This is one downside to the quality of play increasing in MLS: International breaks are not breaks for a lot of players at top clubs. Add a larger, compulsory Leagues Cup tournament to that and thereвЂ™s no way around it: this is a lot of soccer for MLS squads that for the most part are already thin on depth and first-team experience.ДЄs more and more MLS players earn international call-ups, the wear and tear on their bodies increases as well. Open Cup, and the Supporters Shield (plus whatever rivalry trophies were played for in derby fixtures). Prior to the introduction of the Leagues Cup, teams in MLS could compete for four trophies: MLS Cup, Concacaf Champions League, U.S. This all has me thinking about just how much soccer a league like MLS can reasonably play without fundamentally changing the way clubs, players, and fans approach the game. It is pretty clear that the league is driving to reach 32 teams to create two 16-team conferences. Louis are set to come into the league in 20, respectively, bringing the league to an unbalanced 29 teams. MLS is simultaneously expanding as quickly as cities and owners can build flashy new soccer-specific stadiums and putting more and more matches on the schedule.Д¬harlotte and St. And, if you were paying any attention during the Leagues Cup final in Las Vegas, you heard Don Garber announce a massive tournament involving every team from MLS and MexicoвЂ™s Liga MX starting in 2023.ДЄt the same time, MLS is set to expand even further, with the league coveting new markets like Las Vegas (you donвЂ™t think the Leagues Cup final was held there on a whim, do you?).

Meanwhile, there was the proposed European Super League and FIFAвЂ™s public pitch to stage a World Cup every two years instead of every four. Players broke down and depth was challenged and exposed throughout the season. A compressed MLS season was accompanied by an extensive World Cup Qualifying campaign, various federation championships, Concacaf Champions League, and Leagues Cup. Too many games, too close together, with too much travel. This MLS season has been, to my amateur eye, right on the verge. But for players and clubs, there has to be a limit out there. And it was great.ДЄs a fan, I donвЂ™t think there is really any such thing as too much soccer. I can safely say that I watched more soccer over the summer of 2021 than ever before. My morning routine started by checking what games were on television that day and then I settled in and watched as much as I possibly could.

Last summer was billed by one of the major sports networks as вЂњThe Summer of SoccerвЂќ and I was into it.

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