Major League Soccer has come a long way since it's launch after the 1994 World Cup, and it has popularity unprecedented in its history.
Still, it is seen worldwide as a league where star players come to earn their final payday before retiring as players. It also hasn't found a way to produce young players, which is why young players get experience in other countries before returning stateside to play in MLS.
When it comes to developing young players to one day play in the major league or the top league, MLS doesn't have the infrastructure of the soccer powers in South America and Europe. Then again, by the time MLS was launched futbol had been a national pastime in those locations for nearly 100 years. There is promise for MLS.
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Yea, I think it can be even bigger than the South American leagues someday. We have a lot of talent here in south America but the league is very poorly managed
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Mismanagement of MLS may be part of the problem, but I don't see that as being the major factor. For me, it looks as if there is no pipeline to MLS for young talent.
MLB has minor leagues for professional baseball players. Both the NFL and NBA use colleges and universities as training grounds for pro players. The National Hockey League uses minor leagues, colleges/universities, and players from foreign major leagues. Major League Soccer depends on mainly on schools, colleges, and universities to bring in young players.
Quality of play has improved dramatically since 1994, but the young players of MLS are no match for the young players from countries where futbol has been played for 100 years or more.
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