The U.S. Soccer Federation voted to not sanction the United Soccer League nor the North American Soccer League for play in 2010 after both sides were unable to meet the minimum requirement of eight viable teams.

The board gave each league seven days to work out an interim solution with hopes that there would be a single league to be approved on a provisional basis.

That deadline is Jan. 5. The Carolina RailHawks, formerly of the USL, are one of 11 teams in the proposed NASL.

The Dec. 29 vote came on the recommendation of a special task force, which determined neither league would provide a sustainable operation during the upcoming season, according to The Associated Press.

Although NASL has enough franchises to start a USSF-sanctioned league, there may be too many questions about some of its members' financial stability.

NASL released a statement the next day that said, "While disappointed with this outcome, NASL continues to believe that it and its member teams would, if sanctioned, make a significant positive contribution to soccer in the United States and Canada.

"NASL respects the Federation's decision and its suggested course of action for obtaining sanctioning in 2010. NASL will continue during the next seven days to work in good faith towards an interim solution with United Soccer Leagues. NASL will have no further comment on this matter until a resolution has been reached or the negotiation period has expired."

The USL had a much more lengthy release, with much of the same sentiment - although the release did quote chief executive Alec Papadakis as saying the league would be able to have the minimum eight teams.

After losing teams like the RailHawks to the NASL group, the USL was slated to have just four teams in its highest division of play next year.

Its release read, "In support of USSF's efforts to find a resolution for the upcoming season at its Division II Men's Professional League level, USL very recently agreed to one of the proposals made by USSF requiring USL-1 and the contemplated North American Soccer League (NASL) to come together for 2010. USL remains willing to proceed with this USSF-proposed scenario in order to enable the 2010 season over the course of the next several days."

One possible scenario could see NASL teams like the RailHawks return to the USL for this season, and then apply for sanctioning again at season's end.

The other could have NASL play this year unsanctioned and therefore ineligible for the U.S. Open Cup.