Oct 26th 2015, 0:26:50
Reading some more about the MLS and having watched an MLS game today (Columbus Crew 5-0 over DC United), I have to say that I think some changes to MLS's official position are going to need consideration soon.
In 2007, MLS expanded to Canada for the first time with the Toronto FC team. Canadian expansion continued in 2011 and 2012 with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact, respectively. All other first division soccer leagues in Canada have folded or been demoted in this time. At this point, it should be clear that Major League Soccer has assumed de-facto first-division status in Canada. This de-facto status should be made de-jure with the United States Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association arranging whatever permissions are needed for this to happen. With this, Canadians should no longer be considered "Internationals" in the US insofar as the MLS is concerned. Major League Soccer should work to improve soccer in both the US and Canada (as they now do in the US).
FIFA should allow these changes because a stronger Canadian presence in MLS will only serve to improve soccer in both Canada and the US. The US and Canada could also serve as a test case for allowing multiple federations to sanction a single first division league, particularly in cases where a country is either too small to host a domestic league or too poor (no offense) or any other special circumstance (see Canada and the US). Canada and the US have a history of cooperation that would make national logistics easier to work around and develop procedures for resolving international issues arising from multi-country first division leagues. Ultimately, the effort would work to strengthen Association Football around the world.
Long term, I think the concept of multi-country first division leagues can work and FIFA should assume a position of allowing them whenever they are in the best interests of the sport and the countries involved.
In 2007, MLS expanded to Canada for the first time with the Toronto FC team. Canadian expansion continued in 2011 and 2012 with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact, respectively. All other first division soccer leagues in Canada have folded or been demoted in this time. At this point, it should be clear that Major League Soccer has assumed de-facto first-division status in Canada. This de-facto status should be made de-jure with the United States Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association arranging whatever permissions are needed for this to happen. With this, Canadians should no longer be considered "Internationals" in the US insofar as the MLS is concerned. Major League Soccer should work to improve soccer in both the US and Canada (as they now do in the US).
FIFA should allow these changes because a stronger Canadian presence in MLS will only serve to improve soccer in both Canada and the US. The US and Canada could also serve as a test case for allowing multiple federations to sanction a single first division league, particularly in cases where a country is either too small to host a domestic league or too poor (no offense) or any other special circumstance (see Canada and the US). Canada and the US have a history of cooperation that would make national logistics easier to work around and develop procedures for resolving international issues arising from multi-country first division leagues. Ultimately, the effort would work to strengthen Association Football around the world.
Long term, I think the concept of multi-country first division leagues can work and FIFA should assume a position of allowing them whenever they are in the best interests of the sport and the countries involved.
-Angel1