Okay, so this type of accolade comes with a certain about of skepticism from soccer fans. But lets enjoy it. I’m sure MLS commish Don Garber is.
Data released this morning from Sporting Intelligence revealed that Major League Soccer has been ranked as the seventh best soccer league in the world. The study brings into account attendances, finances, goals, competitiveness, caliber of players and managers, stadiums and success in continental competitions.
Germany tops the list with a score of 60, while England is in second with 55. MLS gets a rating of 28, with Mexico just one place ahead in sixth with a score of 30.
So what does this mean for MLS? Well, not an awful lot at first. But it does once again spread positive publicity about the league on a global scale. With attendances figures on the rise, this ranking will only continue to grow over the coming years.
But has MLS reached its tipping point and can it break into the top five leagues in the world? Yes. With the careful financial model in place and cautious plans for expansion, MLS is doing things the right way. The EPL, La Liga and Serie A have all seen huge clubs falling to mismanagement and bankruptcy in recent years. There is no chance of that happening in MLS. And with soccer specific stadiums popping up in Houston, Montreal and Portland in recent seasons and plans for more being built in D.C., New England and San Jose, the infrastructure of the league will only continue to get better. But the product, i.e. the players and managers, will have to keep up with the off-field success and if anything, surpass it.
If MLS is to rise above Mexico and Brazil into the top five, attracting better players and coaches must now be the mantra. More big name DPs, younger US talent staying in the league and attracting more world-class coaches should be the aim. But how to do that without breaking the bank and damaging the strict financial structure is the biggest challenge for MLS. But it can be done.