The North American Soccer League (NASL) will begin its fifth season as an independent league on April 4.

The league, which features the world-famous New York Cosmos, faces numerous challenges in the marketplace. Currently, the NASL is the only designated Division 2 league under United States Soccer Federation (USSF) guidelines, but the rival United Soccer League (USL) — currently a Division 3 — has announced it will apply for D2 status in 2016. USL has an affiliate and partnership agreement with Major League Soccer (MLS) and NASL has not announced a new expansion franchise in almost two years. In that period, USL has added over a dozen new teams.

Just ten days before the starts of the 2015 Spring Season, it was announced that Minnesota United FC was moving to Major League Soccer in 2018. Even though it seemed apparent for many weeks that MNUFC would move to MLS, the NASL was caught flat-footed in its response. On the day of the Minnesota to MLS announcement, NASL issued a vague press release referring to “competition,” and “alignment with the world game,” which strongly implied NASL was more in line with FIFA statutes and normal league procedures than MLS and also hinted that NASL saw itself as a competitor to MLS.

Just days later, however on the Ultras Alive podcast, NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson sounded a different tune about how the move (ie. promotion) of Minnesota United to MLS showed NASL teams could compete with MLS ones. Quite honestly, neither response is what needed to be given.

What NASL should be doing is congratulating its owners, fans and clubs whenever a team from the league moves to the top division. This also could prove to be an incentive for potential expansion owners to choose NASL ahead of USL –  the current third division league has made a point of selling its connections to MLS and the recent “promotion” of former USL club Orlando City SC to the top flight league. The previous new MLS club, Montreal Impact, has come from NASL, but that fact is never embraced publicly or exploited by NASL’s management in a public fashion.

Competition and concerns about MLS aside, NASL has a number of strong story lines that have developed as the 2015 season approaches. Here are a few of the biggest:

Cosmos sign Raul

Raul, the Real Madrid legend, will ply his trade this year for the New York Cosmos. His presence not only make the Cosmos better, but helps to legitimize NASL as a destination league for older European stars in the same way MLS is.

ESPN deal

While MLS has stuck to a pay formula to show games outside market online, NASL this season will have a free package on ESPN3. That’s a win for the league and for fans. In one calculated and smart move, NASL as a whole became more accessible to fans across the United States online than MLS.

Jacksonville joins NASL

NASL’s newest club, the Jacksonville Armadal has spent big money on players and marketing. On the marketing side, the team could break NASL’s single-game attendance record in its Saturday opener against Edmonton. On the field however, the club — which is relying on foreign coaches and players — might learn quickly that the American second division rewards local knowledge and experience more than talent on paper or success abroad.

Tampa Bay raided Fort Lauderdale and Orlando City SC

The Tampa Bay Rowdies, coming off a disappointing season, retooled the club’s front office and coaching staff. The Rowdies also signed seven players who started for in-state rivals Fort Lauderdale and Orlando City last season. The club also has renovated Al Lang Stadium and opened up its own team branded pub in downtown St Petersburg.

New look Strikers

Fort Lauderdale has had the most confusing offseason in the league. After having reached last season’s Championship, the team was dismantled from top to bottom and reassembled late. But on paper, the Strikers — who are now heavily reliant on imported Brazilian talent — appear better than last season. However, the 2014 edition of the club was led by Günter Kronsteiner, a highly experienced and well-regarded European manager. This year’s side is led by Marcelo Neveleff, a local Argentine-born youth coach. So despite the improved roster, the jury is out on how strong Fort Lauderdale actually will be.

Minnesota’s Miguel Ibarra has received four straight call-ups to the USMNT

NASL is more in the spotlight than ever thanks to Minnesota’s creative midfielder Miguel Ibarra. When Jurgen Klinsmann first called Ibarra into the USMNT camp last October, many saw it as a novelty. Now that he’s become a national team regular, some fans who had previously dismissed NASL as irrelevant are now fully engaged in following the league.

Atlanta, league owned but doing some interesting things

Based on player and staff budget, Atlanta should finish in last place. But the league-owned team has made an interesting management hiring in Gary Smith, an MLS Cup winner, and aggressively signed bargain players in the offseason. The Silverbacks won’t win anything this spring, but could be very strong come the Fall Season, when the side that was cobbled together in the last few weeks gets more game time together.

Predicted final table

1-     Edmonton
2-     Minnesota
3-     New York
4-     Fort Lauderdale
5-     Tampa Bay
6-     San Antonio
7-     Carolina
8-     Atlanta
9-     Ottawa
10-   Indy
11-    Jacksonville

Why Edmonton?

The short ten-match unbalanced format of the NASL Spring Season allows for a team that has coalesced already to start quickly out of the gates and claim a trophy. Edmonton made two key additions this offseason to a team that finished very well last season – Óskar Örn Hauksson and Matt Van Oekel. Both will mesh with an established group of players well led by the likes of Lance Laing and Albert Watson. While nobody would question Minnesota has the most talent in the league, Edmonton has the most favorable spring schedule and thus is the pick to surprise and win the title.