The future of the leagues' partnership includes an annual tournament dubbed the new Campeones CupGETTY IMAGES
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Mexican Football Federation (FMF) President Yon de Luisa during the SoccerEx convention on Thursday "spoke about their accomplishments and goals for the future of soccer in both countries," including the "budding partnership" between MLS and Liga MX, according to Alicia DelGallo of PRO SOCCER USA. De Luisa said that the future of the leagues' partnership includes having a "very good annual tournament" -- the new Campeones Cup -- as well as "working together to share sponsorships and partners across borders." He added that in the future, the way Mexico, the U.S. and Canada "share information will change drastically." He said that will "include hosting youth tournaments that not only benefit the players but also allow technical staffs from each country to stay with, study and learn from each other." DelGallo noted that "focus on furthering partnerships across borders is essential leading up" to the '26 World Cup, which the three countries will jointly host. Both Garber and de Luisa believe that the eight-year timeline between now and then "presents obvious shared growth, marketing and promotional opportunities to raise the profile and quality of the sport in the region." Garber said the opportunity should also provide "generational value" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 11/15).
COMPETITIONS ABOUND: Garber said that he "has enough work to do evolving the league's schedule without including the Copa Libertadores," South America's prestigious club competition. DelGallo in a separate piece noted teams from Liga MX have been "invited to participate in the tournament," and there have been reports in the last few years that MLS teams "could join the competition in the near future." However, Garber said that he does not "see it happening." He said, "We have been really focused on trying to think of ways in which we could have some sort of meaningful competition with Liga MX, and we've got a long way to go to figure out how that schedule will work." Garber: "In time we'll be able to have an opportunity to play in different competitions than just our league competition and our federation's competition and our confederation's competition, but thinking about that being outside of our confederation, I don't see that happening any time soon" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 11/15).
