1986 National Soccer League
President: Rocco LoFranco
Director of Public Relations: Bryn Lloyd
Review of the season
The annual general meeting was held in Windsor on the weekend of December 14-15, 1985. At the meeting it was decided to add a Quebec division for the 1986 season. Work also started to move away from ethnic team names, with an hope to eliminate all ethnic names within three years. Each NSL franchise would also be required to post a bond of $ 15,000 to protect against financial collapse in mid-season. The name change of Dinamo Latino to Toronto Blizzard was also approved. The league decided to allow each team five imports this season.
First Portuguese had only two returning players from the 1985 season. Newcomers included goalkeeper Francisco Coelho, who was signed from a Portuguese second division club, and forward Doug McNaught.
Scarborough Olympics were formerly known as Panhellenic. The team was coached by Colin Byrom. Before the season they signed former Toronto Blizzard-player Gordon Wallace and forward Bobby Voivondidis from Greek second division club Kastoria. Returning players included goalkeeper Robert Judd and forward Pat Cubelis.
Before the season started Toronto Italia signed four new players. They were Canadian international defender Trevor McCallum, striker Cosimo Comisso, Candian Olympic team player Franco LoFranco and Carlo Lazon from Peru.
Ace Ntsoelengoe marked his return to the Blizzard roster by scoring one goal in Blizzard’s 5-0 win over St. Catherines Roma on Sunday May 25 at Varsity Stadium.
Windsor Wheels opened their regular league season by beating Toronto Italia 1-0 on Sunday June 15 at Windsor Stadium.
Toronto Blizzard suffered their first, and only, loss of the season when First Portuguese won 2-1 over Blizzard on Sunday night September 14. Luis Padilha was the hero for First Portuguese as he scored two goals in front 3,147 fans at Varsity Stadium.
Toronto Blizzard won the league championship.
Toronto Croatia went through a winless season.
Toronto Italia won the NSL playoff championship.
NSL Player of the Year – Carlos Bosco (Toronto Blizzard)
Blizzard’s Carlo Bosco was voted NSL Player of the Year.
Final standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
| Toronto Blizzard | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 12 | 21 |
| Toronto Italia | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 12 | 17 |
| Panhellenic | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 23 | 16 |
| London Marconi | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 27 | 24 | 15 |
| First Portuguese | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
| Windsor Wheels | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 29 | 15 |
| St. Catharines Roma | 14 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 36 | 8 |
| Toronto Croatia | 13 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 3 |
Leading goalscorers:
(As of August 29, 1986)
1. Mustafa Muratovic (Windsor Wheels) 10 goals
2. Ace Ntsoelengoe (Toronto Blizzard) 8 goals
National Soccer League Playoffs
Semifinals
September 21, 1986 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Toronto Blizzard 1 (Marco Abascal)
Panhellenic 0
September 21, 1986 Etobicoke Stadium, Toronto
Toronto Italia 2
London Marconi 1
Final
September 24, 1986 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Toronto Italia 1
Toronto Blizzard 0
National Soccer League Cup
Final
September 19, 1986 Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Blizzard 4
London Marconi 3
Toronto Blizzard won the NSL Cup and qualified for the NSL Cup Championship.
National Soccer League Cup Championship
Semifinal
September 26, 1986 Toronto
Vancouver Columbus Italia 1 (Frank Ciaccia)
Laval (NSL Quebec champion) 0
Final
September 28, 1986
Toronto Blizzard 2 (Lyndon Hooper, Hector Marinaro)
Vancouver Columbus Italia 1 (John Guzzo)
Exhibition games
May 18, 1986 Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Toronto Blizzard 2
Argentinos Juniors (Argentina) 7
Match report
May 20, 1986 Windsor Stadium, Windsor
Windsor Wheels 0
Argentinos Juniors (Argentina) 1
Match report