The Growth of MLS and the Influx of Stars

      On July 21^st, 2007, nineteen cameras were focused on one of the world’s most iconic athletes, superstars and role models as he made his professional debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy. That man is David Beckham.  This hype, of course, was well deserved. Although many Americans may not have been soccer fans back when Beckham ventured to the United States, a five year $250 million dollar deal is going to turn heads and draw speculation no matter what the subject is.  Beckham left renowned Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer of 2007, and the rest is history.

       Looking back, over the past 7 years, the influence of Beckham’s move to America and playing for a Major League Soccer (MLS) team can be widely debated. However, in terms of gaining fan popularity, the notable increase in other European players coming to the US and the expanding number of professional teams in the MLS, it is safe to say Beckham’s impact on the growth of the sport in the U.S. has been prodigious. In 2012, an ESPN poll determined that soccer was America's second-most popular sport for those aged 12-24, with the NFL listed as most popular. And on May 7^th 2014, an ESPN poll showed that MLS equaled popularity with Major League Baseball among kids. For a league that hasn’t even had its 20^th season yet, MLS is making serious strides. And there is no evidence of this growth slowing anytime soon.

      

       Recently, MLS announced the establishment of its 20^th team, New York City FC, that is expected to begin playing in the 2015 season. The team’s first signing, 32 year old Spanish striker David Villa, has won a World Cup and a European Cup with Spain. And if that initial signing wasn’t enough to kick start NYFC on the right path, the signing of Frank Lampard, a prominent English Footballer who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, surely will bring excitement, hype and popularity to US soccer fans. An additional team being added to MLS is one thing, but to have two world class stars with immense experience playing at the highest level, such as Villa and Lampard, be among the club’s first few signings proves that the league’s talent pool is continuing to expand and is clear evidence that the game itself is flourishing here in the States.

Prior to 2007, less than 100 European players had been playing in the MLS. Since 2007, the year Beckham arrived in the US, over 160 European players have made the move to MLS. Also, over 100 different nationalities have been represented in the MLS, proving its diversity, which is essential to attracting talent from all over the world and a key to the league’s long term success. 

       The talent that the US national team displayed at the 2014 World Cup and the excitement the team generated seemed to signal to the world that the US is not far off from becoming a dominant force in world soccer. The influx of talent and stardom to the MLS as well as the growing popularity of the sport reveal the positive direction in which American soccer is headed. With all of this progress made in a league only in its 19^th season, one can only imagine the heightened quality of the league in another 19 years. And with a world class soccer league in the United States, the perfect platform would be set for America to truly be a contender to win the World Cup!