Bob Foods, executive director of the MLS Players Association, is not impressed by what he sees from America's top soccer leagues, more than a year away from the 2026 World Cup. Most of it takes place in US soils.
Major League Soccer enters its 30th existence season to begin playing this weekend, but Foods is not enough to take advantage of the “momentum” that comes with holding the biggest sports tournament on the planet next year. I'm happy that there isn't.
“I'm disappointed that so far hasn't been done to build that momentum internally.” Foose told ESPN About the lack of capitalization in MLS regarding the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. “We still have time, but in my opinion, there must be a big move in the last 12-18 months and then the World Cup continues. The system needs to be streamlined and the club needs to be opened. We need to be able to compete better, and we need to be able to go out and present the world with another MLS that comes out of the backend of the World Cup from the previous one.
“And while some of that growth has happened, it's not enough in my opinion. As a result, we are at risk of not making use of the World Cup as we can. I think there is.”
American football officials expect the 2026 World Cup (held in the US and sites in Canada and Mexico) to help boost the profile of US sports.
MLS is in line with the way overseas leagues set schedules, considering changing schedules.
“Making these changes is something we must be very thoughtful. I think we are considering this opportunity to change more than ever before. But. That's not something we're ready to talk about now.” MLS Commissioner Don Gerber said He was the leader of last season's MLS Cup final.
The change in nature would coincide with the way that MLS executive vice president of sports and competition, Nelson Rodriguez believed World Cup monetization would play in the league.
You'll come after the tournament conclusion and play at a more local level.
“We create connections between the World Cup and MLS at these regional levels, through players, or through our clubs, or more broadly through the sport itself,” Rodriguez said.
