I go into a mild depression right after the World Cup ends. It’s the tournament that turned me on to the Beautiful Game. I love International Soccer for all of the chaos it brings. But; over the last 8 years I’ve learned one thing about the game, Soccer never stops. It pauses here and there, but there is so much Soccer to root for here in the good ole’ USA. It also desperately needs support.
Let’s talk about the domestic options on the Men’s side for professional soccer in here in the US.
Major League Soccer
There’s a podcast called “25 Stories that Made MLS” that explains the early days of Major League Soccer. It’s fascinating stuff. After the 1994 World Cup, MLS was set to kick-off in an attempt to create a first Division of soccer here in the US in 1995. The project almost died several times and the brothers break down how it survived in those early years. Early MLS stories are some of the best stories we have to offer the Soccer world and I’ve always enjoyed that aspect of it.
The pros for supporting MLS are many. They are getting better and better at developing young players in the US. The academies are still young, but they are starting to deliver quality that we’ve never exported out of the Country. The young players’ need the domestic support to grow in their careers and more eyeballs on the American game only helps them develop. The stadiums are also fantastic. There are so many good Soccer-specific stadiums across the Country in MLS now. Stadiums like Kansas City, FC Dallas, Alliance Field, and so many more, are legitimate Soccer destinations in the Country. Then throw in the chance to see legitimate stars like Messi, Sonny, Lewandowski, and Antoine Greizmann.
Another pro for supporting is the parity of the league. People that support mostly MLS on the club level have a pretty good point here. In the Top 5 Leagues in Europe, you see the same clubs winning over and over and go on dominate runs. The chances of Man City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern, etc. winning the league is quite high. In MLS, 10 different Clubs have won the cup in the last 15 years. So the wealth is spread as far as title winning goes. The playoffs include a Wild Card round which is just one game and done. Then a first round that is a best-of-three series, and then single elimination from the Conference Finals through the MLS Cup final. In that format, anything could happen and as Soccer fans know, the best team doesn’t always win 100% of the games.
Plenty to root for there.
For me, I do not actively support MLS. After the 2010 World Cup, I fell in love with Premier League soccer. While I do not particularly like the term “Eurosnob” – especially since I actively support Lower Division soccer in this Country – I mainly follow European leagues and thus can be labeled a Eurosnob. But all that’s to say that I do not like supporting MLS because it is a closed system.
A closed system (meaning no promotion/relegation) was essential for the survival of that league as they started, but the fact that they are not working towards aligning with the rest of the world (except Mexico now) in that capacity, is a detriment to the National Team’s progress. How many players get discovered during promotion campaigns abroad? Entire rosters’ get a crack at the next level to prove themselves. How cool is that?
The kids that play MLSNext Pro, which MLS is attempting to stand up as a farm system ala MLB, do not have that opportunity unless someone at the gate chooses them to walk through it. If MLS is keen on poo-poo-ing the US Open Cup, how about a cup competition that allows their youth system to play up a level? (I’m also pro MLSNP teams in the Open Cup…).
America has produced some great leagues, but let’s be honest, there’s so many games at the end of the season that are meaningless. Going to see two teams well outside the playoff hunt play for nothing is never a good viewing experience. Whereas watching relegation battles are just as entertaining as watching Title runs.
I don’t enjoy the fact that a lot of the same Ownership names you hear in MLS are the same names you hear in NFL. Another professional game, where families are priced out of tickets, concessions cost a fortune, and there’s no relegation scare to light a fire under an Owner’s ass to improve the product on the field. It’s always a bit ironic to me that in a country that prides itself on being capitalistic in nature – where the strong survive – that we feel the need to protect the financial interest of MLS Owners. But; I’m just a millennial standing on a soapbox here so don’t let me sour you on anything. Anyone watching any domestic soccer is a good thing for the sport.
But while you’re here, let’s talk about the other option here.
United Soccer League
United Soccer League has quickly gone from upstart, tiny, and unorganized league to serious player in the Professional soccer space. They have a US-Sanction 2nd division league (USL Championship), 3rd division league (USL League One), and 4th division league (USL League Two). They are actively building their 1st division (USL Premier League) and are targeting a 2027-2028 launch. Technically – being a 1st division league would put them at the same level as MLS. But, there is certainly a quality gap between the two leagues (although there are lots of lots of ballers in USL). At the time that this league launchings, the USL system will simultaneously implement a promotion and relegation system within their first 3 divisions.
Of course – there are some skeptics for this plan. First of all, it’s tough for USL Championship and USL League One teams to make money. Average attendance in the Championship is 5.5K and in League One it is about 3k. The league seems to generate buzz online in the soccer space but outside of a few teams, people aren’t supporting like they need to in order for clubs to be profitable.
While there are plenty of issues to be ironed out in the USL Headquarters – check out my interview with the USL PA Executive Director Connor Tobin for more on this – I am a USL supporter. I love the grit that you see on the fields at the USL level. I love that league has matured and players’ minimum salary has been raised to $34k and $42k but if the league is to survive long term, it needs more support so that players’ can be paid a wage that won’t let them leave soccer too young. Maybe USL can start sharing more of those expansion fees…(which is a whole other issue with USL).
All of that to say. There are some really freakin’ cool projects in the USL space. AC Boise selling out their brand new stadium (converted old horse track grandstands), Pittsburgh Riverhounds building a new stadium in preparation for Division 1, New York Cosmos (or I should say Paterson Cosmos) playing in an century old refurbished stadium, and so many more. I love the size of the cities that are entering USL and doing well, and they are untapped markets from a National Team perspective. More professional soccer in the Country is important. Full stop.
