Sport Articles

2025 April 6th

By Josh

The former global soccer star, David Beckham previously played for the American professional soccer side for LA Galaxy, became the president and the co-owner of the Inter Miami, a professional soccer team that has been successful for the past two years with the transfer of Lionel Messi, former soccer superstar that played for FC Barcelona, rejecting offers from other clubs in Saudi Arabia, along with other stars such as Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. Although there are lots of reasons behind this transfer, the transfer of Lionel Messi shows that he saw the potential of the American soccer market, along with David Beckham who became the president of the MLS club. Can the American soccer market really reach its potential to become as successful as the English Premier League?

Currently, there are lots of positive signs. First of all, the co-host of the 2026 World Cup can be a trigger for a soccer boom in the United States. The Trump administration has directly stated that there could be disadvantages to companies that opposed the U.S. bid of the hostment of the 2026 World Cup. Fifa, when considering the broadcasting rights fees, sponsorship deals, and advertising revenues that the U.S. is capable of generating, shows that they are willing to cooperate with the United States, becoming clear that no market is more attractive. If this global sports event is effectively leveraged, the U.S. soccer market has the potential for explosive growth and long-term success. 

Another positivity is that the soccer influence within the country is growing. The sports market in the country is fully held by the Big 4. The NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL are sports that are the main sports that are the most popular within the country. However, recent data shows that the newest generation of gen z and the immigrants are becoming more interested in the soccer industry. Also, the rumours of NCAA men’s soccer will go through professionalization to become a semi-pro level, developing the next generation of players and expanding the talent pool that could be important to sustaining the soccer boom after the World Cup.

Also, Apple’s exclusive broadcast of MLS shows a positivity on the success of MLS. As Apple’s broadcast allowed more accessibility on the games, it is natural for the interest and the views to skyrocket along with the arrival of Lionel Messi, creating more views to the MLS games. This can be shown on data, as after Messi has arrived to the MLS, Apple’s broadcasting on MLS has shown 50% more viewers. 

However currently, there are few drawbacks compared to the EPL. Whereas the EPL have a relegation/promotion system to sustain competitiveness, the franchise system that is currently applied to the MLS does not have a relegation/promotion system leading the League to have less competitiveness. Due to the opposition of the MLS club’s owners, inclusion of a relegation system can not happen as there are possibilities of clubs to become less successful, losing substantial profits through the relegation from the MLS. Also, the existence of MLS draft makes the team tank, losing on purpose to have higher number picks for the upcoming draft to get hot prospects. Actually, this ‘tanking’ is an effective strategy on other Big 4 where their sport needs one star player for success. However, soccer is different. Because the sport soccer needs all eleven players on the pitch to be good and cooperate more compared to other sports to be successful instead of having one main star player. Also, it needs a significant rise in spectators. Although this issue has been improved through Apple’s broadcasting, it is still true that it needs more spectators in order for the league to thrive, allowing more and more people to know and be interested in the sport. 

Although there are significant issues, these problems could be resolved. The franchise system not having a relegation system led the league to have less competitiveness. Although realistically the complete removal of the franchise system can not happen due to the opposition of the MLS club’s owners. This is because with the inclusion of a relegation system can lead to clubs becoming less successful, losing substantial profits through the relegation from the MLS. This issue can be alleviated through having more competition with other professional leagues in Central and Southern America. For example, currently there is a competition, CONCACAF Champions cup, which is a competition for top MLS and Mexican clubs. However, this competition is now well known and needs refinements such as having more Southern American clubs to have more reputation. This newly created competition would ensure clubs with rewards, such as financial reward to motivate the teams to enter this competition through placing high on the league standing, to improve the competition within the league and lower the act of tanking. Eventually, there should be creative refinements on these competitions for the competition to grow as the UEFA Champions League.

Also, the most important need is the significant spectator increase. This issue can be refined through the marketing of the league, with further developments of the youth system. The use of marketing through advertising star players is an essential part of this issue. The marketing could work through the transfer of star players, which is currently going through the success of bringing Messi and former Fc Barcelona stars to the league. The more well known players are in the league, the interest toward the league would naturally occur. The marketing could also work with the further development of the youth system. If there is a successful American youth player that can have a reputation of a star player, then more fans will gain interest toward that player, leading to overall interest increase toward the sport within the country. Currently, there are lots of efforts toward youth development such as the creation of the MLS NEXT Pro, and the efforts of professionalization of NCAA men’s soccer. Also, the success of Cavan Sullivan, a 15 year old professional footballer who has signed with Manchester City, shows that he could be the next American star to lead the success of the country’s soccer market.

In conclusion, can the MLS become as successful as the EPL? The current answer is yes. With the factors such as the refinements of the franchise system in the league and the addition of new competitions that would result in rewards with the further development of the youth system such as more detailed professionalization of NCAA league, can lead the MLS to become more successful, as much as the EPL with support. The United States’s passion toward the sports is already shown through their love towards the Big 4. Based on the prosperous wealth and infrastructure that the United States has, it is certain that the soccer market within the country can be improved significantly. With the proper marketing and business to support the league, the MLS can become as successful as the EPL.