MLS: Win or lose, CCL 2018 a turning point

MLS is enjoying a remarkable 2018 CONCACAF Champions League campaign. Win or lose, the success of the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC is a turning point in history.

We are only a month into the North American soccer calendar, and 2018 is already looking like a benchmark year for Major League Soccer. David Beckham’s entrance to the league in 2007 changed MLS for the better, but that era is over now. 2007 brought the star-power and awareness to the league, but the quality took a while to come. But in 2018, CONCACAF Champions League could provide the biggest moment in MLS history, even though it will not bring the headlines like Beckham did.

The CCL has always been a prestigious tournament. But it was not consistently treated like one. Since it’s rebirth in 2008, the CCL showcased the immense gap in quality within the region, so much so that the tournament became a formality for some clubs, on both sides of the gap.

Mexican sides dominated and knew early in the tournament that competition was weak. With a berth in the FIFA World Club Cup on the line, Liga MX teams shifted into second gear as the tournament went on, but in the early stages, second XIs were extremely prevalent. To portray their dominance, Liga MX sides boast all nine of the CCL trophies in the competition’s history.

On the losing end was MLS. In the past, clubs took differing attitudes towards the tournament, but suffered similar results. MLS coaches were left with a decision: Do they take this competition seriously and risk league play and fitness? Or do they solely focus on league play because they have a shot at MLS Cup?

SANDY, UT – APRIL 27: Nick Rimando /

In recent years, that sentiment changed. The 2011 Real Salt Lake and 2015 Montreal Impact teams made it to the final but were unable to lift the cup. But unlike those teams, who were the singular representatives for the league in the latter stages, it’s The New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC who carry the torch for MLS in the semi-finals of the tournament.

What’s changed?

In retrospect, the real problem for MLS wasn’t a lack of focus, conflicting fixtures or gruelling away dates; it was simply a lack of quality.

The tournament was restructured ahead of 2018, but that is not the reason for MLS’ success in this year’s tournament. It’s a mix of reasons: Targeted Allocation Money, a shift on player acquisition, and youth development. Through these factors, teams like the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC are both improved, giving them a better opportunity to compete in CCL.

In years prior to 2018, MLS clubs had starting XIs that could put out valiant efforts against Liga MX teams. But it always came down to whether or not the bench was talented enough. Can they play on the road in hostile atmospheres? Can they weather the storm when they have to?

Toronto FC did all of that in their tie against arguably one the best teams in CONCACAF history, Tigres. In the home leg, TFC convincingly played the game on their own terms, winning 2-1. Just a week later, they went down to Mexico and lost, but did all things necessary to win the tie on aggregate.

HARRISON, NJ – MARCH 13: New York Red Bulls midfielder Alejandro Romero Gamarra (10) celebrates (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Red Bulls, meanwhile, went to Tijuana and won 2-0, becoming the third team in CCL history to win a game in Mexico. In the second leg, they picked their spots and counter attacked their way to a 3-1 win. Oftentimes an MLS team was on the losing end of a 5-1 aggregate total, but not this time. The Red Bulls made history with a lineup mixed with youth and homegrown talent.

TAM, Better Talent, and Youth Development

Toronto has built a well oiled machine with no obvious weak points. We all know about Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley, but they alone cannot hoist an MLS Cup or CCL trophy. No longer is MLS in a position where 3 players can lead you to a title. Its the supporting cast that makes you a contender. One key player to Toronto’s success is Victor Vasquez, who’s salary was bought down by TAM. An injection of $2.8 million in TAM has given teams the ability to build well-rounded rosters, which was a glaring problem for MLS teams in the past.

TORONTO ON, – DECEMBER 09: Toronto FC Midfielder Victor Vasquez (7) (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

There isn’t another team in the league that does player development quite like the Red Bulls. What the Red Bulls do better than most is bridge the gap from development academy to the pros. They have heavily benefited from their investment in their USL Side, Red Bulls 2, which acts like reserve team, and the goal for the club is to become a hub for player development in the tri-state area. Talented players have given their services and then left to better leagues, giving Red Bull extra cash.

Homegrown starlet, Tyler Adams, is one player exemplifying the surge in American talent within MLS on an international stage. Showcasing talent bred in MLS will not only help the league itself, but change the narrative on the league in the region.

Both teams have strayed away from big-name signings who are over-the-hill, a strategy much of MLS is ditching. Instead, both teams buy young prospects or proven players in their prime looking for a new challenge. It is an approach that is now paying dividends on the international stage, one that is changing the landscape of CCL football.

MLS is one CCL Win Away From Exponential Growth

There’s a lot of work left for both the remaining teams. Nonetheless, this will prove to be the league’s most pivotal moment.

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Whether or not either team wins the tournament, the perception of MLS’ quality will get a boost around the Americas. The league is getting more attention, and slowly we are seeing an influx of South American talent choosing MLS to jump-start their careers. And that is exactly what MLS needs to be right now: a destination for players who want to showcase themselves and go elsewhere.

This not only helps the league’s validity, but also the league’s pockets who can then spread around even more TAM and DP spots in due course. A CCL win will force a conversation among the region’s pundits and hopefully begin to elevate the consciousness of the league among Latinos in the USA and Canada.

Homegrown talents are shining and competing against the region’s most talented players. MLS teams not in the tournament yearn to showcase themselves in CCL and make history. Mexican soccer pundits are beginning to take notice. And finally, the roster tools are there for MLS teams to beat Liga MX teams more than they ever were.

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Win or lose this tournament, things are changing. I have no crystal ball. I can’t tell the future. But what I can say is that MLS is on the precipice of a new era in it’s history.

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