MLS: A Rising Tide or Imminent Embarrassment at the Club World Cup?

The Major League Soccer (MLS) has a less than impressive history when it comes to international tournaments. In its three decades of existence, MLS teams have clinched only three continental titles. However, recent years have shown a promising trend with MLS clubs featuring in six of the last eight Concacaf Champions Cup finals, with Seattle Sounders winning the 2022 edition. Yet, the recent 5-0 drubbing of the Vancouver Whitecaps by Mexico's Cruz Azul in this year's Concacaf Champions Cup final casts doubts again. This defeat was a significant blow to MLS's ambitions of becoming the leading league in North America. The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, where MLS representatives Inter Miami, LAFC, and Seattle Sounders will compete against global football giants, poses another stern test. The Club World Cup will pit the MLS teams against the likes of European champions Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and South American titans Flamengo and Palmeiras. The disparity in team quality and depth raises concerns about another poor performance by MLS teams on the international stage. Despite having some of football's biggest names in their roster, Inter Miami, for instance, has been urged to temper expectations. The team's head coach Javier Mascherano has been candid about the American league being far below the level of Club World Cup participants. The Club World Cup could be a double-edged sword for MLS. On one hand, it risks reinforcing the perception of MLS as a low-tier retirement league, especially if its teams perform poorly. On the other hand, a respectable performance could enhance MLS's reputation and help counter the retirement league narrative. For MLS, the stakes are high at the Club World Cup, but so are the potential rewards.