Well I have to say some of the replies here are as about as ignorant as some Americans are toward football. The MLS or the U.S. national team will not be the best in the world and I wouldn't ever expect (or need) it to be. But that does not mean that we couldn't rise to a very respectable level WHICH we already are doing. If Brazil, Italy, England and anybody else were beating the U.S. 10-0 then maybe you could say we are a crap team. We do not suck... We're actually better than many other countries who have been playing much longer. That says a lot about Americans...we are constantly striving for excellence. That doesn't mean we have to be #1 rah! rah! (it gets boring being #1 at everything anyway haha) competing and making life difficult for you will be much more fun! You people forget the fact that even though football may not be #1 in the U.S. our population is so big that even if a fraction of it follows the sport, THAT is comparable to many other smaller countries in the world.
The World Cup did wonders here and so is the MLS. The best thing for the MLS is foreign influence whether it's coaches and/or players. Look at your own leagues, there are several foreign players in them, duh! As the MLS gains more influence it will progress as a football league. As it builds on it's history it will create tradition. That is what is lacking compared to leagues around the world like the English Premier, Serie A etc. etc. It is one of the things I have always admired about football (especially European) is the long tradition of the clubs and the cups. You can't build that overnight. But we're working on it. (Go D.C. United!) They're even picking names like traditional clubs. Relegation & promotion may not be far off as the A-League could be used as such. And as the league grows and expands then you will have more regional rivalries. Again foreign influence will go along way toward shaping this league (or a few fans like myself!).
Speaking of foreign influence you people forget how you are infiltrating our country with growing numbers (political immigration issue being put aside here!) The latin population alone will be the biggest in the near future. This can only do wonders for the MLS. There will be more fans who are passionate about the sport. The crowds at D.C. United and a few other clubs are really into it with chants. Now we're not out of control like you Italians and S. Americans but that is because we are more civilized when it comes to sports. (if you ever put as much passion into your country as you do into football maybe you will rise to our level haha, football= downfall of British Empire, something to think about!).
You also ignore the fact that football has had a strong growing grassroots level for the last 20 years. That's the only way we could have put a team with players like Harkes, Jones, Lalas and others up against the likes of Brazil with 1-0 results. Not too shabby for so called beginners. England created the game and LOOK where they are now. Not even a tier 1 nation. Parity in football is not far off as more of the smaller (footballing) nations build their leagues and develop their players. The fact that anyone could beat anyone will be more prevalent. Who would have thought until recently that Croatia (not Holland, Italy, England or Argentina) could finish third in the World Cup.
Now as far as money goes that will not have an effect until the MLS has enough of a following and some tradition behind it. I personally think Europe is where it's at if you're a player and then S. America. That's where I would want to play and that won't change for some time.
Fan interest here is growing. More people know about football here than you ignorant fools would care to acknowledge. Football coverage is on t.v. more than it ever was before. It could be better yes...give it time. Some people even goto pubs here to watch it. The Premier League is the most popular here but Germany, Italy and even Chile get coverage here too. The passion is growing, slowly, but it is growing. The interest is here it will just take some time so be wary, we might sneak up on you!
Is it true that fans in other countries fast and don't stuff their faces at matches? I doubt it! I saw plenty of people at the Premier League games I went to with fish and chips in one hand and bangers in the other (not too mention all the pints consumed before hand, Guinness please!) And I bet they're eating some kind of stuffed tortilla by the thousand (or whatever you eat down there) in S. America! Haha, what idiotic comments you children come up with.
Oh yeah, there is the World (American) Football League in Europe which is a minor league for the NFL (we KNOW you like the cheerleaders!)...so that makes the Superbowl winner a World Champion (in THIS sport) so as not to be confused with the collegiate winner known as the National Champion. How little you know silly silly person...
