MLS: Despite parity attempts, a new, finance-related elite developing

Unlike almost all other professional football leagues, MLS seeks parity between its teams. But despite those attempts, a new, finance-related elite is developing.

American sports pursue something called ‘parity’. It is rather unusual to the global sporting world, but in the North American sporting culture, it is rather normal.

This includes processes like reversing the draft order, introducing a salary cap, limiting the spending power of the richer organisations, and using roster designations which again restrict the number of great players can be hoarded by individual teams.

Major League Soccer, despite being a football league, a sport that predominantly does not believe — or at least exercises — parity, also tries to introduce this rather awkward, contorted and yet exciting and admirable characteristic.

However, this year, and many of the recent seasons, prove that parity has not really been achieved. In fact, there is an establishing elite that is beginning to dominate a league that has salary caps, roster designations, reversed draft order, and even playoffs, which were changed to single-elimination this year, just to increase the competitiveness and unpredictability of the results.

The final four teams in the MLS Playoffs this year were Atlanta United and Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference and the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC were in the Western Conference. The winners, Toronto and Seattle, will meet in MLS Cup next weekend. It is the third time they will contest MLS Cup in the last four years. LAFC are historically the greatest team in league history. Atlanta United won the Supporters’ Shield last season. These are the best teams in the league, and the difference between them and the rest is only growing.

And there is one crucial commonality between these four teams that should be acknowledged: they are the richest in the league, and despite MLS’ attempts to restrict the impact money has on the league, it is making a difference. A major one.

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In 2018, Forbes listed the richest clubs in MLS. The final four from this year all ranked in the top five. Second on the list is the Los Angeles Galaxy, the most successful team in MLS history, winning five MLS Cups and making nine appearances.

The following round out the top ten: the Portland Timbers, New York City FC, Orlando City, Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United. These, as I am sure you can tell, are some of the more successful teams in the league over the past few seasons, with NYCFC coming second in the Supporters’ Shield race.

This year, Toronto FC also had the highest payroll. They spent more on players than any other team in the league. And they are now in MLS Cup, as they have been for three of the last four years, as well as being the only team to complete the treble in 2017. Spending matters.

So while Major League Soccer may bid for parity, for fair competitiveness throughout the league, there is an elite group establishing themselves. Perhaps, then, like the remainder of the footballing world, it might be time for the league to embrace it.