Review of the Season
For the first time in its history the American Soccer League operated from the east coast to the west coast, operating with five teams in its Western Division and six teams in the Eastern Division.
In the Eastern Division were the Chicago Cats, Cleveland Cobras, Connecticut Yankees, New Jersey Americans, New York Apollo and Rhode Island Oceaneers. Dropped from the 1975 season were Boston Astros, Cincinnati Comets, New Jersey Brewers and Pittsburgh Miners.
The new franchises in the Western Division were the Los Angeles Skyhawks, Oakland Buccaneers, Tacoma Tides and
Utah Golden Spikers.
Los Angeles Skyhawks Schedule
New York Apollo Schedule
Oakland Buccaneers Schedule
Sacramento Spirits Schedule – Rafferty Hall
1976 Tacoma Tides schedule – Coca Cola
The ASL decided to operate with a new point system for the 1976 season. The system awarded five points for each victory, two for each tie and one bonus point for each goal scored up to maximum of three.
The first match of the season was on April 17 when Los Angeles Skyhawks hosted Sacramento Spirits.
Los Angeles Skyhawks won the 1976 ASL Championship by defeating New York Apollo in the final.
Final standings
Eastern Division
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | BP | Pts | |
| New York Apollo | 21 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 29 | 25 | 29 | 85 |
| Rhode Island Oceaneers | 21 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 31 | 23 | 31 | 82 |
| Cleveland Cobras* | 21 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 32 | 27 | 80 |
| Chicago Cats | 21 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 80 |
| Connecticut Yankees | 21 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 35 | 39 | 30 | 75 |
| New Jersey Americans | 21 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 26 | 38 | 25 | 63 |
*Awarded third place by Commissioner’s decision.
Western Division
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | BP | Pts | |
| Los Angeles Skyhawks | 21 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 41 | 15 | 35 | 112 |
| Tacoma Tide | 21 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 40 | 23 | 31 | 93 |
| Utah Golden Spikers | 20 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 22 | 28 | 84 |
| Oakland Buccaneers | 18 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 28 | 39 | 25 | 59 |
| Sacramento Spirits | 21 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 25 | 52 | 25 | 51 |
Attendances
The American Soccer League attracted a total of 287,752 fans in 188 games.
| Club | Total | Average |
| 1. Los Angeles Skyhawks | 60,916 (11 games) | 5,537 |
| ?. New Jersey Americans | 34,812 | |
1976 A. S. L. Playoffs
Quarter-Finals
??, 1976
Attendance:
Referee:
XX
XX
??, 1976
Attendance:
Referee:
XX
XX
??, 1976
Attendance:
Referee:
XX
XX
??, 1976
Attendance:
Referee:
XX
XX
Semi-finals
August 21, 1976
Attendance:
Referee:
Los Angeles Skyhawks 2
Tacoma Tides 1
August 21, 1976 Hofstra University Stadium, Hempstead, New York
Attendance: 600
Referee:
New York Apollo 1
Rhode Island Oceaneers 0
1976 A. S. L. Championship
August 27, 1976 Birmingham Stadium, Los Angeles
Attendance: 9,379
Referee:
Los Angeles Skyhawks 2
New York Apollo 1
Los Angeles Skyhawks won the 1976 ASL Championship
American Soccer History 