USA

Major League Soccer keeps on growing, and its progress continues to surprise its Commissioner, Don Garber, who is pleased with the American league's progress in recent years and how it has earned a place within the international football scene, deaspite the initial reservations.

"Years ago, the international football community barely acknowledged that we existed let alone rated us as having any sense that we knew what we were doing."

New stadium projects and the calibre of player that has reached the MLS lately, as well as the development of new stadiums, have drawn a large number of fans, positioning the MLS as one of the best leagues on the American Continent.

Don Garber highlighted the MLS's average attendance last season (22,000 fans per game) which was a league record in its 22-year existence.

"Over time there really has been a generational movement on the development of the soccer culture, we finally are creating this idea that the United States and Canada can be a place that can be really good for the development for all aspects of the game. So it's a good time to be in the soccer business."

Upcoming challenges

Don Garber mentioned the main goals the MLS has, the expansion of the league with two new franchises joining them next year, Nashville SC and Inter Miami, a team that has grabbed the spotlight given that it is owned by English soccer star, David Beckham.

The league is also seeking to consolidate itself in the sport and the financial side of the game, to the stage when it is considered one of the best in the world in terms of passion, fanbases, franchise value and quality of players.