISL showed the way" https://t.co/MA4IP0lEbR pic.twitter.com/4F9eJrVpTy
— S.A.S.H. (@USSoccerHistory) September 22, 2022
Cox’s vision inspired others, like Welsh and Aston Villa legend Phil Woosnam, who would later become league president. It also influenced journalist Clive Toye, who left the UK to manage the Baltimore Bays and then founded the New York Cosmos, signing Pelé and helping soccer reach new heights in the U.S.
Many names from that transformative era—players, executives, visionaries—are now in the National Soccer Hall of Fame. But none of them would be there without Cox’s original idea and initiative.
His legacy lives on in every stadium, youth match, and World Cup dream in America. As the world turns its eyes to 2026, it’s time to honor Bill Cox with his rightful place among the legends.
