The most popular worldwide sport is undoubtedly the game of soccer. However, despite the unmatched popularity that soccer has garnered globally, it seems to lack the same kind of enthusiasm in the United States.
Since its inception in 1993, Major League Soccer (MLS) has grown exponentially in the states, but its popularity does not even touch that of leagues like the NBA, NFL, or MLB. The future looks bright as more clubs continue to form, but American soccer fans should expect to patiently wait before the MLS begins to rival other leagues. Here are some of the issues the MLS will face in their expansion endeavors:
Stop being a retirement home
The MLS is trying to publicize their league for a lower price by bringing former international superstars who want to play out the rest of their careers in relevance, rather than on the bench on a better team. Players like Frank Lampard, David Villa, Kaká and Andrea Pirlo contribute to the commercial renown of the MLS, but they also establish a predisposition that the MLS is where formerly exceptional players retire. If the MLS wants to alter this assumption, they must look toward recruiting players in their prime, rather than those on the brink of retirement.
Player salaries
MLS teams simply cannot adequately fund great players based on their talents. No player in the MLS was paid over $7 million last season, and most players did not even make over $1 million. The average English Premier League player makes about $3 million per year, so players are much more inclined to play in Europe than they are to play in America.
Location, location, location
It is considered to be a big deal when a player who plays for a team in the Spanish League decides to play for a team in the English League or the Italian League, and these leagues are in the same continent. It is an even bigger commitment for a player to decide to move their entire family to the US, which is on the other side of the globe. There is a reason why most players in the MLS are from either North America or Central America.
USMNT's success, or lack thereof
If one examined the location of the most successful soccer leagues in the world, they would eventually conclude that none of these leagues exist in a country where soccer does not flourish. Spain, France, England, Italy and Germany have long dominated the globe as soccer league superpowers. If the MLS hopes to gain success and viewership, they must become more successful on the international stage. The USWNT's success has done wonders for women's soccer across the country, and similarly for the potential success of the USMNT, should they step their game up.
The competition with other leagues
The reason that so many popular sports leagues can coexist in America is that different sports are played at different times of the year. The MLS is scheduled in a way such that their season overlaps with the seasons of several sports in the US each year. Not enough attention is drawn to the MLS, because the media heavily covers many other established sports.
Soccer culture
We all grow up playing recreational soccer as children, but a small percentage of us further pursue the sport. Other countries feature a plethora of academy soccer clubs that develop children into professional soccer players, and America’s soccer clubs simply cannot match their commitment to the sport. Between all of the other sports that exist and thrive in the US, it is difficult to find the same kind of dedication from young American players.
The MLS will not become more successful until it implements several large alterations. This cannot be done immediately, and will require some time, but the quick expansion of the MLS is a good sign. The future looks bright for soccer in America, but only if some changes are made.
