Why It's Time To Take MLS Seriously! | Explained

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In our latest Euro Football Daily Explained we are taking a trip to North America to explore the remarkable rise of Major League Soccer. A division on the brink of collapse at the start of the 21st century, the MLS has finally seized it’s opportunity to grow Soccer in the states. When the 2022 season kicks off this February there will be 29 franchises taking part, while record match attendances, viewing figures and seismic activity in the transfer market points to a division only going from strength to strength. The recent capture of $16m Thiago Almada out of Argentina defined the MLS’ growing status as a major player on the international stage.
But how has the Major League got to this point? We explore how David Beckham helped soccer explode in America, and see how the current social media landscape has helped keep it on a path to success. And we look at the measures the MLS has taken to start it’s transition away from a ‘buyers league’ to one producing and acquiring some of the best talent in the game!
The MLS is only getting better, and this is the story of how they have achieved that!
► Why is the MLS producing so much TALENT?? Check out our EFD Explained: • Why The USA Is Produci...
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[@The_Antagonist07]

Im American but my parents are Mexican and they never watched mls because they thought it was an interior league. I took them to a sounders game and my dad was amazed by the crowd and how intense the game was. He now watches the league regularly and is a lafc fan. If people give the league a chance they will be amazed of how far this league has come.

[@sounders7422]

Well done. Many people have opened their eyes upon going to a Sounders game. Glad my club could help you and your dad.

[@tariizm1500]

im not from US but i like LAFC too LAFC is really a good team and have good athmosphere of fans and have a big potential to become even bigger team.

[@lahsport9259]

This is a very detailed unbiased video of the MLS. Usually Europeans talk only about Inter Miami and David Beckham. But you guys did your research and see that MLS could become one of the top leagues in the world! Good video

[@migscapo]

I doubt that will ever happen. The general quality of teams is too low and the playoff structure of the league is too strange for general football fans to add the MLS to their watch list.

[@tyler486]

the MLS is becoming better, but so are many leagues in europe. The quality in the MLS is that of the EFL championship. So I doubt it will become a top 10 league without some crazy happening, like a global CL

[@taylornelson2416]

@@tyler486 I would argue MLS is near tenth overall right now

[@lmads8023]

@@tyler486 that is so offensive to the Championship

[@lmads8023]

@@taylornelson2416 as in quality Premier league, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Primeira Liga, Eredivisie, Brazil Serie A, Argentine, Austrian, Belgian, Turkish, Scottish, Mexican.

[@Carlos36]

Ten years ago, I never thought the MLS would be where it's at. MLS future is bright.

[@maxc5338]

Happy to see MLS getting the credit they deserve. Just because its called soccer doesn't mean it ain't a good league

[@aniruddhashembekar5585]

Nothing with soccer in its name is serious idk what y'all say

[@cosmotheumbreontrainer]

@@aniruddhashembekar5585 Football in the UK was originally called soccer............. so football back then wasn't serious?

[@Rebel-eq7ul]

@@aniruddhashembekar5585 you do know the English made up the word Soccer right? Look it up

[@BroadwayJoe99]

​@@aniruddhashembekar5585 is probably offended when Spanish-speaking nations use the term "balompie" to describe Association Football, never mind that it's a calque/loan translation using the words "balon" (ball) and "pie" (foot). And don't get him started on "calcio"......

[@el_blaugrana]

I 100% agree with your statement 👍🏽.

[@James-op3vx]

Developing young players is the best thing that is happening in MLS, they go to Europe and in the future they will return to the league naturally with age.

[@williamfutch5to5]

@Moon Shine wish the mls actually notice pulisic at first

[@sans3go342]

@Moon Shine his name is Tyler adams

[@tariizm1500]

@Moon Shine first of all Neymar is not cringy :) if MLS wants to keep big players in league they should high salaries

[@tariizm1500]

​@Moon Shinethey are friend too :D u are right after next wc MLS will be more popular too in US and outside of US

[@airtwinks]

they never come back, because mls doesnt pay players enough

[@erikjansen8597]

One reason why I think the MLS will grow and strengthen over time is the youth. I see more kids playing organized soccer in the park than organized American Football. That being said, youth baseball and basketball in my area are still very strong.

[@sdot5389]

Soccer and basketball are booming virtually everywhere. Baseball is dying a slow and painful death almost everywhere except a few warm weather hotbeds.

[@erikjansen8597]

@@sdot5389 I do live in a baseball hotbed, so that is probably why.

[@realtalk6195]

Most of those kids have no shot at MLS. It's still geared towards rich kids who go to soccer academies or play college soccer, mostly the white upper-middleclass. The average kid of immigrants who likes Association football doesn't even watch MLS, but rather their home country's league, European leagues, or continental-level championships. The popularity of soccer in the US and the popularity of MLS are two distinct things, and people who conflate them are deceptive.

[@TamaHawkLive]

American football isn't going anywhere regardless of what you might think the youth is flocking towards. As someone already said here soccer in American is vastly an upper middle class sport. Combine that with the monstrous nature of the NFL and College Football landscape and you add the recent changes to NIL in College. It's at absolute peak form right now and it's only going up. That said I do feel like there is a bigger landscape opening up for soccer especially with baseball being the wreckfest it is. You want to talk about a leauge that is still living in the 1920s has no respect for its own championship, referees who care more about their ego than the spirit of the sport and has the absolute worst, most disrespectful selfish player base of any sport in America and that's the MLB for you. It's digging its own grave every year and I do feel sad for those families where it has been tradition but the leauge as a whole is the worst representation of sports in the country.

[@cubsfan1205]

@@sdot5389 Baseball isn’t dying, this MLB season has had a huge increase in attendance

[@EuroFootballDaily]

Thanks for the positive comments everyone! And yes, Claudio Reyna is still alive and well, so my bad and thank you for picking that up! [Henry]

[@dinandb113]

Who also watches this after the goat moved to Miami?

[@kreesmobeeruun]

Brenden Aaronson is good example for a talented player from MLS to play in Europe

[@jkjk6671]

That guy used to live 5 minutes from me in the United States

[@JP-xq7fo]

Tyler Adams as well

[@zeroid5945]

@@JP-xq7fo and y’all still forget Alphonso.

[@lazerhornet794]

Really good video, shows how fast the MLS is moving into being a main sport in the US

[@kendrickkolar5984]

As an avid football fan and an American who watches mls closely I can concur that this is a great video. I’ve always hoped fd would talk about the sport in the americas more and this is a great start! The league recently included a new rule known as the u22 initiative which allows teams to spend any amount on a transfer fee and with virtually no cap space being used on their salary. Teams get three of these players and Thiago Almada for Atlanta United is one example of this. Another player to watch out for from the u22 initiative is Santiago Moreno of the Portland Timbers who is expected to have his breakout season this year.

[@brendanfeely7390]

As a Timbers fan the loss in the finals still hurts however Santiago Moreno is not going to stay in the MLS for long from what I’ve seen he’s an incredible player. Certainly helps us considering Valerie has returned to Argentina. Club legend that’s for sure.

[@jeremypeterman8172]

@@brendanfeely7390 the only thing that needs to be fixed is the front office

[@alexandrescu2000]

Would have been awesome if your last name was lamar

[@redditia3202]

@Channel Name Why not football? you muppet

[@randisallah]

Am I the only one who hears " the late Claudio Reyna", he's not dead?!?!?!?

[@robertsampson3772]

I double checked

[@dustintomlinson2047]

Haha same here. What the hell.

[@chrissao_502]

I heard that and him say "Atalanta FC" not Atlanta United

[@jusskitten9773]

I’ve been an LA Galaxy fan since the league started in ‘96. David Beckham’s impact on LA Galaxy and the league have been monumental indeed. Hence why he has a statue outside of our stadium. There will ALWAYS be love for David Beckham, Robbie “Keano” Keane, Landon Donovan and even Zlatan for adding to the legend of my LAG’s. Btw, Phuk LAFC (Chitvas USA 2.0) and the Smurfs (San Jose Earthquakes)!

[@gordo9104]

Viva la liga Mx

[@davidday2373]

GALS cant win a REAL Championship LAFC : 1 GALS : 0 "MLS" before 2015 was "MINOR League Soccer"

[@joblaaa]

Probably my biggest criticism of MLS coverage outside of the US is the lack of attention given to sides that aren’t LA Galaxy or NYCFC - there are better sides right now. In general though it’s been incredible to see the growth and explosion of a sport that I love here in my country. We didn’t even have a team when I started taking an interest in football and now my local team is flying. We read about European clubs being founded over 100 years ago and their beginnings - we’re living through that here in the States. Another popular criticism from fans here is that we would like clubs to have more autonomy - MLS is structured in an “American way” with teams as franchises so presumably it doesn’t end up like the NASL. I think it would be cool to see clubs break away from this more and get to make more decisions independently from the league (for example teams don’t get to make kit deals - everyone has to use adidas). There’s an ongoing explosion of talent coming through - many clubs have established academies now its resulting in actual talent - the infrastructure is there now.

[@ryanfebrianto8973]

Ok my guy here is my opinion 1. No one give a damn about Rayo Vallecano, Real Betis, Athletic Club nor Real Sociedad. Hell, even the reputation of the clubs which had decent achievements like Sevilla and Valencia were nothing compared to Real Madrid and Barcelona. So it's happened to more established league, where the media prefer to covered the clubs which draw more attention. 2. Yes, I absolutely agree with you. The collective policy made the league looks monotone and homogenous. Looking on MLS club jerseys was boring. 3. Which one do you prefer? American sports league model (no pro-rel and playoffs) or common football league model. Because for me the playoffs didn't give justice to club who had consistent performance in regular season. And no pro-rel made the league less inclusive. I mean, you can join in as long as you pay the required amount of money and you can play to the top tier league without merit.

[@Fuzzhead392]

I don’t think that MLS coverage outside the US is that bad I think that it should be focused on just North America and be more geared to an American audience

[@jordanjohnson9866]

@@ryanfebrianto8973 Nah. Not no one. /

[@CornPopWazABadDude]

I love how any team can win it all in any season. European leagues especially Epl is amazing but it's the same few teams competing for championships every year.

[@sounders7422]

@@ryanfebrianto8973 Regarding point #1. It's more like laziness in research and Europeans only being aware of New York, LA and maybe Miami. Seattle has won more trophies in the last 10 years than LA Galaxy or NYCFC (which only came into existence fairly recently). Seattle has a longer history than MLS itself and is currently the CONCACAF Champions League Champion.

[@memolestas1017]

The next step for the MLS would be to start playing in the Conmebol competitions together with the Liga MX. It would be interesting to see more rivals for the MLS teams than just the mexicans; imagine LAFC or Philadelphia Union playing against teams like Boca Juniors, Sao Paulo, Peñarol, Atletico Nacional, Nacional (From Uruguay) and many others.

[@mikexstad1121]

Not to mention how many of these old European players have been complete failures. Pirlo, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, etc. Clubs learned, in the most expensive way possible, that these players can't cut it in MLS. Imo Sébastien Giovinco came over at 26 or 27 and is the best ever MLS player, far from retirement age.

[@austinlarrimore6542]

Lampard wasn’t that bad

[@hyperrat12]

@@austinlarrimore6542 yes he was.

[@de132]

Remember Bastian Schweinsteiger lol

[@Andre-eo4xe]

All came when they were over 35 Had nothing to prove in that rubbish league Sebastian Giovinco was a Juve reject

[@mikexstad1121]

@Andre Zlatan came when over over 35 and is about to sign another contract for Milan. Giovinco could have easily started on Arsenal

[@moisheplatinumberg6016]

It should have never been the intention of MLS to compete with Europe's top 4 leagues. Professional football in the US is over 100 years behind Europe. MLS has finally come to terms and embraced being a stepping stone to the top 4 European leagues. This is where real growth will happen in the next 20 years. I don't see pro/rel happening anytime soon because most of the 2nd and all of the 3rd divisions in the US play in high school stadiums and would fail instantly if promoted to MLS. The infrastructure just isn't there for nearly all these teams.

[@Adamdidit]

Finally someone gets it. You have to grow out a 2nd tier to make it viable to pro/rel.

[@FILIPE05]

They have a 2nd tier comp called the USL and a 3rd tier comp starting in 2023-24 called the MLS Pro Next to help the development of soccer in the US & CANADA!

[@sounders7422]

Seattle Sounders FC - CONCACAF Champions League Champions!!!! See you all at the Club World Cup!

[@brendanobrien8198]

I usually watch Premier and casually MLS, but starting next year I’ll be following both closely. Come on STL CITY!

[@PDohm123]

As. Charlotte FC fan, I'm excited and thrilled that we now get to be a part of this. And the signings we have of European, African, American, and Latin players, prices you're point that MLS is no longer a retirement league. We have do much talent from all ages, it's amazing. Can't wait to see what Charlotte FC brings to the rest of the 2022 season!!!!

[@KME-jj8zy]

Thank you for this video, we don’t normally get a whole lot of coverage like this of our leagues state side! The change is real and Don Garber, our commissioner like you mentioned, has been a big part in it with roster rule changes. The Beckham deal was huge for the Designated Player rule, and as we’ve become more of a stabilized league now it’s evolved new rules to help turn us into more of a selling league as well. The young designated player rule (same dp rule but for u23 talents incentivized by lower financial obligations owed by the club) was recently introduced: this is your Facundo Torres, Thiago Almada, Ezequiel Barco, etc. who are looking for that stepping stone opportunity to larger leagues. We’ve also recently implemented a u22 rule where teams that have 2 of the 3 DP spots filled or less can add up to 3 u22 talent that has struggled in their current sides for playtime or whatever it may be and become a development league for those sorts of talents. Clubs with 3 DPs are able to buy 1 u22 initiative player they’re called. My club for example, the Seattle Sounders, has 3 DPs: Peruvian Raúl Ruidíaz, Uruguayan Nicolas Lodeiro, and Slovakian Albert Rusnák. We are able to sign 1 u22 initiative player, and did last summer. We were looking to originally sign Palmeiras’ Wesley who just competed against Chelsea and featured prominently in the club World Cup. Our club is a lot more stingy with its money than Atlanta who you saw break the transfer record for Almada this window, so we got priced out by Palmeiras and instead went with another Brazilian winger, Léo Chú from Gremio. You can also use what’s called allocation money to buy down the contracts of players from designated players to a normal senior roster player. This is what we just did with Brazilian midfielder João Paulo, so that we could bring in this window and pay Albert Rusnák a designated player salary and stay within the roster rules of the league!

[@KME-jj8zy]

How could I forget also, Miguel Almiron who is now at Newcastle United as an example of the young dp rule and Atlanta United’s willingness to spend big money on quality young talent to develop that is changing our league.

[@musicvideouploader1]

MLS has improved CONCACAF tremendously

[@fmita_]

I think the fact that Daryl Dike was able to go from the MLS to Barnsley on loan in the Championship and play very well, arguably their best player in his time there, shows how far the MLS has come in the past decade

[@DegreeFinanceFocus]

And he came from college too!

[@ernestojohn3225]

Great video. Thanks for going into detail about the MLS.

[@bdavidson43087]

Really great stuff! I'm a Kansas City supporter, the new stadium is not so new anymore!..actually opened in 2011, I was there for the first match! Cheers, thanks for posting!

[@michaelcox6187]

This is a great video, with a gaping hole: the "MLS 2.0" expansion that put soccer into cities that, while not the obvious initial cities for a new league, were hotbeds of the sport in the US and Canada (Toronto/Seattle/Portland/Vancouver). These cities were responsible for some of the largest attendances and TV ratings during the 2010s, and their higher level of supporter engagement showed MLS itself the potential for new (and younger - critical for TV) audiences in a league that was otherwise kind of stagnant outside of LA. Seattle's ability to fill an NFL stadium led to Atlanta's possibilities, and Portland's passion keyed fan culture at LAFC, Austin, etc. Also, the video touches on Leagues Cup as some sort of new tie-in with the World Cup, but it began in 2019 and is just a further step in MLS looking to cultivate the Mexican-American audience, which is ravenous for soccer but to date primarily follows Liga MX. This desire for that audience is also behind Campeones Cup and MLS' increasing promotion of the Concacaf Champions League (from which MLS earns very little direct revenue). MLS' downplaying of America's domestic cup (US Open Cup) shows that they won't promote a competition they can't leverage for greater revenues (well, I guess at least they still compete in it, which the NASL wouldn't do).

[@cupolove1]

Great point! This is why I thought Raleigh really should have been awarded an expansion team. UNC, Duke, NC State and other universities all within a few minutes of each other. A great lower division team in NCFC, WOmen's NC Courage, and plans to build a new stadium. Plus, although Wake Med Soccer Park only holds 10k people.... the current NCFC stadium in Cary is probably the best non-MLS facility in the country. USMNT and USWNT have both held training camps there. The academy is solid and there are so many soccer parks/leagues in Raleigh/Cary. Hopefully, they will be considered in the next round. I was at the 75k attended Charlotte FC debut and it was amazing, but its like 2-3 hrs away, so it might as well be another state for fans in the Triangle area.

[@PDohm123]

Darien, that's not fair. Charlotte FC represents both states, North and South Carolina. It does suck that people have to travel up to 5 hours to see them play at BoA. But if travel time we're a big enough factor, every city and town in the world would have a soccer team. Charlotte had been trying to get a MLS team since the league's fighting in 1996. We haven't even had a full season yet, and your already wanting to break into Charlotte FC's fanbase by putting another team in North Carolina. If they happens, then you got South Carolina pissed off that Both Carolina has two teams. So they're going to want their own team in Columbia. So then we end up with the teams for the Carolinas. Why not just be thrilled that we have a team at all. Why do we need more teams in the Carolinas?

[@sounders7422]

Yep, totally used video of Sounders supporters without talking about Cascadia, the thing which put the sport on the map in the US probably more than Beckham. How you can do a whole video on MLS without its most historic and fiercest rivalry is beyond me. It would be like doing a video about La Liga and leaving out El Classico.

[@davidday2373]

True. The thing that turned my eyes to MLS was not the gimmick of Beckham, but rather when Seattle was drawing 50-60 thousand in attendance. Chivas USA, though, made me think MLS was a minor league to Liga MX 🇲🇽. It finally took MLS 3.O (2015 to Present) to capture me as a true supporter. LAFC 3252... owes a lot to Chivas USA Supporters... from what I gather, those Chivas Supporters brought the party to MLS Stadiums 🏟

[@sounders7422]

@@davidday2373 I have a friend who was a Chivas USA supporter and you're right, they brought the party and those early derbies vs LA Galaxy were spectacular. I remember one where there was so much smoke on their end of the stadium that the Galaxy players couldn't see the Chivas goal. LAFC 3252 take it to the next level and that's awesome!

[@lousantiago7511]

MLS is rapidly growing. The American athletes that would traditionally go to American Football are being guided towards soccer primarily due to head injuries. MLS will only continue to grow. We are lucky enough to grow up with the Seattle Sounders, and cannot wait to see the support we see in Seattle translate to the rest of the US. Eternal Blue, Forever Green! Let's GO!!!

[@TheCrazyCloon]

Lol, trying so hard to give credit to Seattle

[@wraynephew6838]

American Football players are much bigger in size then American soccer players. Kids that are big enough to play American Football will be generally to big and not athletic enough to play soccer. Those kids would not consider soccer.

[@Embargoman]

The MLS are driving baseball parks being empty when baseball is in session, to say it gives a chance for Montreal to get their Expos back when the Marlins begin to leave Miami for Montreal.

[@Nitehawkmk77]

Great to see a proper short documentary on MLS usually it is only the big guns mentioned and of course Miami United due to belonging to David Beckham

[@famousamos]

Just started getting into football and I'm having a great time watching Seattle Sounders.

[@cupolove1]

Some people say that MLS cant ever become a top 5-10 league, but if you look at the growth over the past 20 years... its possible. Even if growth and quality slow down quite a bit... the league is still on track. The main difference IMO is the growth of the academy system. European clubs have even started signing academy players before they debut with the senior squad. Not there yet, but its a good sign.

[@wydrif]

if the US put soccer & futsal in the hood where all the culture is, then mls will be a top 5 league & usmnt will be competitive at world cups. the rich kids don’t got the genetics & mentality.

[@diegom460]

Been saying it for years. Yes man I totally agree with you. It seems like most teams only recruit players from Ohio.

[@DizzyMakavelli]

Soccer don't go after you .. If you want to play you just need a ball, go play. That's the difference America need a field, ball, nice equipment, schools, soccer moms to cheer ... Nah, you don't need that.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

They have been. Every major city that has a team has invested in putting small pitches (like they have basketball courts) everywhere. Atlanta built like 10 mini indoor pitches at the train station stops which is awesome. It just takes time, the younger generations now grow up glued to the internet. They see what's there instead of being fed your options via TV and US sports media. It's still hard to get sports radio to talk about it because they are dinosaurs in the fact that their thinking is inline with "our audience doesn't want that" as some preamble that people don't think we watch, play, or invest in the sport.. I've been in it for 30 years.. It's not new here, it's just getting more popular amongst other sports fans and the major market of non sports fans..,,

[@wydrif]

@@DizzyMakavelli America needs a soccer culture, w/o the culture soccer ain’t gon find you. Instead the more popular sports like football, basketball & baseball will.

[@DizzyMakavelli]

@@wydrif This culture don't comes out like that... Needs to be in the veins of the people. You can't just make people love out of sudden. US don't have this culture, and never gonna have it.

[@h8sjws735]

Am an old head from the NASL days, so seeing MLS succeed has been especially cool. Been a fan since it started, and while it's not the EPL or LA Liga in its quality, it has gotten better year after year, also the atmospheres in places like Austin, LAFC, Seattle or Portland make the matches entertaining as Hell!!

[@christiand6339]

Loving the MLS content 👏🏼

[@Mauri-jb9up]

MLS is becoming a great league but I wish they'd open the division for relegation/promotion. Without it, it will always lack the competition every other top league has.

[@warrenzevon4994]

Odd you say that because many Europeans wish they had American salary cap styles to keep competition level. I don’t know which way is best, but I think the MLS will be fine without it, would be super fun though.

[@robert2690]

What competition? The NBA and NFL has something that other top league doesn’t: and that’s the ability to help small market teams compete with large market teams. With promotion/relegation, that basically creates a wider gap between rich clubs and small clubs. That’s the opposite of competition. And smaller clubs don’t have a chance to compete and thus, these clubs will be relegated because they don’t have a financial backing. That’s not competition. Competition means every club has chance. But that’s a lie. Smaller club don’t have a chance because they don’t have lots of money to improve their team. In the NBA and NFL, there are rules in place so that top teams don’t buy out all the best players from other teams so that only the top 6 can compete.

[@robert2690]

@@warrenzevon4994 Thank you. They can expand the league, add in more teams down the road but keep that same structure to ensure that even bottom team can actually have a chance to compete. The NBA and NFL is the example

[@hendrikspm1071]

the problem with pro/rel over here is less thanks to MLS and more thanks to the fucking disaster which is the lower leagues of the US. Im pretty sure the "second" division whether it be USL or NASl has folded multiple times

[@de132]

You should hope USL can overtake MLS, since it plans on eventually adopting Pro-Rel with its Football League format. I think one argument against Pro-Rel is geography since the US is massive.

[@TamaHawkLive]

As someone who's lived around Columbus Ohio my whole life and being someone who has recently garnered a bigger interest in the sport, it's pretty easy to see why the MLS has potential to become a much more respected leauge. I really do like the European leauge structures and learning the history of the clubs but even as someone still learning it's easy to see how monumentally unbalanced the financial structure is in European leauges and how wide of a competition gap it sets up only getting worse as time goes on.

[@OfficialKotaco]

I think the MLS has the potential to become one of the largest pro sports leagues in North America, and in the World. Let's go, Dynamo 🏆🏆

[@hirockblink]

I have been saying MLS has a bright future....not mentioned in this video Toronto FC acquiring Insigne, Bernardeschi, and Criscito....I'm pretty sure these players got offers from other European Clubs...but the move to MLS is intriguing to many European players now and they can make a lot of money.

[@_JackCarley]

Love that efd is making mls vids class act 👏

[@mikehunt5637]

MLS has made great strides since its inception in 1996. Stadiums, training facilities, youth academies... Give MLS another 20 years and shit is going to get real.

[@cfcmoi11]

Love the consistency

[@epluribusbigly1354]

Great video. Very bright future for the MLS

[@thomas8304]

great video, really enjoyed it

[@mmmcounts]

There have been two different occasions on which something catastrophic like a recession derailed the progress of soccer in the United States. In both instances, the most recent being NASL version 1, ownership groups were overleveraged and they had to fold. It's all different now. For the first time in US history, our domestic soccer league has demonstrated restraint and patience in advance of a global pandemic that we never could have predicted. MLS will come though this on relatively good terms, and this is even more notable in contrast to the struggles that so many other leagues are already facing. Both the US and Canada are producing great talent from their academies. There aren't as many buyers out there right now, so....all right, the Under-22 Initiative has arrived just in time. Watch out for FC Dallas in particular- they will hang on to more of their young talent than ever before. It's coming together at just the right time. Young domestic talent is simultaneously able to and kind of has to stay at home for longer than we've been accustomed to, and MLS clubs are truly threatening to eclipse the talent level of Liga MX just as an expanded Leagues Cup is about to begin. We'll be playing two of those ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and that's going to be a launching pad to a whole new situation with MLS and the USMNT in a position of power relative to their counterparts in Mexico. That changes the whole game, and then we will see what challenge MLS takes on after that.

[@bobfttw]

The MLS has been improving in quality every year. The league produces quite promising attacking talent honestly. The one glaring hole is that the defending is still pretty poor. As an American I don't think MLS will ever be a top league. But, it can be a Netherlands style type league where young players come to develop and then head off to Europe. A developmental league is all we need the MLS to be.

[@jonathanrs705]

Very well detailed and accurate video. The quality of (MLS) football has improved drastically. Not just from different players but with that, a different style of play. Growing up, I kind of disliked MLS as it was only, “pass pass shoot, counterattack, repeat.” Throughout the years, the excitement of the beautiful sport is finally being felt more and more. We all start somewhere, I’m glad Americans can experience a sport like no other; hopefully it does get as popular here as it is around the world. Happy I came across this video! Let’s go LA GALAXY 👽🔥

[@tbone9603]

Soccer is just a boring game, it will never make it in America!!!!

[@davepazz580]

@@tbone9603 That's what they said 50 years ago... yet here we are and the league continues growing every year.

[@tareklegrand7747]

@@davepazz580 MLS didn't even exist 50 years ago...

[@davepazz580]

@@tareklegrand7747 I wasn't referring to MLS but to professional soccer in the US in general...

[@tareklegrand7747]

you said the "league"

[@temijinkahn511]

Soccer is the second most played sport in the US behind only basketball which is not affected by weather. The crowds at MLS games are far younger than MLB or NFL crowds. Lastly, MLS tickets make a family event possible which just isn’t possible for NBA or NFL games.

[@temijinkahn511]

@@youtubeemployeesarestupid3464 Keep growing your fan base and ratings will come. Watch for the new TV deal coming soon.

[@psychopathyoutubeemployees280]

@@temijinkahn511 - Soccer will never be bigger than ice hockey, even in the States. Let's see: Sharks >>> Earthquakes Kings >>> Galaxy >>> Ducks >>> Chivas 2.0 Kraken > Whitecaps Flames >>> Calvary Oilers >>> Eddies (seems Edmonton has been watching too much Philadelphia baseball to come up with that name for their soccer team) Avalanche >>> Rapids Stars >>> Burn Predators >>> nameless team Blackhawks >>> Fire Wild >>> Loons Jets >>> Valour Blue Jackets > United Flyers >>> Union Rangers >>> Islanders >>> Steinbrenners >>> Metrobulls >>> Devils (they chose to build a new arena for the Islanders over a soccer stadium. That should tell you something right there) Panthers >>> Spice Girls Maple Leafs >>> Reds (seriously? The name of Cincinnati's baseball team?) Senators >>> Atleticos Canadiens >>> Impact Bruins >>> Revolution Includes Canadian Premier League teams too. St. Louis doesn't count since the soccer team doesn't debut till next year, not that it matters since I doubt that nameless soccer team is going to surpass the Blues anytime soon. By my calculations, the MLS has a long way to go to surpass all those NHL teams in most of those markets, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Kraken eventually surpasses the Sounders down the road.

[@johnbattle7518]

It's always been a highly played sport just not watched. Real Amsricans hate this sport only anchor babies and immigrants watch it

[@lazerhornet794]

@@psychopathyoutubeemployees280 I 100% disagree, I think they will pass NHL teams very soon, not in big Hockey Markets like Boston, or Minneapolis, or Montreal but in cities like you said Seattle, LA, Dallas I think MLS teams will pass the NHL teams very soon. Attendance is very similar and MLS is getting higher and higher while NHL is struggling with getting new viewers, MLS TV viewership is going up by a lot each year, I think the MLS will surpass the NHL as the 4th most popular sport in america and then like 5-10 years later surpass Baseball. It’s gonna be hard to get past the NBA and I don’t think the MLS will ever pass the NFL but I think MLS can be huge in the US

[@juicyfartsofjimcornette1154]

@@lazerhornet794 - I would Iike to have whatever you are smoking!

[@ryleyaugust]

Ayyyy let’s go! MLS finally getting some love

[@AKUNJIG]

Great Video. As a person who watched Atlanta FC get announced to attending 70k Matches at our Mecca of a Stadium I'm proud to wear my Red & Black. I invite everyone to come to Atlanta for a Match. Come have a Beer with me.

[@DequanClarke]

The argument for promotion/relegation is so old and tiresome, just cus it’s tradition for you doesn’t mean it is the best measure for everyone. I love European Football (Manchester United fan🤙🏾❤️💛❤️) but I often notice how “the big 6” in the premiership or Bayern in Germany are poised to win every year, with no one really outside of that come close. As corny as it sounds the North American structure does give teams that didn’t perform well, incentive to get better. Y’all act like teams all want to stink if they’re at the bottom of their leagues. No LOL. The structure is different because the development of the game in different countries is different. Ones trying to grow while the other has been here for 100 years🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

[@JTorr]

Agree with you 100%! Parity!!!

[@cpfreaks456]

lol

[@Tadaia]

Most still arguing for pro/rel in the US at this point in history are simply Eurosnobs or kids that don't know any better. There's at least a dozen reasons why it is absolutely impractical and doesn't fit here. Pro/rel happened out of necessity elsewhere long ago... and before the days of broadcast money which has since created a huge disparity in the value of clubs.

[@TechnicolorMammoth]

Holy crap. This was so extremely cathartic. Knowing this stuff as euros plugged their ears and went on about their football and how shitty MLS was. You just learn to take it on the cheek and keep working to build the sport up. The ignorant never do listen, but screw ‘em lol. Thank y’all! I even learned some new things I never knew and the captured footage is awesome! Definitely have a new sub.

[@Art-ed1tz]

as a european im actually pretty excited football is fun and adding a country like the us to all the banter and everything is pretty cool !

[@kentgrady9226]

Depending on how one defines "top league", MLS are already there. Obviously, it is an inferior product to the European Big Five. It also lags behind Holland, Russia (to be fair, Russia's league is going to plummet given recent events), Argentina, and perhaps Mexico. That puts MLS at about #10, in terms of domestic leagues - which is where most publications place it. One should also evaluate a league's quality on criteria besides the success of individual teams in international competition or the star power of its most elite players. What is the level of fan engagement? Quality of club venues and facilities? Growth of player value on the transfer market? Size and global reputation of youth academies? Level and ferocity of competition within the league - ie: is the league championship in doubt late in the season, or can you pencil in a winner in the preseason? What is the overall financial health of the league? By these criteria, MLS are already a global force. The on-pitch quality will inevitably follow. Are there shortcomings? Of course. Nothing is perfect. But, the future is rosy for the beautiful game in the Home of the Brave.

[@MartyD]

thank you! 🙏🏼

[@turns2ashes]

It’s also way more fun to watch than the premiership. Infact, it reminds me a lot of 90’s prem, way more fun.

[@luciovero9045]

I've watched mls games lately and the crowd and popularity is really amazing. you should take it seriously now

[@Football_Ethan80]

Can you please do an explained on rb Salzburg

[@alliedatheistalliance6776]

It's almost inevitable that the MLS will eventually be the biggest league in the World, it's just down to money. There's so much money in US Sports, or the US generally, it will be able to attract the biggest names. The EPL isn't the biggest league because of English playing talent, sadly, or they might have won a World Cup sometime in the last half a decade. It really just comes down to money. That said I'm happy to see the US and Canada developing some fantastic young players, they're definitely doing it right rather than just buying washed up players for stupid sums and being a retirement league.

[@markopetrovic8128]

Maybe in 100 years

[@teezus2036]

Let's be honest here That's never gonna happen But it can be a top 7

[@robert2690]

The NBA and NFL have rules in place to help smaller teams compete with big teams that has lots of money to spend. If MLS adds in promotion/relegation, then smaller teams won’t have a chance to compete with top clubs. This created a WIDE GAP between rich clubs and non-rich clubs. This is the opposite of competition. Salary cap is one example. By limiting the amount of money a top team can spend. Draft picks is another example. A worse team can draft the best young player and keep him for 2 years, this ensures a blueprint, a rebuild, build a team around this player. Luxury tax. To punish teams that spend money over the cap. Way stricter than FFP.

[@hyperrat12]

Another problem I might add with promotion relegation at the moment and the MLS is that we are a very young organization. And if we were to add promotion relegation at the moment so many teams would go bankrupt immediately after being relegated.

[@904hattrick8]

@@hyperrat12 With the amount of expansion teams we're getting, I feel like many years from now MLS will split the league into two (one being the top league, and the other 2nd top) and implement pro/rel that way

[@tareklegrand7747]

@@904hattrick8 you mean in 4. they are already split in two

[@gmruesch6336]

I love MLS. From germany.

[@blackhawk8920]

also the designated rule started with only one slot and could trade for one one team traded with setting how many years it was for the dumbest trade ever. Also the young designated player is for the budget/cap but some obligation for the team to pay above the max for a normal player. Also the changes to selling and how much you can keep and how much it add to the budget is a major positive. owning your own stadium biggest difference to nasl 1.0

[@pbh81]

Has there been a more successful marketing campaign over the last 30 years? Phenomenonal numbers

[@davidmarley131]

I hope we can see prospects rise through the ranks. We just need to stop being pay to play

[@CoachellaAngel]

In 10 years it’s going to be NFL, MLS and NBA top 3 sports in America

[@anguspaterson7359]

Care to do a similar A league video? Thanks

[@flipballesteros1621]

Tim Leiweke never owned 5 MLS teams, but Phil Anschutz, who owned the Anschutz Entertainment Group, did. Leiweke was AEG's President & CEO, not its owner.

[@micahholmes1629]

Great video

[@jollofj3902]

Might become the 3rd or 4th most popular sport in the us one day

[@woohoo277]

I think you're underestimating how big the US is and how small the game still is. It can easily pass baseball in the next 50 years to get to number 3, and I say this as a die hard baseball fan from the south. The MLB has been around for more than a century, MLS less than 30 years.

[@valenciafantv]

Most reports already have soccer as number 4

[@ukiyoiharafromdyvision6397]

@@woohoo277 true but that's not very hard seeing that baseball is entertaining for about 70seconds the whole game

[@Not_Sal]

It already is in several parts of the country.

[@fbaquinn9982]

It has already passed MLB.

[@briangeronimo339]

Yeah I think so to that this league could be good but right now there playing smoothly and they got to have more action because for right now it's only la galaxy and Atlanta and Nashville,lafC, because Europe league have more action and the liga mx right now have action more running.

[@pro100]

Pro/Rel is overrated anyways. Its sexy and sounds fun in theory but in reality its three crap clubs come up and three crap clubs do down year in and year out. The big money dogs at the top and mid table stalwarts never lose any sleep

[@leonwoodford]

How’s that new tv deal going?

[@Lionhunter23]

Great video, but it's Atlanta United, not FC

[@davidcarlos4350]

Good video

[@PhilXC_]

There is little risk for MLS teams to invest in infrastructure and so they did. Training grounds, stadiums, the list goes on and the compound effects of this is growing tremendously especially with the million dollars of transfers this year. A EPL team has to calculate its investments with the risk of regelation. Something investors dont like. The numbers are pointing to MLS being a major league presence in Futbol. It will be 2nd behind Premier League.

[@dovahllin798]

Is nobody going to mention that Pepi has yet to score or get an assist?

[@Elurxer]

Games aren’t bad I just feel like they lack the work rate and hustle other leagues have. When a chance happens too many defenders just watch if they aren’t the closest to the ball. They just stand there. Rooted to the spot. Games feel slow paced. Other than that some build up plays look good and then somehow gets scuffed. Don’t get me wrong. Still good games and I like to watch it’s just ~different~

[@vjollila96]

north america is huge untapped potential to become football giant

[@metrofilmer8894]

True. It’s not even considered a major sports league in the US, falling behind 4 other team sports, and is already within the top ten FIFA leagues based on average attendance. Personally, as an American fan, I’ve found that the reason that many Europeans aren’t favorable to the explosion of the sport is that they realize that Europes dominance worldwide is largely thanks to Americans preferring other sports. Really only NA has the money, population and consistently high quality athletes, and while it’s well in the future, it’s very possible that if even if a fraction of the US’s best athletes grow up playing and eventually play for the USMNT, that they could pose a very legitimate threat to European dominance

[@CoachellaAngel]

Facts it’s changing

[@andrewwatkins4852]

I was proud for my club Atlanta united what they did win first MLS cup and several trophies

[@georgemichaelofficial]

When people stop referencing it with 'THE' in front, I'll know we've made it.

[@eddieis9978]

MLS is very good in terms of marketing. I would say it already competes with the top 5 European leagues in that sector. The only problem is that the quality of the football on the pitch isn't quite as impressive as the marketing suggests. The international record of MLS clubs isn't representative of a top league at the world stage. MLS clubs always struggle against Liga MX teams and are usually beaten by them in official competition. It's not uncommon for MLS teams to lose to Central American teams from Guatemala, Honduras, or Panama. Teams from leagues that are nonexistent to the rest of the world. Past results show that the level of the game is very close outside of the top European leagues. Not only have Brazilian teams won the Club World Cup, but Moroccan, Emirati, Congolese, Japanese, and even Mexican teams have made it all the way to the final. Why aren't their leagues considered among the world's best? Why is MLS considered a top league if they can't even win their regional championship? Is it because they make the best commercials? This just makes MLS seem massively overhyped. MLS spends a lot of money selling their product, but the product isn't anything special. It's not hard to find a higher quality league that is cheaper to watch.

[@donviajero2580]

MLS clubs are becoming much more competitive against LigaMx clubs. We no longer see those huge lopsided 5-0 or 6-1 scores when they play in Mexico. The main difference these days is that Mexican clubs still have a much deeper roster because they don't face a salary cap and have tended to win most recent competitive matches late in the games based on the quality of the players they can bring in off the bench. Plus they have a huge advantage in the CCL because the final rounds are played when MLS clubs are just coming out of preseason. Despite this, I think its only a matter of time before MLS clubs start winning that cup. They've come very close several times in recent years. I also don't think you can compare either the MLS or LigaMx with African or Asian leagues based on performance in the Club World Cup. Both North American leagues have much more parity top to bottom than most leagues around the world, without a couple of "rich" clubs completely dominating their leagues year after year. Monterrey may have failed to impress this year, but they also happen to be in 15th place in the LigaMx. The richest club in Mexico, America, is currently in 17th place. There are no small teams in that league, at least not the way its defined elsewhere. The same is mostly true for MLS, outside of a handful of perennial low achievers like Cincinnati. The 2020 champions didn't even make the playoffs in 2021, despite having almost the same roster. We shouldn't judge the quality of a league only based on the quality of its champions, but also its level of talent top to bottom.

[@housesavagemafia7504]

Honestly MLS is Wayyy too Overhyped.

[@sounders7422]

Watch the CONCACAF Champions League Final between Seattle and UNAM Pumas of Mexico in Seattle and tell me it was not impressive.

[@allydr90]

MLS teams have parity, where they are discouraged from having the best talent concentrated in a few teams unlike most leagues around the world. You can think of it as each MLS team is an average team of that league so if MLS clubs start beating the best teams of other leagues... it's over.

[@Andrew-bd8dc]

If the US even starts to care enough about soccer to make it their 3rd sport it’s wraps for most of the world

[@Art-ed1tz]

nah money and size of the country isn't everything in football, we've seen this countless times

[@patrick4662]

Its all about that big $$ TV deal. If they can get that they'll be set for a while.

[@andrzejkowalski4021]

Relegation without relegation. 1. MLS future: 40 teams divided into 2 levels. Top level 20 teams and lower level ' dog house ' 20 teams , only 1 conference. 2. Every half of the season the bottom 10 teams from top would be ralegated the dog house and the top 10 teams from te dog house would be promoted to the top level. And the next year season will be the teams will start from the places that they ended previous season. 3. Each team will play 38 games , no playoffs! Beacouse the entire seasson will be like playoffs. Champion of the fall will play champion of spring in MLS cup. The season will start in july /august and end in may/june. In this way we can streach the season more if teams from colder locations start hosting later and stop hosting earlier. Mls cup will be in june. 4. in this system MLS clubs will play total 15% more games than before. It does not make sanse that half of the teams end season sooner than the rest. 5. It would be a nice compromise between relegation/promotion and the current system of far niente were many players love to finish the season sooner! 6. There are would be no safe middle of the table place , it will be easy to be relegated and easy to be promoted. 7. The revenue would be divided between franchises the same way as before so the teams in the dog house would no suffer financially. 8. This system would create a lot of excitments all year long.

[@guneytopal1713]

The problem still remains, MLS is equivalent to the lower league of the top leagues in Europe. How can they be taken seriously if MLS teams would more likely be relegated than promoted if they were placed in the championship.

[@subgum3403]

Ohh yeah thay swiss league is hot.

[@lucasmilligan5615]

I’m sure the Sounders would have a tough time against Sheffield Wednesday 🙄

[@anthonyfoco6396]

@@lucasmilligan5615 Yes,yes they would

[@Emistefano]

The MLS and Liga MLX should be in Libertadores, there you guys can play agains the most competitives leagues of América.

[@20boss04]

They have done a lot in the last 20 years in such a young league. I give them another 20 to 40 years to catch up with the five big leagues.

[@axesantexmonero6628]

American are getting the SPirit , they need have to ge the sense of comunity and support it, evey team has his ANTHEM and also new chants every season, sometimes elevating the team moral and some times making fun of the other team

[@FLAKOBELICO]

for starters, it’s MLS, not The MLS. Appreciate the video tho 👍🏼

[@jayh3283]

MLS is growing, but the league and some of its fans need to stop hyping them as something that will become elite. Being an elite league takes time, money, consistent good results on the international stage, appeal to world class players in their prime, have the development system good enough to turn players elite, and have a massive TV deal. The only thing MLS will have is the money and potentially the support. Everything else is up in the air and not showing any current potential of happening. First off, no league in CONCACAF have a chance at becoming elite. The best CONCACAF leagues can do is become average with a few teams having the ability to match South America’s best on an inconsistent bases like Liga MX before their current decline. MLS need to start allowing their clubs to have a sink or swim approach. If fans have a problem with it then they are not really fans. This is not the NASL where most the club owners sucked, over spent, had no player development, refuse to participate in any USSF and CONCACAF competitions, did not connect with fans and did nothing for the sports development. That NASL excuse needs to end now. I don’t want gimmicky forced parity and see countless complicated rules to make the league less competitive and clubs less consistent just because they did good last season. Let the best get stronger and the weak figure that mess out.

[@darealpapajon]

American soccer by 2040 is going to be lit. most likely going to be the best league in the world all the best will be in mls and not Europe

[@logansmith9821]

Great Video, although Drogba did not finish is career in the states, he played for Montreal Impact aka Montreal FC, a Canadian city

[@colehollander5823]

His last club was Phoenix Rising

[@logansmith9821]

@@colehollander5823 Interesting, I didn't even know they existed, are they a professional club? Semi professional? They have an awesome name that's forsure

[@nfsgod4308]

@@logansmith9821 they are in the usl championship the second division of the us soccer system

[@kswiss4216]

I always wondered if Europeans watch mls games or like have it on cable over there

[@squireltag1000]

Cant describe how happy I was when Minnesota United (Go Loons!) opened their new stadium a few years ago. The lack of promotion/relegation does hurt the league long term i think but maybe one day the league will restructure.

[@BrandtHambrick]

If love to see it but it would only happen if MLS got to 40 teams and 2 divisions, Premier and Championship if you will

[@3bwayne554]

@@BrandtHambrick Yes, we only have 28 teams in the MLS, 14 in both regions so we are a long way from seeing that happen, maybe another 2 or 3 decades

[@davidday2373]

Lack of Pro-Rel is GREAT for MLS, long-term, short-term, any way you cut it. Pro-Rel is pointless for MLS.

[@subgum3403]

Pro-rel only protects the big clubs $$$$$

[@williambarratt8638]

Cant wait for Las Vegas Villans to establish themselves next year

[@airtwinks]

The Salary cap will never let the mls become a great league

[@davepazz580]

But it will allow it to remain in business and slowly keep growing here...

[@mrfilamfishing]

People fail to realize that the US is built by immigrants such as my self. Football is here to stay here and having seen the growth of MLS first hand, it's quite beautiful to see. Now if only my local adopted club, San Jose, can sign some big talents. One can dream I guess. 😂

[@ldope3904]

as an immigrant, growing up it was rare to see decent grass to be able to play on, it would make me sad bc i would always want to practice plus since it was less popular, nobody to play :( Unlike basketball, courts and hoops at every local park, every park, football everyone played so it was easy to throw a ball w ppl, even tennis and volleyball courts at my local parks but never any soccer goals... to this day its rare to see them at a park but some have them at least now

[@TheWizardGamez]

two words. PRO/REL. its not like there arent multiple leagues in the US. its not like we couldnt do it. its not like the market wouldnt support it. thats all we need

[@JMRolf1]

I'm glad to see the MLS isn't considered a joke league internationally anymore. American soccer certainly isn't on the same level as some of its European counter-parts, but trust me when I say the beautiful game is gaining traction here in the states.

[@zeroid5945]

People still consider it a joke league despite it being 15 on the list of best leagues in the world.

[@shawnevans26]

Just got an Apple TV deal!!!

[@sikguitarist]

All for one! TFC 🔴⚪

[@chuchonchuchon7640]

TFC! TFC! TFC!

[@divinest]

I bought Almada from there and now he's 90 OVR from my Fifa career

[@williamthompson2941]

It always was! This coverage is way out of date.