MLS is Back: 3 things we learned from tournament draw

1. This was not a random draw

As you might have worked out, this draw was not random. It was rigged from the start. From the moment that Inter Miami were handed a place in Group A to face Orlando City to take part in the tournament opener in their home state, it was clear what was happening: MLS concocted the draw as it saw fit to produce the best television ratings.

This points to the primary — and almost sole — reason this tournament is happening: money. MLS lost $1 billion in revenue. Disney, who own ESPN, will have also lost vast sums, while ESPN also needs live sport to put on its channels, something that MLS can now provide them.

It was quite obvious that this was the case. What is utterly unacceptable and immoral, however, is to then frame this tournament as something else. This is not a fair competition. It is not a random draw. It does not really matter who wins or loses and it absolutely makes the league look like a total farce.

The ‘draw’ was done to maximise revenue. And that is okay, had MLS simply come out and said as much. But it didn’t, and instead, we are left looking at a ridiculous draw that is entirely untrue.