In a country where football is basically a religion, the thought of any sport even coming close to dethroning it is essentially a sin. But although the National Football League (NFL) has been around for decades and has become part of the identity of fans nationwide, Major League Soccer (MLS) has the opportunity to catch fire just like any other league.
Although soccer is much loved in North America, its presence has certainly been lacking compared to other sports. It has historically struggled to gain traction on the continent, as it was constantly playing second fiddle to football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. These sports have deep historical roots and cultural significance, whereas soccer had a much later start. At one point, it was even extremely difficult to bet on the MLS, as sportsbooks didn’t see the games as lucrative; it just wasn’t nearly as widespread as the many no-deposit bonuses on casinos.com or betting options for high-profile sports leagues.
How the NFL Dominates America
Many of us reading the title of this article will furrow our brows, potentially chuckle, and give a straight and obvious answer: no.
The NFL has a serious grip on America that no other sport or cultural phenomenon can even try to emulate. During the final championship game of the Super Bowl every season, on that one day in early February, TV shows will cancel their regular programming to avoid competition, people will take the day off work the Monday after, and everyone will gear up for celebrations the entire week. Just this year, in 2024, Super Bowl LVIII became the most-watched telecast in history, with 123.4 million average viewers across all broadcasts. Even a regular-season NFL game is estimated to bring in 17.9 million viewers.
Before Americans ask about your job or where you’re from, they’ll ask you what your team is. That answer alone will reveal plenty about where your loyalties lie, what state you’re potentially tied to, and other aspects of your personality. It’s the perfect conversation topic that’s often the start of building bonds and branching off into a discussion about other shared interests. Even in Canada, where the country has its own football league, the Canadian Football League (CFL) doesn’t hold a candle to the NFL’s influence.
The Development of Major League Soccer (MLS)
All while the NFL was reveling in its fame and status as America’s number-one sport, the MLS was on a rollercoaster ride that seemed like it could fall off the tracks at any time. Within less than a decade of its founding, the league went through a ton of operational and financial struggles that led it to lose millions of dollars. It had a lot of work cut out for it in order to recover, so it constructed soccer-specific stadiums for the league, signed national TV contracts, and set up a Designated Player Rule, which permitted teams to sign up to three players that would surpass their salary cap. In the face of this new rule, teams were able to sign international household names like Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry.
Now, the question is whether it’ll even be able to live up to its prestigious counterparts, including the English Premier League and Italy’s Serie A. So far, it hasn’t gone that far. Just two years ago, in 2022, the MLS boasted an average attendance of 21,000 fans per game, which is still significantly far behind the United States and Canada’s other leagues, including the NFL, with over 69,000 per game. But let’s make it a point to reiterate: the MLS is young. The first season was held in 1996, so it hasn’t had too many opportunities to come into its own, like the NHL (founded in 1917), the NFL (founded in 1920), or the MLB (founded in 1903), for example.
If we look at the league today, however, it’s easy to see the changes. We’re seeing a greater appreciation for soccer in general, with younger generations becoming more interested in what it has to offer. That’s thanks in part to the increased exposure, the many partnerships and sponsorships, and the quality of the league. The MLS has enjoyed much more investment into facilities and great players and coaches, which has improved the quality of play and heightened the competition.
What’s the Outlook?
The drama of the NFL is, at times, ridiculously over-the-top. Because of the theatrics of the ceremonies and halftime shows, the star-studded commercials, and the grandeur of game day, football has transformed into more than just a sport. This by itself makes it incredibly difficult for the MLS to ever surpass the NFL and get to that level of dominance. The NFL is also incredibly established. Fans actively engage in traditions every season, intently watching draft days play out, settling on the couch for Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night Football, and spending Thanksgiving watching games with friends and family.
The league has built a unique and intense culture that is unmatched by other sports, making the outlook bleak for not only the MLS but for other rivals as well. If we look at the NFL 30 years into its existence, it had already monopolized pro football in America. However, this was when sports leagues all around the world were just starting to form, and formal rules were beginning to take shape. So, who’s to say that the MLS won’t become a strong contender in the future? The MLS is growing in a different era, one full of competition and investment, but it seems to have found its niche in a market that lacks a soccer tradition.