How Major League Soccer can catch up to Europe

Even though it may be hard to imagine, the world-famous English Premier League, established in 1992, has only existed a year longer than the often overlooked Major League Soccer (MLS). Obviously, English top-flight football existed more than a century before, but it was only at this point that serious investments in transfers and academies were made in the UK. So, why is American "soccer" so different to its English counterpart and what can it do to catch up?

The first major difference between English and American football is the culture around it. The first English league was formed in September 1888, 105 years before the MLS. This rather massive head start has allowed English football culture to develop and become a key part of the nation’s culture in general. This obsession does not exist on the other side of the Atlantic. A lack of passion for football is nearly impossible to “fix”, but there are a few ways MLS clubs can make their sport more interesting to the fans. Take Fortuna Dusseldorf, a second-tier German football club. Recently, they made practically all tickets to some of their home games completely free, in an initiative to increase attendances and interest for the club. Instead of fans paying for tickets, the club has agreed sponsorships where the sponsors cover the cost of tickets. Not only do they lose no money through ticketing, but their shirt sales have doubled since last year. Fortuna has also become much more popular among the local population, increasing their average stadium attendance by more than a third. This season, they’ve expanded the “Fortuna for All” project to every single home game. If they attempted something similar, MLS teams could increase their attendances and fan interest, therefore making football more well-known across the US. 

Another major difference between Europe or Asia and America is the access to youth programs. Ever since signing Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in December 2022, the Saudi Pro League has been snapping up aging but world-class players everywhere in Europe. The league has become more interesting to fans around the globe and the future importance of the league has become a hot topic of debate. One of the main things that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is getting right is its massive investments into youth and grassroots programs. By putting money into current players to make the league more attractive now, and financing youth academies, the Saudi Pro League (SPL) will be able to grow into a major footballing force. MLS and lower-league teams don’t necessarily need higher quality academies, but in fact more economically accessible ones. In America, youth players must pay hefty amounts to enter into academies, and many families simply cannot afford these large sums. By contrast, academies are free to enter in Europe, meaning that players from very poor families still have access to them. In fact, some of the greatest European players of all time wouldn’t have been able to enter into American academies, simply due to their families’ financial situation. To fix this problem, American clubs should try to massively reduce the cost of youth programs. Like Fortuna Dusseldorf, MLS teams could agree sponsorships to cover the loss of more accessible academies. 

American academies are out of reach for most families

The largest difference between European and American football is the players that ply their trade in each continent. Improving the quality of its players right now is probably the most challenging issue the MLS faces. Europe is home to superstars such as Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham or Mohammed Salah. Meanwhile, the only stars that the MLS possesses are only a few years away from retirement and are long past their prime. Even then, there are very few of these players across the league. They can’t attract players with high salaries like Saudi Arabia, or with history, which they are yet to develop. So, how can the US improve its league in the short term? South American leagues are known to produce lots of quality players, who eventually end up leaving to Europe, but some of them don’t make the cut and are condemned to lower pay for the rest of their careers. This is where the MLS should swoop in. The league doesn’t have infinite resources, but it has much more than their Southern American counterparts. The MLS should also continue bringing in older players who plied their trade at the top European level. By combining European experience and South American talent, the MLS could quickly develop into a top 10 or top 7 league worldwide. 

Even though the MLS is only a year younger than the Premier League, the gap in quality is evident. To close this gap, the MLS must make football more attractive to fans by making tickets free of charge, must massively reduce the cost of youth academies and must poach South American talents as well as European veterans.