UEFA is looking at adding another Cup to their arsenal of cups that they already have. This time they are looking at making a Super Cup final between 4 teams; UCL Champions, Europa League Champions, Conference League Champions and MLS Cup Champions in a 4 team group format. https://www.google.com/amp/s/madrid...inal-four-format-including-mls-winners/?amp=1 I know people will b*tch, cry and call foul because it's MLS but any competition that is played here in the US only increases its popularity. And if it includes MLS even better. Now if only MLS owners could actually try to compete with European teams and just relaxed their "rules"....that would help them too.
That'll be interesting, at least. Let's hope the MLS team gets a home game out of it, or at least a 50/50 shot at a home game.
There's still a good chance that's a Mexican team, and Mexico is not spending nearly as much money as the USA on UEFA tickets/jerseys/TV packages.
Yeah, or UEFA's worst nightmare - a Costa Rican team, so they'd literally bring nothing to the table... Though many MLS markets playing a neutral site would also bring next to nothing to the table.
But (MLS team) vs. Manchester City or Real Madrid in a tournament that matters will attract exactly the same number of European eyeballs PLUS that MLS market's eyeballs PLUS the American Eurosnob eyeballs. And dollars.
Yep. Leagues Cup, CCL, USOC, Campeones Cup and possibly soon this Super Cup final all in 1 year for the MLS Cup Champions? How does MLS plan to balance all these games? MLS rosters aren't set up to compete in so many tournaments.
I'm sure UEFA loves seeing their teams playing meaningless, exhibition games in the summer months to sold out US stadiums. Still with the busy league schedule of UEFA teams , as well as the Champions , Europa , Conference League, domestic cups , coupled with national team and breaks, when exactly will there be a time to play this tournament? Will they eliminate, combine or reschedule the Europa and Conference League games and play it in the summer months or rather during the Euro leagues preseason or even maybe the Christmas Holidays?
I'm guessing during the Euro preseason. Euro teams are already coming to the US for preseason, might as well make it for a trophy and more money.
Reminds me of the old NASL and NY Cosmos Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup... Trans-Atlantic_Challenge_Cup
As those preseason games are already sold-out, having a meaningful, important tournament played, it will be even bigger for international media, TV, sponsors and promoters. That would be a brilliant move for MLS coffers as they can generate a lot more revenue for the cubs. Especially if each club gets rewarded evenly.
Just kind of nonsensical in terms of sporting principle to have an MLS team instead of concacaf champion... but when did sporting principle matter anyway... lol
Rumor is UEFA is trying to copy Super Cup formats held internationally as organized by Spain, Italy, and France (Germany and England have so far resisted). I don’t believe the “host” spot would be exclusive to MLS, but anyone willing to pay a lot of money for this “event” (Saudi Arabia, China, Qatar, Japan etc.)
Makes more sense then, but still not really lol I like the current Super Cup format where the UCL champion plays in venues that wouldn't normally be considered for a final. EDIT: I would be ok with this for only the 2023 edition though - it needs to get yanked from Russia anyway...
EPL will only continue to grow in popularity in the US. 🚨 EXCL: Premier League set to stage enhanced pre-season tournament in USA next summer. Not finalised but potentially ~6 clubs in 2 groups with games in multiple cities on east/west coasts. 1st step on “roadmap for meaningful matches abroad” @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/jrxEaI3tgm— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) October 17, 2022
I don't think they can do that. But that's exactly what is happening. Other leagues are becoming more popular here while MLS is trailing behind in its own home.
In the SUM days I believe they had to approve any international games in the USA. Who is in charge of it now?
The USSF has to approve any FIFA-credited game played in the U.S., not SUM. That still applies. (And that's the same with every FA in any country. They have final approval of any match played under FIFA's umbrella in the country.)
The de facto policy is to approve any friendly as long as the promoter fills out the forms and pays the fees. This has been the case since they settled a lawsuit 20+ years ago over rejecting some friendlies in LA that were too close to a Galaxy game. They draw the line on league games such as the ones that the Miami Dolphins guy has tried to put on, and they have prevailed legally on that position so far.