Responding to an earlier comment that the USA will have the best league in the World Ever I have to say... As if. For that to happen instead of playing Basketball, Baseball, American Football and Hockey, American kids would have to play football as there number 1 sport (Like in England, Italy and Spain). That I can't see happening in the near future...

Anyhow the MSL can't even attract Middlesbrough reserve player Paul Gascoigne!

For some reason, this fact doesn't seem to register with people on here.

Soccer is the number one youth participation sport in the USA. I'll put that another way. More kids in the USA are playing soccer than any other sport.

This is not my opinion... it is a statistical fact. It's been true for quite a few years now. The problem has been that while KIDS are playing it, they were switching to other sports when they reach their adolescent years. That is where things are now starting to change. High School and College soccer are booming right now, for girls AND BOYS.
I would not compare it to what exists in the top soccer nations, but things in the USA are changing and changing for the better, and a big part of the reason for this change is the presence of a pro league, MLS.

I must agree it is difficult for a country to become #1 in football if they dont have a pro league.Now that the u.s has the mls they can at least, better yet have the right to compete to be #1.after all why compete if you dont want to win.

[This message has been edited by Edoardo (edited 12-05-1999).]

Sort of the same as in New Zealand. Young kids start by playing soccer, and when they get older, about 13-14, they'll switch to rugby. Soccer is in NZ way behind rugby, despite the recent success of the U-17 tournament being held in NZ.

It is hard to compare soccer with others sports.
In Baseball, I might be wrong, there is no World Cup, so there is no compatition. To be the better USA have to play against Cuba, and some 4 other contries.

American Football there is no need to talk about it. USA should be better then USA

Basketball is diferent. All contries play, but basketball is the number 1 in few countries.

In soccer USA should play better and be better then all Europe and South America. It is very diferent. Have better players is not enought they have to fight a lot more.

Soccer in the USA in twenty years will have progressed to the point that the USA can be a consistent top 20 team and occaisionally a top 10 team. That will be a pretty impressive effort in my books. To make the top 10 is to be a true world force. With the steady pace of US soccer development I dont think it is beyond them