The US Mexico Soccer Divide
The US and Mexican national soccer teams may have reached the same level of the 2010 World Cup, but there is a distinct chasm between their domestic leagues. Despite being in the country with superior GDP the MLS has struggled to compete for money, and popularity, against the more dominant sports leagues in America. Although both the Mexican Primera Division and MLS lose some top tier talent to Europe, Mexico's league has a better track record of drawing top players from Mexico, South America and even the United States.
Nothing explains the difference in class between the two better than the CONCACAF Champions League/Cup. In the 48 annual competitions of the tournament beginning in 1962, Mexican teams have claimed 27 victories, while US teams have garnered only 2. Educated American soccer lovers may argue, "but this is only the 14th Champions Cup in which the MLS has sent representatives." And they would be right. But the United States has been represented almost every season by solid amateur teams like the 1984 runners-up New York Pancyprian-Freedoms. Even if we were to discount the non-MLS seasons, American teams have claimed only 2 championships in the previous 13 seasons. Mexico has 9.
An even larger indictment of the MLS is their stuggles in the last 2 season in which the Champions League has expanded the tournament to a similar format of UEFA's top club tournament. In the new format 4 MLS teams and 4 Primera Division teams qualify. 2 from each league automatically enter the 16-team group stage. The other 2 must pre-qualify through a knockout stage.
In 2008-09 both MLS pre-qualifiers were knocked out, and only the Houston Dynamo made the 8-team quarterfinals. Meanwhile all 4 Mexican teams made it through the group stage and 3 made the final four. In 2009-10 almost the same story. 3 MLS teams in the group stage and only the Columbus Crew made the quarters. Meanwhile the final four was comprised of entirely Primera Division sides.
Tonight begins the final games of the quarterfinal knockout stage for 2010-11. And this year the draw simultaneously helped and hurt the MLS. All 4 Mexican teams survived the 16-team group stage for the third straight year. However, they were drawn against each other. So only 2 will remain after Thursday. And only 1 can make the finals since they've all been pooled together. So what I'm saying is, the MLS has a chance. But even their odds are limited as the 2 surviving teams, Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake, were drawn together. Regardless, the MLS is guaranteed a spot in the semis. What they can do from there is yet to be seen.
If they survive they'll face 1 of the 4 Mexican teams. Cruz Azul have won more Champions League finals than anyone in CONCACAF. But they have lost 5 championship finals in 3 years (Champions Leagues: 2008-09, 2009-10, Apetura 2009, Apetura 2008, Clausara 2008). The team they face tonight, and hold a 2 goal advantage against, is Santos Laguna. Santos defeated Azul for the Clausara 2008 title. And if Cruz Azul advance? They'll face either Toluca, who beat them in the Apetura 2008 final, or Monterrey, who defeated them in the Apetura 2009 final.
Columbus and Real will settle their draw tonight. But if they're lucky enough to make it to the final, one of the top Mexican sides will be waiting for them.
Nothing explains the difference in class between the two better than the CONCACAF Champions League/Cup. In the 48 annual competitions of the tournament beginning in 1962, Mexican teams have claimed 27 victories, while US teams have garnered only 2. Educated American soccer lovers may argue, "but this is only the 14th Champions Cup in which the MLS has sent representatives." And they would be right. But the United States has been represented almost every season by solid amateur teams like the 1984 runners-up New York Pancyprian-Freedoms. Even if we were to discount the non-MLS seasons, American teams have claimed only 2 championships in the previous 13 seasons. Mexico has 9.
An even larger indictment of the MLS is their stuggles in the last 2 season in which the Champions League has expanded the tournament to a similar format of UEFA's top club tournament. In the new format 4 MLS teams and 4 Primera Division teams qualify. 2 from each league automatically enter the 16-team group stage. The other 2 must pre-qualify through a knockout stage.
In 2008-09 both MLS pre-qualifiers were knocked out, and only the Houston Dynamo made the 8-team quarterfinals. Meanwhile all 4 Mexican teams made it through the group stage and 3 made the final four. In 2009-10 almost the same story. 3 MLS teams in the group stage and only the Columbus Crew made the quarters. Meanwhile the final four was comprised of entirely Primera Division sides.
Tonight begins the final games of the quarterfinal knockout stage for 2010-11. And this year the draw simultaneously helped and hurt the MLS. All 4 Mexican teams survived the 16-team group stage for the third straight year. However, they were drawn against each other. So only 2 will remain after Thursday. And only 1 can make the finals since they've all been pooled together. So what I'm saying is, the MLS has a chance. But even their odds are limited as the 2 surviving teams, Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake, were drawn together. Regardless, the MLS is guaranteed a spot in the semis. What they can do from there is yet to be seen.
If they survive they'll face 1 of the 4 Mexican teams. Cruz Azul have won more Champions League finals than anyone in CONCACAF. But they have lost 5 championship finals in 3 years (Champions Leagues: 2008-09, 2009-10, Apetura 2009, Apetura 2008, Clausara 2008). The team they face tonight, and hold a 2 goal advantage against, is Santos Laguna. Santos defeated Azul for the Clausara 2008 title. And if Cruz Azul advance? They'll face either Toluca, who beat them in the Apetura 2008 final, or Monterrey, who defeated them in the Apetura 2009 final.
Columbus and Real will settle their draw tonight. But if they're lucky enough to make it to the final, one of the top Mexican sides will be waiting for them.
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