The MLS Making a Run at the UEFA

The MLS has been long regarded as closer to a joke than a threat by most UEFA fans. From the time the North American soccer league was founded in 1993 and began play in 1996, it hadn’t been know for its great players or coaches. However, during the past four or five years, the MLS has demonstrated impeccable growth as well as an influx of internationally acclaimed players. Since the league's team of all-stars began playing UEFA teams in 2005, the MLS won four out of four of its matches, defeating Fulham (4-1) in 2005, Chelsea (1-0) in 2006, Celtic F.C. (2-0) in 2007 and West Ham United (3-2) in the 2008 season. Granted, the games were played with MLS's best players against, while some very good UEFA teams, certainly not the best. But in only 12 years the MLS h as expa n ded from its original 10 teams to 14 teams in a continent not overly familiar with the sport. Competing with the long standing American and Canadian favourites of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL was not an easy task but, somehow, the North American fan-base made room for it. The MLS managed to snag a number of impressive international players such as Jamie Moreno, Carlos Ruiz, Juan Pablo Angel and, of course, David Beckham jumping stateside. The MLS has a long way to go before presenting as a legitimate competitor to the Premiership, La Liga or Serie A, but there is no doubt that the MLS is honing skills and recognition at a rapid rate. Don't be surprised to see a new international powerhouse within the next five to 10 years.