Is it a fact that Canadian teams can join MLS?

[DCU1996]

Is it done deal?

Do we need FIFA approval?

Do we already approved by FIFA?

What's the rule? What's the story?

[SoccerPrime]

Tell you what, figure out what happens on Nov. 12/13 and report back to us.

Thanks

[DCU1996]

Tell you what, figure out what happens on Nov. 12/13 and report back to us.

Thanks

What will happen on Nov. 12/13?

[TopDogg]

What will happen on Nov. 12/13?
That's for you to figure out. Can't you read? :D

[SoccerPrime]

OK, I'll be serious for a second.

Read about 500+ posts already on the subject and you'll get your answer.

Have a great day.

[chapulincolorado]

Is it done deal?

Do we need FIFA approval?

Do we already approved by FIFA?

What's the rule? What's the story?

Dang!...Too many questions. :D Short answer. Can you have a professional teams based in Cananda in MLS? Yes. As long as CSA and USSF aren't against it, FIFA will not be against it. In the end, for FIFA, it is about creating a base for soccer in Canana. Based from what I have read from CSA (http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/index.asp) , they don't seem to mind.

As far as it it a done deal? Nobody has signed in any contract, but by MLS Cup time, we should know.

[DCU1996]

Dang!...Too many questions. :D Short answer. Can you have a professional teams based in Cananda in MLS? Yes. As long as CSA and USSF aren't against it, FIFA will not be against it. In the end, for FIFA, it is about creating a base for soccer in Canana. Based from what I have read from CSA (http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/index.asp) , they don't seem to mind.

As far as it it a done deal? Nobody has signed in any contract, but by MLS Cup time, we should know.

Cool. so it's not upto FIFA, but depends on CSA & USSF.

[piltdownman]

Cool. so it's not upto FIFA, but depends on CSA & USSF.

Well fifa could say no. Like they did with the proposed merger of the dutch and Belgium leagues. That however was because both countries had their own domestic league. If Canada had its own pro domestic league fifa might not approve, but they don't so from fifa's eyes this isn't hurtng anyone. Plus it has been said FIFA only really has a iron grip on Europe and South America.

The one question to come out of this is Canadain team in MLS is if they will eligible for the American CONCACAF Champions' Cup (CCC) spots? In europe if a team plays in another countries league it is not eligible for that leagues champions league spots. The one exception that I know of is Monoco, which is incorparated into france at every level. So I want to know if a Toronto (or any other Canadain MLS team) team wins their conference and earn a qualify for the CCC will they be allowed to take it or are those spots reserved for American teams? And don't get me wrong, I think they should be reserved for US teams, and Canada should have its own cup competition where as the winner qualifies for the CCC.

[socamonarch]

I swear that i read that the answer was no. I believe it was the MLS deputy commisioner that clarified that.

[chapulincolorado]

Cool. so it's not upto FIFA, but depends on CSA & USSF.


Well. I would add "It's not all up to FIFA." FIFA has made some exceptions. Some are historical. Some are more recent and based a case by case basis. There are not many exceptions, but they do exist. As you are well aware, USL [which is FIFA recognized] has, IIRC, five teams from Canada. So. Toronto's MLS wouldn't be too unique or controversial for CSA, MLS, or FIFA since there is already a precedent.

[chapulincolorado]

Well fifa could say no.

You are right. Nothing has been signed. And there is nothing official. So. They could say no. But. Based on precedent, USL and CSA, I don't think they would AND this would be a major opportunity for FIFA to have a major league team in Canada.

[SYoshonis]

If Canada can have teams in the USL, why wouldn't they be able to have teams in MLS?

And, I thought it was UEFA that blocked the Belgium/Holland league merger.

[TopDogg]

Well fifa could say no. Like they did with the proposed merger of the dutch and Belgium leagues. That however was because both countries had their own domestic league. If Canada had its own pro domestic league fifa might not approve, but they don't so from fifa's eyes this isn't hurtng anyone. Plus it has been said FIFA only really has a iron grip on Europe and South America.

The one question to come out of this is Canadain team in MLS is if they will eligible for the American CONCACAF Champions' Cup (CCC) spots? In europe if a team plays in another countries league it is not eligible for that leagues champions league spots. The one exception that I know of is Monoco, which is incorparated into france at every level. So I want to know if a Toronto (or any other Canadain MLS team) team wins their conference and earn a qualify for the CCC will they be allowed to take it or are those spots reserved for American teams? And don't get me wrong, I think they should be reserved for US teams, and Canada should have its own cup competition where as the winner qualifies for the CCC.

Why is this even a question? The spots are not given to the leagues, they are given to the national federations, who then decide what to do with the spots as they see appropriate.

It would be like CONCACAF giving their Confederations Cup spot to Brazil if they won the Gold Cup. In other words, no need to even worry about it.

[Captain Canuck]

If Canada can have teams in the USL, why wouldn't they be able to have teams in MLS?

And, I thought it was UEFA that blocked the Belgium/Holland league merger.

Moreover, this isn't a merger between two leagues of two different countries, but an expansion of one league into another. Not to mention that Wales has a league of its own but two teams (Cardiff & Swansea) that play in the English leagues, so there is a precedent even if there was a Canadian league of its own.

Which there isn't of course.

[the shelts]

We've gone over this before.

3 Welsh teams (Cardiff Swansea and Wrexham) are in the English leagues. A forth team Chester is headquartered in England but its field is half in England and half in Wales.

Monaco plays in the French league.

Berwick (England) plays in the Scottish league.

Auckland (New Zealand) plays in the Australian league, ironically called the A-league.

Singaporian teams play in a Malaysian league.

Liechtenstein plays in the Swiss league

I could go on and there are other examples. FIFA's main job isn't to nitpick these things to death but to promote soccer. When Rangers and Celtic where making noises' about playing in the EPL FIFA said very clearly that a country without a viable professional or top flight league is able to play club soccer in another country. Now I know some of you point to the fact that England Wales and Scotland are all part of Great Britain and essentially one country but as far as FIFA is concerned they have different FA's and different national teams so these rules apply.

The argument about angering FIFA by allowing a Canadian team to play in MLS is insane. If you think the MLS is going to allow a city of 5 million people, with a English speaking base, 2 hours flight from NY and 1.5 from Boston that is willing to build a SSS (whether they do or not who knows?) and has one of the few NHL franchises that turns a profit like.

The MLS of course is going to be interested and of course they will go for it. Why wouldn't they? Toronto is a world class city. They can go back to San Antonio and get insulted by the mayor and the Alamodome, go to Cleveland where the investor passed away and the decendants want nothing to do with the MLS, go to Seattle where the Sounders are aren't exactly packing them in or back to Florida where they have failed once mainly because Floridians didn't want to pay good money to sit in 115 degree temparatures in the dead of summer to watch.

OF COURSE MLS WANTS TORONTO. If Toronto wants in Toronto will get in. This is one of the rare cases' where the MLS needs the city about as much as the city wants the MLS.

[RHMCW]

OF COURSE MLS WANTS TORONTO. If Toronto wants in Toronto will get in. This is one of the rare cases' where the MLS needs the city about as much as the city wants the MLS.

Ar you saying that MLS will fold if Toronto does not join?

[Bayer04fan]

I don't like the idea of having Toronto in our league. If Canada wants pro soccer so bad, let them develop their own league. The USL teams don't count because it is minor league soccer. When it comes to top flight soccer, each country should have their own. Sorry but thats the way I see it. This isn't the NHL or MLB or NBA for that matter. If they allow one Canadian team then another and another would want in and then what's next? Mexican teams?(God I hope not, if that ever happens, I would stop supporting mLS altogether). I see too many bad things coming out of this. MLS is suppose to be to develop US talent not everyone else's talent, so to speak.

Sorry Canada, get your own league...........

[TopDogg]

I don't like the idea of having Toronto in our league. If Canada wants pro soccer so bad, let them develop their own league. The USL teams don't count because it is minor league soccer. When it comes to top flight soccer, each country should have their own. Sorry but thats the way I see it. This isn't the NHL or MLB or NBA for that matter. If they allow one Canadian team then another and another would want in and then what's next? Mexican teams?(God I hope not, if that ever happens, I would stop supporting mLS altogether). I see too many bad things coming out of this. MLS is suppose to be to develop US talent not everyone else's talent, so to speak.

Sorry Canada, get your own league...........
Tell us how you really feel. :rolleyes:

1. "The USL teams don't count because it is minor league soccer."

When Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver joined the A-League, it was the top tier of soccer in the US. The league probably would have folded without the infusion of three teams that year, so a cynic might say that the Canadian teams saved top-flight soccer in the US (until MLS came along).

2. "If they allow one Canadian team then another and another would want in and then what's next? Mexican teams?"

Yes, there will probably be two more Canadian teams, Vancouver and Montreal. And they will do better attendance-wise than the sad-sack Wizards (for instance). As for Mexican teams, FMF and USSF would never allow it, because Mexico already has a league of its own. You may have heard of it.

3. "I see too many bad things coming out of this. "

Like what, a more stable league? A more diverse ownership scheme in MLS? A large, established sports empire investing it's own money to join a league that is still finding its feet? A huge, metropolitan market with a substantial immigrant population?

You're right, those are pretty bad things. :rolleyes:

4. "MLS is suppose to be to develop US talent not everyone else's talent, so to speak."

Dear MLS,

I'm not American, therefore I should not be allowed to play in your league.

Signed,

Carlos Ruiz, Amado Guevara, Shalrie Joseph, Andy Williams, Dwayne de Rosario, Pat Onstad, Youri Djorkaeff, Juan Pablo Garcia, Ronnie O'Brien, Christian Gomez, Jaime Moreno, et al.

[SoccerPrime]

Another thing that Toronto adds to MLS, TV exposure. With MLSE helping, Toronto is a huge tv market.
MLSE will make sure that MLS gets a great deal on TSN or something equivalent.

[SoccerPrime]

BTW Joseph is American and Williams (and I think Moreno) have green cards.