One of the conditions that FIFA imposed when giving the US federation the right to host the World Cup was that there needed to be a professional league. This, in time, led to the formation of the MLS which, today, is an undoubted success and has definitely elevated the game in America. Quite a bit of foresight by FIFA, you have to admit.
I think in the short term the MLS suffered with having live up to the expectations of the post 1994 success but over time, especially the last decade it has undoubtedly grown into something that is there to rival many of the top leagues worldwide. I think it's big blocker to becoming a Top 5 league is the franchise, roster and no relegation element and that is because it is alien to us as Europeans.
One of the conditions that FIFA imposed when giving the US federation the right to host the World Cup was that there needed to be a professional league. This, in time, led to the formation of the MLS which, today, is an undoubted success and has definitely elevated the game in America. Quite a bit of foresight by FIFA, you have to admit.
I think in the short term the MLS suffered with having live up to the expectations of the post 1994 success but over time, especially the last decade it has undoubtedly grown into something that is there to rival many of the top leagues worldwide. I think it's big blocker to becoming a Top 5 league is the franchise, roster and no relegation element and that is because it is alien to us as Europeans.