MLS and the Copa Libertadores Question

By: Christian | April 13th, 2008

Copa Libertadores

With the elimination of D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals for the second straight year, the questions have been flowing all week on what is needed for an MLS club to not only win the regional championship for the first time since 2000, but perhaps more importantly, to represent the league in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

While MLS has steadily improved its on-field performance at home, the league continues to struggle internationally. But despite the results, it’s fair to say that one of the league’s main objectives is to join into the second most prestigious club competition in the world, South America’s Copa Libertadores. But the question is, does MLS deserve it?

On paper the prospect is mouth-watering. Just imagine seeing a Dynamo, DC United, or Chivas USA squad playing meaningful ties against such storied clubs as Boca Juniors, Flamengo, or Santos. Not only would fans have the opportunity to see such dramatic fixtures at home, but the experience for teams to travel throughout South America to face quality opposition would provide invaluable experience. No doubt the supporters here would welcome it; just go to any MLS forum on Big Soccer to read a multitude of threads asking the question, how would MLS compete in “X” league, and the comments generally seem to think that MLS could hold its own.

Yet at the risk of sounding like a liberal pundit, what is good for the U.S. is not necessarily good for the rest of the world. It’s unlikely teams from South America being up for flying 13 hours for a mid-week tie against the New England Revolution in the middle of a frigid winter (remember that the tournament’s preliminary round begins in January). And considering how some clubs in MLS struggle to fill seats during the regular season, it’s hard to imagine fans coming in droves to see such mid-tier teams like Audax Italiano or Cuenca in the snow.

Possible setbacks such as the weather, stadium scheduling conflicts, and pre-season fitness however would be moot when compared to the almighty dollar. If the league and its marketing arm SUM can convince CONMEBOL to the monetary value in having MLS clubs compete, you can rest assured it will happen. And considering the trends in world football, it is not longer inconceivable to imagine the US playing outside it’s confederation. Mexico have participated in the tournament for 10 years, with Cruz Azul only losing the final in 2001 on penalties, and in recent weeks Atlas and Club América have notched wins against Boca and River Plate, respectively. The BPL will most certainly continue its “39th game” plan to play official Premiership matches overseas. In a few weeks a Welsh club will play in the final of the English FA Cup. And in Europe, the rumors of a Super League grow year after year.

If MLS really wants to have its teams compete in South America, the perfect option for the moment would be the Copa Sudamericana, CONMEBOL’s equivalent to the UEFA Cup, in which D.C. United have already participated. Not only do you get to see some of same big name clubs as in the Copa Libertadores (unlike Europe, clubs can qualify directly into both cups in the same year), but the greatest advantage will be that MLS clubs will be in mid-season form. It must be noted, though, that the final takes place near MLS Cup.

Clearly the league is desperate to raise its image worldwide from one of contempt and indifference to acceptance and respect, but a move too soon into the Copa might not be the best way to go about it. Though it improves year by year, MLS needs to compete in its own region on a yearly basis before it can hope to take on the rigors of South American football.

What do you think? Does MLS deserve a spot in the Copa Libertadores?

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Category: CONCACAF, Club World Cup, MLS, North America, South America, United States, World Football

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bluemeanies

That earlier comment regarding the Libertadores and non-Mexican Saprissa should have been Sudamericana.
Christian

The Barclay's Premier League is the "official" name of the Premiership. As for the 39th game, it was scrapped...for now. Again, the almighty dollar (or euro as the current case is), will always get the final word. Expect to hear about it again.
hoyland54

Two comments. First, what's the BPL? Was that meant to be EPL? Also, I think the 39th game plan was scrapped, at least for now. Or, at the very least, they've been so thoroughly warned off it that they're keeping the preparations quiet.
Mauro

Also, there is a mistake on a prior comment about how the CONCACAF teams qualified for the Libertadores. Apparently, Chivas qualified for winning the 2006/2007 Apertura, CF America are in because they were Interliga champs this year and Atlas got in for being runners up. I'm not sure if the rules have changed for this next edition to include the winner of the CONCACAF champs cup or not but for this year's edition, there is no place for the Champs Cup winner.

Check here for more info.
http://www.conmebol.com/comuni...
Mauro

No, MLS does not DESERVE it. Can they do something about this? Yes, but some changes need to be made in order to participate in those types of competitions. The main change would be to play alongside league schedules from around the world. Once that happens it's easier to slip into those tournaments. But the bottom line remains that the powers that be, need to want it. Once that happens, then maybe the MLS teams might have a chance. Also, once they've decided that tournament will make them money, their best bet is to head to Bolivia, or maybe Venezuela will be up for it again, and make a deal with them where the MLS will invest money into the local league and the Bolivians will allow the MLS teams to stage playoff matches for the country's alloted Libertadores spaces. That's the only way I see it happening, they will not get invited outright as leagues much older and more storied than MLS in central America are not involved or invited.
Ana

They do not deserve it. The level is far from those clubs playing at Copa Libertatdores.

What people value on the MLS (speed and hussle) is different than what the world values in football (skill and good football).

I am not sure the MLS will ever reach that point.
NumeroDos

From what I've read about this subject, its not entirely just the MLS trying to get involved; CONEMBOL wants to make the Libertadores a continent wide competition (as in both North and South America). That part of the reason why Mexico is involved in the first place. While I don't think the MLS is at the point where it can compete in the competition, but I'm all for a single champions league in North and South America as long as it is done right (at least as far as the traveling is concerned).
bluemeanies

Well, can we bribe Venezuala to give their CONMEBOL spots to us and than when the rest of the confederation thinks its wrong that one country in the confederation has no spots while a country outside the confederation has spots decided to give both spots in the end because of the yummy television revenue from the outside of confederation league? I mean that is how MEXICO deserve to be there so can't we duplicate it. If we have enough money to throw around it might work.

Either that or bribe Mexico to merge Interliga and Superliga (I cannot count how many times commenters and columnists already do this so in short - Interliga- a Mexican post-season tournament played in the US to get money from La Migra that determines the Libertadores spots; Superliga- a US vs Mexico challenge tournament played in the US to get money from La Migra that gives the winner a shiny trophy and some $$; please do not in future say Interliga when you mean Superliga or vice-versa). Mexican clubs do bitch about fixture congestion so enough money might do it there.

Also, no Libertadores for MLS this year. Conmebol has historically let in two Mexican teams and the best non Mexico finisher in the Champions Cup. This year the spot is Saprissa's if the Champions league doesn't prevent most Concacaf competition in Conmebol tournaments.
Albert

I think they need to get their schedule changed to coincide with the rest of the world first. Since sometimes i see yard lines on their soccer pitch, I assume the American Football affects this change?
Ian Rose

Yeah, I don't think there's much of an argument for the MLS deserving a shot outside of their confederation until they do something within it.
Bruno Romani

does the mls deserve it?

hell no!
CSD

I don't know about deserve, but the more international play MLS clubs can get, the better the product on the field will be.
James

I love mexican clubs, and each year I hate the MLS less.. (except Landon Donovan).. I'm sort of skeptical on whether or not they can compete against South American clubs.. but they should be given a chance.

Why can't the teams meet halfway? Like have New England host them in Texas or even Mexico.
Adam

I think the MLS is about 5-10 years from the level they'll want to be before they go to copa lib.
Ian Rose

Without being too harsh about my answer, I have to go with: No. The MLS does not deserve a Copa Libertadores slot. The league has to prove a year-in, year-out challenger in the CONCACAF Champions League, as the Mexican league has already proven, before looking outside of the confederation. This is something to think about for years down the road, but right now, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.