There are still logistics to work out on the initiative, including potential hurdles with the Liga MX schedule GETTY IMAGES
Yesterday's announcement of a long-term initiative between MLS and Liga MX is "just the beginning" of the partnership between the two North American soccer leagues, according to Dylan Butler of PRO SOCCER USA. Liga MX President Enrique Bonilla said, "The Campeones Cup is only the first step. It's a big step, as [MLS Commissioner Don Garber] said it's going to be the Super Bowl of soccer in North America. We're going to do a lot of things. We're going to work with minors, we're going to work with best practices and, at the end, we're sure we're going to have better football for great fans we have in the [U.S.] and in Mexico and in Canada." Garber said that the new partnership between MLS and Liga MX will "aim to heal cultural divides as well." Future All-Star competitions between the leagues would be "whole 'futbol fiestas,' allowing the two soccer communities to join together in celebration of the sport regardless of political climate." Bonilla said that Liga MX can "learn from MLS' marketing acumen and from the game-day experience most of its clubs offer." However, Butler noted there remains "unanswered questions when it comes to the future All-Star game." There are still logistics to "work out -- and some potential hurdles with the Liga MX schedule -- but both sides said they are committed to what Garber called a 'quintessentially North American' concept" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 3/13).
START OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL: In Dallas, Dan Crooke noted the Campeones Cup is the "first competition solely between U.S. and Mexican clubs since SuperLiga ended" after the '10 season (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/13). FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja said of the partnership, "It's great, especially because of the proximity of the countries." In Dallas, Jon Arnold noted MLS also will "tweak its All-Star Game." While this season's ASG in Atlanta "likely will feature the current format of the MLS All-Stars playing a big European team on a preseason tour of the U.S., future games are expected to pit the MLS All-Stars against a Liga MX All-Star team" (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/13).
CLOSING THE GAP: The Red Bulls, Sounders and Toronto FC each won their opening legs of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, and PRO SOCCER USA's Butler wrote the "stunning sweep of their Mexican rivals ... has many talking about how close" MLS is getting to Liga MX in terms of quality. Garber said, "MLS teams want to win the Champions League and we have not been able to do that. That's a real test for us. To see three of our clubs getting to this point is something we're excited about." Butler noted neither Garber nor Bonilla believe the Campeones Cup will "take away from the CCL" and, in fact, they "think the exact opposite." Garber: "This is going to elevate (the Champions League). Its whole purpose is to serve as a vehicle to make the CONCACAF Champions League more valuable" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 3/13).
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: SI.com's Grant Wahl noted the newly created U.S. Soccer men's GM position has "yet to be filled." Sources said that the job is "being seen as unattractive by many of the people who were originally intended to be targets for it." The sources said that the GM job as it is designed "isn't nearly powerful enough and doesn't have any control over youth development." There is also "concern" as USSF Secretary General & CEO Dan Flynn is "not planning to stay on for the long term that it could be a bad fit when the new CEO comes in to replace Flynn and oversee the GM" (SI.com, 3/13).
