<p>Saturday’s USL Championship game between Louisville City and Indy Eleven created history as the first USL game shown on over-the-air network television in the United States. Ultimately, it pulled a larger national TV audience than an MLS derby on FOX. </p>



<p>In the goal-fest, Louisville City defeated Indy 5-3. The game was available on CBS as part of its <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/what-usls-media-deal-with-cbs-sports-means-for-us-soccer-20231107-WST-467798.html">new broadcast deal</a> with the league. </p>



<p>In total, CBS announced a total viewership of 362,000. That is an impressive figure for a Division Two game. It also provides a metric to show the popularity of the USL Championship in the United States. By comparison, the MLS game of the week on US TV did not match the viewership numbers for CBS and the USL.</p>



<p>Los Angeles FC battled LA Galaxy in the latest edition of <em>El Trafico</em>, certainly a marquee matchup among the Major League Soccer fixtures. The audience on FOX was 211,000 for Saturday evening’s game. Several factors could have contributed to this relatively lower number for MLS. Kickoff was at 7:45 p.m. ET, which means American audiences may have been watching other events. That includes other MLS games at the time or the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four. However, FOX may not have advertised this game to the best of their ability despite the grandeur of the derby clash. </p>



<p>Much like previous MLS games the over-the-air FOX network, the FOX viewership does not include the viewership of <a href="https:\/\/tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">MLS Season Pass</a>. This should have been the biggest game of the weekend for viewers on MLS Season Pass from Apple, which shows that devout MLS fans may have been watching on the subscription service. </p>



<h2>USL Championship makes headway with national TV audience</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Delighted to see USL scoring an impressive viewing audience (362,000) for its historic first-ever game on network television (CBS).<br><br>MLS on FOX got 211,000 for El Trafico. TNT had 393,000 for USWNT vs Japan <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/loucity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#loucity</a> 🟣⚪<a href="https:\/\/t.co/VB5oHiq7wg">pic.twitter.com/VB5oHiq7wg</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1777787745529745636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2024</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>All of those factors considered, the audience figures on national TV are a major triumph for the USL Championship. Louisville City has long been one of the best clubs in the second division in American soccer, and this shows that fans would want to tune in to watch their games. As the USL season is only a handful of games in, excitement may have been at its peak for this game. </p>



<p>Yet, CBS has developed a measure of success for what its broadcast deal with the league can look like. There are no games on the immediate schedule that will return to the national CBS TV network, but the broadcaster will have games available on the CBS Sports Network. That can be a benefit for the USL, which is working to break the hegemony of Major League Soccer in the United States.</p>



<p>For MLS, the national TV audience remains a concern. Apple does not release subscription information, which makes it hard to gauge how successful MLS Season Pass is for American audiences. While Apple has said it is comfortable with where the subscriptions are at, the national TV games are a rare opportunity for any fan to watch MLS. Those fans did not tune in despite Saturday’s game featuring one of the best rivalries in Major League Soccer.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO</em></p>

USL Championship beats MLS in national TV audience

This weekend's USL Championship fixture between Louisville City and Indy Eleven pulled a larger national TV audience than an MLS derby on FOX.

<p>Audio leaks discussing the confrontation between Monterrey and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> have shed light on what Lionel Messi and Tata Martino said. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fine-soon-messi-and-inter-miami-clash-with-monterrey-boss/">feisty exchange</a> happened after Monterrey came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the MLS club at Chase Stadium. Now, Inter Miami must overcome a one-goal deficit to reach the semifinals of the competition. Messi did not play in that game, but he was in attendance when Miami fell to the Mexican side.</p>



<p>Audio has now come out from Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sanchez. The coach went into detail on the altercation and how it stemmed from Messi and Martino taking offense to the referees on the night. </p>



<p>“When I’m at the door to the locker room I see Messi three meters from where I am,” Sanchez said. “I approach him to ask for a photo, his security, in good spirits, stops me, and I notice Messi is heated. Right then, the referees were coming in, and Messi gets in their face and tells them off. And next to him was Tata Martino. Both were very out of pocket. If we did that, they’d send us to hell.”</p>



<p>Sanchez is alleging to the fact that if Monterrey and its coaching staff or players harangued the officials after the game CONCACAF would not hesitate to stomp the Mexican side. The assistant coach said as much to CONCACAF officials in the tunnel area where this all happened. That is when Martino and Messi overheard Sanchez’s comments, and the coach went into detail on the emotions of the two Argentines. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240408_WST_500083_Messi-Monterrey-1200x670_f0549bb5.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-500109" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Monterrey-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Monterrey-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Monterrey-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Monterrey.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Monterrey coach calls Messi a dwarf, Martino dumb</h2>



<p>“Officials from Concacaf were there and I told them, if we were to do that, they’d kick us all out. When I said that, Tata Martino who was going into the locker room turned around and started yelling at me, and Messi appeared and wanted to eat me alive! His security approached but didn’t do anything because I didn’t react. The dwarf was possessed, he had the face of the devil. He put his fist next to my face and said, ‘Who do you think you are?’ But because I didn’t look at him, I was looking away, I never answered back, it made things worse.</p>



<p>“And Tata Martino, what a poor dummy, I had him in front of me telling me, ‘Fool, you going to cry? Fool you going to cry?’ What a dummy!”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨💣 Bombshell Audio Leak from Monterrey Asst. Coach Nico Sanchez on his supposed altercation with Messi and Tata postgame Wednesday night‼️<br><br>💥 “Yes, Messi wanted to fight with me, I don’t think he wanted to hit me because if he did he would’ve just hit me. He had me a cm away… <a href="https://t.co/hqhRoBk5DG">pic.twitter.com/hqhRoBk5DG</a></p>— Messi and Co. (@MessiandCo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MessiandCo/status/1776648351754137804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Sanchez concluded his rant by saying Inter Miami likely had all videos and records wiped because it would make the club and its Argentine star look bad. In fairness, there is no video of the altercation, only eyewitness reports that can differ in their veracity and validity. </p>



<p>In any case, the off-field drama adds intrigue to this game on Wednesday evening. Inter Miami has the biggest game of its season so far. Coverage of the CONCACAF Champions Cup clash is available via Fox Sports 1 and TUDN in the United States. Based on his appearance in MLS play this past weekend, Messi will be available for the second leg. </p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Angry Messi: Monterrey allegedly calls star 'possessed dwarf'

Audio leaks discussing the confrontation between Monterrey and Inter Miami have shed light on what Lionel Messi and Tata Martino said.

<p>Inter Miami continues to suffer from players suffering injury. Lionel Messi dominated the headlines with his lingering knocks that ruled him out for almost one month. He finally returned to play a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/inter-miami-still-winless-despite-messis-return-from-injury/">crucial role in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw</a> at home against the Colorado Rapids. However, the club is still dealing with injuries to nine other players.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> continues to suffer from players suffering injury. Lionel Messi dominated the headlines with his lingering knocks that ruled him out for almost one month. He finally returned to play a crucial role in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw at home against the Colorado Rapids. However, the club is still dealing with injuries to nine other players.</p>



<p>There is not yet confirmation on injuries to Leonardo Afonso and Leonardo Campana, but both may have picked up recent hamstring injuries. In addition to those two, three more players are battling hamstring injuries. Then, the other four players dealing with injury at Inter Miami are nursing knee knocks. Some of these are more serious than others. For example, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/blow-for-messi-and-miami-how-long-will-facundo-farias-be-out-20240121-WST-484866.html">Facundo Farias tore his left ACL</a> in January. By comparison, Yannick Bright was not in the squad against Colorado despite playing in the two previous MLS games for Miami.</p>



<p>The lack of so many players has clearly affected Inter Miami’s form. The team with the highest expectations in Major League Soccer has picked up two wins in its last eight games in all competitions. The recent draw at home against the Colorado Rapids depended on Lionel Messi to pull the side back into the contest. Messi’s injury and absence played a role in the poor run of form, but it speaks volumes that Inter Miami cannot maintain its players’ fitness levels.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240408_WST_500069_Messi-Miami-return-1200x670_df5521a5.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-500079" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Miami-return-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Miami-return-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Miami-return-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-Miami-return.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>What caused the injury crisis at Inter Miami?</h2>



<p>Several factors go into a club’s status with injuries. Luck plays a role, as Sergiy Kryvstov played earlier in the season without a hitch before missing the last two games. Other times, injuries are the product of past issues. Facundo Farias tore a ligament in his knee in September 2022 while playing for Colon. Players are far more likely to suffer knee injuries if they have already dealt with those issues in the past.</p>



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<p>However, one thing that needs to be considered, particularly with so many hamstring injuries, is the overuse of players during the preseason. Of all the MLS clubs, Inter Miami played by far the most diverse array of pre-season friendlies. The international desire to watch Lionel Messi took Inter Miami to Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, El Salvador and around the United States.</p>



<p>While other clubs played seven friendlies like Inter Miami, many of these were at home or other MLS venues. Having played internationally, Inter Miami is away from its usual facilities. Plus, all the travel between continents does not benefit recovery. Inter Miami played a flurry of games in late January and February straight into a busy MLS season.</p>



<p>That has not blended well with Inter Miami’s status in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The introduction of continental competition has brought more games for Inter Miami. With injuries mounting, Tata Martino has lost the ability to adequately rotate his squad to prevent further injuries. That is why the recent knock to Robert Taylor, for example, is especially concerning.</p>



<p>Inter Miami is heading into a must-win game in Mexico this week in the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in Monterrey. Lionel Messi is coming back, and he will be available after missing the first leg. He will lead a weakened squad in Mexico.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>



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Inter Miami injury concerns go well beyond just Lionel Messi

Inter Miami continues to suffer from players suffering injury. Lionel Messi dominated the headlines with his lingering knocks.

<p>Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber certainly stokes the fire when it comes to controversial statements about the American top flight. However, one thing Garber nailed was that MLS faces stiff competition when trying to lure TV viewership to the United States. The litany of European leagues have considerable followings in the United States, and that saps potential audiences from watching <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">MLS Season Pass</a>.</p>



<p>Take this upcoming weekend as an example. It is matchday seven in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a>. That brings several major fixtures that fans can look forward to. <em>El Trafico</em> between LA Galaxy and LAFC highlights the next two days of matches. Also, FC Cincinnati faces New York Red Bulls in a game involving two teams on fine form to start the season.</p>



<p>While those games will pique the interest of some, MLS still faces an uphill challenge in rivaling the popularity of foreign leagues. The Premier League remains the most popular soccer league for viewers in the United States. This weekend, those MLS games will have to go up against a game between Manchester United and Liverpool, two of the most popular clubs in the world. Also this weekend, fans can watch the Old Firm in Scotland, the Copa del Rey Final, and the Derby de Lisboa between Sporting CP and Benfica. </p>



<p>The one saving grace is that all of the MLS games at the weekend are in the evening. Thirteen out of this weekend’s 14 games are on Saturday between 7:30 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. ET. They do not directly overlap with games in Europe thanks to the time differences. Yet, by that time, many of the soccer fans may be ‘soccer-ed out,’ as it were. They may feel that, after watching so many games in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, or other leagues, it is time to take a break from TV. Or, to watch something else.</p>



<h2>Can MLS stand out against other TV competition?</h2>



<p>The main issue centers around two things. On one hand, soccer fans have deep fandoms that center around one or two clubs. For example, an Arsenal fan may want to watch Liverpool and Manchester City games in addition to Gunners’ contests to see if the side’s title rivals drop points. Major League Soccer may not have the same fandom as clubs across the pond, and that comes from things like talent, ability, and the magnitude of games.</p>



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<p>The other challenge for Major League Soccer comes down to the quality of the competition. The American top flight has certainly developed the quality of its players. This goes beyond the introduction of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, or any other players on the older side of their careers in the league. </p>



<p>Many of the league’s young stars who have developed make it more exciting. Thiago Almada at Atlanta United, Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar and American international Jesus Ferreira have made a home in MLS. As seen with the concentration on Lionel Messi, though, these players may not be the driving force MLS needs. The star power of the league outside of Messi will fail to go up against European leagues. Even worse, Messi continues to battle injuries. Apple and MLS are not benefiting from his absences.</p>



<h2>Domestic opposition</h2>



<p>Garber said previously in 2013 that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/don-garber-complains-theres-too-much-soccer-on-tv-wants-nfl-model-instead-20130426-CMS-71019.html">competing with Europe and Mexico</a> mandated Major League Soccer find a niche.</p>



<p>“I think all of us have got to figure out a way to narrow that window so you can get a situation like the NFL has, a couple of days a week, short schedule, something that’s very compelling and very targeted,” Garber said.</p>



<p>Well, that is what MLS has now. The aforementioned compact schedule of games this weekend is what Garber had in mind. However, even if this skirts the European leagues, other games earlier in the day may take the specifically American attention of fans.</p>



<p>The United States Women’s National Team returns to action this weekend with highly anticipated games in the SheBelieves Cup. On the bright side for Major League Soccer’s sake, the USWNT is playing Japan at 12:30 p.m. ET, well before the MLS games kick off on Saturday evening.</p>



<p>MLS is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-secretive-apple-requiring-mls-to-sign-ndas-20230724-WST-444961.html">hesitant to release its viewing numbers</a> on MLS Season Pass from Apple. Consequently, there will be no way to determine how much of a breakthrough MLS has in the American market. </p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>



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Garber gets one thing right: MLS has too much TV competition

Previously, Don Garber said there is too much soccer for Americans. That is valid, but can MLS overcome this TV competition?

destacadas

<p>Mexico’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/liga-mx-tv-schedule/">Liga MX</a> has jumped back in front of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> in recent worldwide power rankings. The United States/Canadian league previously took the 10th spot in Opta’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-breaks-into-top-10-strongest-leagues-in-the-world/">worldwide ratings</a> in late March. This climb up the charts meant that MLS moved ahead of Liga MX in the rankings. The Mexican league has typically been CONCACAF’s top division in recent years.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/top-soccer-leagues-in-the-world/">new ratings</a> by the British sports analytics firm have since been released. According to Opta, MLS has dropped three spots in the standings. As a result of the movement, Liga MX is now back above the American league. Liga MX is now 11th overall in the company’s ratings. The Russian Premier League has also edged out MLS in the rankings as well.</p>



<h2>Liga MX teams undefeated against MLS rivals in Champions Cup</h2>



<p>The swap in the standings is generally attributed to recent results in the 2024 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/concacaf-champions-league-tv-schedule/">CONCACAF Champions Cup</a>. The competition is currently in the quarterfinal stage. At the moment, four Liga MX teams and three MLS sides fill out the tournament. Costa Rican club Herediano also qualified for the final eight teams in the competition.</p>



<p>Although the remaining clubs are practically split between Liga MX and MLS, the Mexican sides have been dominant over the United States-based teams. Clubs from the two leagues have so far faced off 11 total times in the competition and Liga MX teams are yet to lose any of these matchups. This impressive form includes MLS sides losing seven of the fixtures, while only picking up four draws in the remaining games.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240404_WST_499307_Miami-Monterrey-Champions-Cup-1200x670_49185eec.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499378" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Miami-Monterrey-Champions-Cup-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Miami-Monterrey-Champions-Cup-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Miami-Monterrey-Champions-Cup-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Miami-Monterrey-Champions-Cup.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>The three remaining MLS teams are also in a precarious place in the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/club-america-tv-schedule/">Club America</a> thumped the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/new-england-revolution-tv-schedule/">New England Revolution</a> 4-0 in Massachusetts on Tuesday night. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> then dropped a home match against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/monterrey-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Monterrey</a> on Wednesday as well. </p>



<p>The MLS side was without Lionel Messi and Monterrey scored both of their goals in the game after Miami’s David Ruiz was sent off. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/columbus-crew-tv-schedule-the-crew/">Columbus Crew</a> was the only American club not to suffer defeat in the stage so far, as they drew at home against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/tigres-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Tigres</a>. </p>



<h2>Americans dominated the 2023 Leagues Cup</h2>



<p>Although the MLS teams will get a chance to redeem themselves in the return legs in Mexico, things are not working out in the competition so far. The Americans previously touted their success over their Mexican counterparts thanks to the 2023 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/leagues-cup-tv-schedule/">Leagues Cup</a>. MLS teams filled six of the eight quarterfinalists and three of four seminal sides in the tournament. In the end, the final was played between Miami and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/nashville-sc-tv-schedule-watch-the-boys-in-gold/">Nashville</a>, two MLS clubs.</p>



<p>The previous competition, however, was a bit skewed to help the Americans. After all, every single fixture was played last summer at the homes of MLS teams. However, Liga MX is currently taking it to their rivals from the north on a more level playing field. If MLS is to once again jump back ahead of Liga MX in Opta’s ratings, American teams are going to have to make a major comeback in the Champions Cup tournament.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Champions Cup shows MLS is still considerably behind Liga MX

Liga MX clubs are currently undefeated against MLS teams in 11 matchups of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

<p>A consortium headed by a former official of the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes is pursuing land in Mesa law amendments to bring more soccer. One of their goals is to see whether the Phoenix region can host a professional stadium, and thus a club. If the measure were to succeed, it would bypass the city of Phoenix in its financing of a mixed-use complex.</p>



<p>Beginning in March 2022 and ending in December 2023, Nick Sakiewicz oversaw the Arizona Coyotes’ business operations. Last month, he spoke in favor of a strike-everything amendment before the Senate Government Committee in Arizona.</p>



<p>He spoke on the proposed law that would alter the state’s approval process for amusement parks and sports entertainment complexes by making it simpler to establish theme park districts. Joe Hoffman, a state senator, proposed the measure.</p>



<h2>What is a strike-everything amendment?</h2>



<p>To get around a deadline for introducing new legislation, a strike-everything amendment simply substitutes new language—possibly on an entirely unrelated subject—for the whole text of an existing bill. Theme park districts are a particular kind of taxing district that, if passed into law, would alter the procedures for creating such districts.</p>



<p>Such districts may impose a sales tax of up to nine percent on goods and services sold inside its borders. The developer may pay off debt incurred throughout the development process using such funds.</p>



<p>With a majority vote, the committee would send the measure to the full Senate for consideration. It would have allowed counties to create such districts even without the consent of the local governments.</p>



<p>Additional theme park districts inside a county would also be possible under this proposal. However, there is no indication that the Senate will consider this measure anytime soon, says the <a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/04/01/arizona-coyotes-arena-legislation?hl=Arizona+legislation+could+help+Coyotes+arena+financing,+bring+top-level+soccer+to+Phoenix+area&amp;sc=0&amp;publicationSource=search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sports Business Journal</a>. It would need a House vote and approval from Governor Katie Hobbs for the measure to become law when it passes the Senate.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240404_WST_499317_Phoenix-Rising-1200x670_54eeabe2.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499363" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Phoenix-Rising-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Phoenix-Rising-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Phoenix-Rising-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Phoenix-Rising.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Sakiewicz is part of a group looking at undeveloped property in Mesa as a potential location for professional soccer clubs. Johnson-Stewart Materials now owns the gravel pit that SBJ claims might be used as the site. </p>



<h2>Change in Arizona law could bring professional soccer to area</h2>



<p>According to what he told SBJ, the organization is looking into possibilities. Nonetheless, they aren’t limiting themselves to professional soccer as a possible growth option. He also added that The Pinebrook Group will contact <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">MLS</a> and the NWSL to discuss hosting expansion clubs.</p>



<p>“It’s perfect timing for one of those or both of those leagues to land here,” he said. In addition to hosting international matches, Sakiewicz said that the arena may potentially house the USL Championship club Phoenix Rising. They currently play in a temporary facility, as a tenant or partner.</p>



<p>However, their president Bobby Dulle was quick to dispel such rumors.</p>



<p>“Phoenix Rising FC has not had any conversations with Sakiewicz. The city of Phoenix has been a great partner to us. </p>



<p>“One year ago, we opened our doors in Phoenix for the first time and drew a franchise record, 10,437 fans. This central location and our proximity to the Valley Metro light rail gives Rising the best chance to continue to grow its fan base at this time.”</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Arizona law may help bring soccer stadium to Phoenix area

A consortium headed by a former official of the Arizona Coyotes is pursuing land and law reform to bring more professional soccer.

<p>One of the soccer fans’ favorite things to debate is how strong one league is compared to another. A club winning La Liga, such as Real Madrid this season, is not the same task as one of the three clubs battling it out in the Premier League. Given the differences in the quality of the opposition and the fact that these are domestic leagues, it is nearly impossible to directly compare leagues.</p>



<p>One way to compare the two is to use Opta’s power rankings. Opta, a British sports analytics firm, assigns an ability score to each team worldwide. On this scale, the top team in the world, Manchester City, has an ability score of 100. By contrast, the worst team in the world has an ability score of zero. Clubs earn points on their <a href="https://theanalyst.com/na/2023/01/power-rankings-your-club-ranked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elo rating</a> by beating teams ranking higher than them. Consequently, losing to teams with a lower rating deducts more points from a side’s ability score.</p>



<p>It is a vastly technical process that the number wizards at Opta have been practicing for some time. While there will never be a perfect way to analyze clubs and leagues across competitions, this is perhaps the best holistic approach.</p>



<h2>The top 30 men’s soccer leagues in the world</h2>



<p>The following ratings are the average club rating for every team in a domestic league as of April 3, 2024. These numbers constantly change with the world’s leagues in action. With continental competition, for example, these numbers change often.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>RANK</td><td>LEAGUE</td><td>AVERAGE CLUB RATING</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>87.59</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>84.8</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>84.7</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>84.3</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>83.6</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>77.47</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>English Championship</td><td>76.38</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>76.12</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>La Liga 2 (Segunda)</td><td>75.48</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>75.31</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>75.16</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>75.15</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Major League Soccer</td><td>75.1</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>74.81</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>74.79</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>74.54</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>74.53</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>74.39</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>74.21</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL Croatia</td><td>74.03</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>73.49</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>73.39</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>72.99</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>72.18</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First Division</td><td>72.08</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>72.01</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech First League</td><td>71.81</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>70.76</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>70.25</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>69.41</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>If you need any indication of how fast these rankings can change, look no further than two weeks prior. Again, these rankings apply specifically to April 3, 2024. On March 26, 2024, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-breaks-into-top-10-strongest-leagues-in-the-world/">Major League Soccer cracked the top 10</a>. Now, it is no longer the highest-rated league in North America. Instead, that honor belongs to Liga MX. </p>



<p>Since those rankings from just a few weeks ago, Liga MX sides have had strong results against Major League Soccer in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240403_WST_499198_Club-America-New-England-1200x670_16a60e5c.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-499228" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Club-America-New-England.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Averages ranked among the top soccer leagues in the world</h2>



<p>Looking at the above chart, certain teams from those leagues prop up each of those leagues. The Eredivisie is one example. PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord rank in the top 40 clubs in the world. However, those two clubs are dragged down by Vitesse, Excelsior and Volendam. None of those clubs creep into the top 900 clubs in the world. Consequently, the league’s average ranks it as No. 15 in the world. </p>



<p>On the other hand, having a compact league can help the rankings. Major League Soccer shows that, as the highest-ranking team is the Columbus Crew, at No. 145. Twenty-five of MLS’s 29 teams are inside the top 500 clubs in the world That greatly helps the league’s positioning on average.</p>



<p>That said, here are the top clubs from each of those divisions to get a grasp on where they fall. The league rank on the left side is where the average falls. As a result, the best club’s rating will not follow numerical order.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>League Rank</td><td>League</td><td>Best rated club</td><td>Best club’s rating</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>Manchester City</td><td>100</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>Real Madrid</td><td>97.5</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>Inter Milan</td><td>97.3</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>Bayer Leverkusen</td><td>94</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>PSG</td><td>95.2</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>Sporting CP</td><td>89.7</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Championship</td><td>Leeds</td><td>83.6</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>Kobenhavn</td><td>82.6</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Segunda Division</td><td>Eibar</td><td>78.5</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>Palmeiras</td><td>80.6</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>Club America</td><td>83.1</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>Zenit</td><td>82.8</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>MLS</td><td>Columbus Crew</td><td>79.6</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>Young Boys</td><td>80.8</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>PSV Eindhoven</td><td>88.6</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>Fenerbahce</td><td>86</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>River Plate</td><td>80.8</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>St. Pauli</td><td>80.4</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>RB Salzburg</td><td>86.3</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL (Croatia)</td><td>Dinamo Zagreb</td><td>82</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>Ulsan</td><td>78</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>Vissel Kobe</td><td>78.4</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>Bodo/Glimt</td><td>82.6</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>Malmo FF</td><td>77.8</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First division</td><td>APOEL</td><td>79.7</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>Al Hilal</td><td>86.4</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech</td><td>Slavia Praha</td><td>83.7</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>PAOK</td><td>81.3</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>Rangers</td><td>83.1</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>Rakow Czestochowa</td><td>79.1</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Looking at the ‘best of the worst’ clubs in each league</h2>



<p>It would also be fair to see the bottom half of these extremes to even out.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>League</td><td>Worst rated club</td><td>Worst club’s rating</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Premier League</td><td>Sheffield United</td><td>79.3</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>La Liga</td><td>Almeria</td><td>76.5</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Serie A</td><td>Salernitana</td><td>76.5</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bundesliga</td><td>Darmstadt 98</td><td>76.6</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Ligue 1</td><td>Metz</td><td>76.8</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Primeira Liga</td><td>Portimonense</td><td>70.9</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Championship</td><td>Rotherham United</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Superligaen</td><td>Hvidovre</td><td>69.5</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Segunda Division</td><td>Villarreal II</td><td>71.3</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Brasileirao</td><td>Criciuma</td><td>72.7</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Liga MX</td><td>Juarez</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Russian Premier League</td><td>Sochi</td><td>71.2</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>MLS</td><td>Toronto FC</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Swiss Super League</td><td>Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy</td><td>69.6</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Eredivisie</td><td>Volendam</td><td>66.5</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Turkish Super Lig</td><td>Istanbulspor</td><td>66.7</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Argentine Primera</td><td>Tigre</td><td>70.1</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2. Bundesliga</td><td>Hansa Rostock</td><td>70.2</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Austrian Bundesliga</td><td>Austria Lustenau</td><td>67.1</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>HNL (Croatia)</td><td>Rudes</td><td>65.5</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>K League</td><td>Suwon</td><td>68.6</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>J League</td><td>Sagan Tosu</td><td>69.8</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Eliteserien</td><td>Sandefjord</td><td>68.7</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Allsvenskan</td><td>Halmstad</td><td>68.5</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Cyprus First division</td><td>AE Zakakiou</td><td>63.6</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Saudi Pro League</td><td>Al Hazm</td><td>65.7</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Czech</td><td>Ceske Budejovice</td><td>65.4</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Greek Super League</td><td>Kifisia</td><td>63.5</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Scottish Premiership</td><td>Livingston</td><td>62.6</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Ekstraklasa</td><td>Lks Lodz</td><td>67.4</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Opta Sports Analytics - Behind The Scenes And Interviews With The Sports Data Mavens" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ySlAzS8Oouw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>

Top soccer leagues in the world as ranked by Opta

The top soccer leagues in the world are nearly impossible to be ranked accurately. One metric provides insight as to where they stand.

Top soccer leagues in the world as ranked by Opta - World Soccer Talk

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<p>Apple’s MLS Season Pass could very well soon be available for soccer fans in China. The streaming service is the current home of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> here in North America. The top flight previously agreed to a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal to exclusively broadcast all MLS and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/leagues-cup-tv-schedule/">Leagues Cup</a> games.</p>



<p>MLS Season Pass is currently accessible in a plethora of countries around the world. Nevertheless, China is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/countries-where-mls-season-pass-isnt-available-20230726-WST-439842.html">not one of these nations</a> at the moment. This, however, could change in the coming months according to a new report. <em><a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apples-vision-pro-gets-boost-from-chinas-media-kingmaker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Information</a></em> claims that Apple hasn’t launched any subscription or media services in China since 2017 because “it has faced rising government restrictions on its existing businesses, such as iCloud.” </p>



<p>The news outlet goes on to add that Apple is now pursuing ways to launch its content services, such as Apple TV+, in China. Apple TV+ is not exactly the same as MLS Season Pass, but they are closely related. If Apple does extend into China shortly, MLS Season Pass would certainly be involved in the move.</p>



<h2>Apple looking to expand business as iPhone sales plummet</h2>



<p>While the streaming service is not currently available in China, Apple does currently sell their iPhones in the country. Despite being the second-largest market in the world behind the United States, iPhone sales have fallen dramatically in recent months. Bloomberg recently reported that shipments of the smartphone to China were down 33% compared to the previous year.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240402_WST_498877_Messi-China-MLS-1200x670_d047a25b.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-498897" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-China-MLS-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-China-MLS-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-China-MLS-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Messi-China-MLS.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>As a result of falling phone sales, Apple would love to create additional revenue in the lucrative Chinese market. Despite the previous concerns, launching Apple TV+, as well as MLS Season Pass, in China would unquestionably give the tech company a significant financial boost.</p>



<p>China’s overall population has surpassed 1.4 billion and much like the U.S., soccer is growing in the Asian nation. It was <a href="https://gitnux.org/most-popular-sports-in-china/#:~:text=Soccer%20is%20identified%20as%20the,leagues%20among%20the%20Chinese%20audience." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> back in 2020 that 600 million people in China watched the English Premier League. The opportunity for MLS to expand its audience and reach these fans is an opportunity too good to pass up.</p>



<p></p><table class="table5" style="border: 5px solid red;">
<tbody>
<tr class="table5" style="width:100%">
<td style="width:70%">
<center><h4>Our Pick:</h4>
Includes: Every regular season game, MLS Cup Playoffs, Leagues Cup, &amp; More</center>
</td>
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<h2>MLS worries about recent PR disaster in Hong Kong</h2>



<p>At the same time, there will be concerns about the reception Lionel Messi and MLS could face in China after the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/messi-posts-video-to-explain-his-side-of-the-hong-kong-story-20240219-WST-490555.html">PR disaster</a> that happened in Hong Kong. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> previously played a friendly in Hong Kong during their preseason preparations. The Argentine superstar traveled with his team. Most fans expected Messi to feature in the game. Nevertheless, Messi never made it off of the bench and later revealed that he was dealing with a minor injury.</p>



<p>Despite the injury, Messi managed to play in Japan just a few days later. As a result, Hong Kong fans were left furious that they paid high prices for the game, only for the star to not even play. Match organizers eventually offered a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/messi-no-show-results-in-hong-kong-promoter-losing-money-20240209-WST-488590.html">50% refund</a> to the complaining fans. </p>



<p>World Soccer Talk reached out to Apple on the issue, but the spokesperson was unavailable for comment.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>



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<h3>Guide to Major League Soccer</h3>
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Here are some resources to help you get the most out of MLS Season Pass!</div>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-get-mls-season-pass-20230203-WST-417725.html"><strong>Sign up:</strong></a> Learn <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-get-mls-season-pass-20230203-WST-417725.html">how to subscribe</a> to MLS Season Pass</div>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-announcers-and-analysts-for-apple-deal-20230203-WST-416042.html"><strong>Commentators:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/mls-season-pass-announcers-and-analysts-for-apple-deal-20230203-WST-416042.html">who&apos;s</a> calling the action for the MLS season</div>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-watch-mls-season-pass-on-android-20230203-WST-416910.html"><strong>Android users</strong></a> Tips for fans <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-watch-mls-season-pass-on-android-20230203-WST-416910.html">Android users</a> on how to watch MLS Season Pass</div></div>

Messi and MLS Season Pass may be coming to China

Apple is looking to expand its business in China by making MLS Season Pass available for soccer fans in the Asian nation.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Major League Soccer" - Page 8

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