The Diplomats are making a comeback: Washington’s Resilient Soccer Team plans to Return to the Pitch”

As the National Soccer League looks to expand and grow American soccer, it is with great excitement that we announce the relaunch of one of the most iconic teams in the league’s history, the Washington Diplomats. 

With a storied past and a bright future ahead, the Diplomats are a team that represents the very best of American soccer.

The Diplomats were born in 1974 when a group of business leaders from Washington D.C. were granted a franchise by the North American Soccer League. The team played their first season at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., but in 1975 and 1976, they moved to W.T. Woodson High School in Northern Virginia for most of their games. The Diplomats played indoor home matches at the D.C. Armory.

Despite some early challenges, the Diplomats persevered and worked hard to become one of the most successful teams in the league. 

In each of their last three years of existence, they qualified for the playoffs. In their final year, the team made a historic signing, bringing in Johan Cruyff, the future European Player of the Century. 

This signing sparked a surge in attendance, with nearly 20,000 fans attending each game by the 1980 season.