note: this is part of a series on the American world football takeover, for better context you can read part2, explaining the Global Super League here: https://alientalk.sport.blog/2019/03/06/forget-the-european-super-league-the-goal-is-a-global-super-league/ and part3 to hear my opinion on the European Super League here: https://alientalk.sport.blog/2019/03/06/a-young-american-explains-why-the-european-super-league-will-destroy-the-beautiful-game/
“THE EMPIRE’S GAME STRIKES BACK”
That was the original title of this series. It was my attempt to explain the history of soccer in the USA and why soccer will grow into the #1 or #2 sport in America, even surpassing the NFL and MLB. I was about 85% done writing the series until it hit me. I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.
America has taken over world soccer.
As a young American who spends most of my free time following world soccer, it was embarrassing to admit that I did not see the facts.
I FELT SO STUPID
I FELT SO BLINDSo now I will explain why America has taken over over world football, starting with my opinion on American soccer history.
Note: I use “soccer” and “world football” and “football” interchangably.
1850-1910Football was first created BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE. The sport was created by English commoners as a way to create communal unity. Communities formed social athletic clubs. Eventually, businesses would also form company football clubs.
Football was spread to American colleges as early as the 1870’s. However, anti-English sentiment and American Exceptionalism caused the sport to fall behind. The rules were adapted to form Gridiron Football, which would become the NFL. Football faded into obscurity.
1910-1930
American Soccer League: The First Chelsea/Man City/PSGEuropean immigrants continued to arrive in America’s atlantic region. They brought their love of football with them. Soon, community football clubs were formed. Businesses also formed company clubs. These clubs then formed the mostly professional American Soccer League (ASL). Despite the fact that soccer was a niche sport, the league was a startling success. Tens of thousands of fans filled stadiums to watch games.
The ASL clubs eventually became RICH, especially the company clubs. It also reflected the economic power of America.
ASL clubs would then flex their wealth and was able to lure top European talent with WORLD-RECORD WAGES.
Unfortunately, FIFA ruled that the transfers were ILLEGAL.
Unlike Manchester City and PSG, the American Soccer League was actually punished.
FIFA no longer recognized the ASL. The US Soccer Federation and ASL had to choose:
WITH or AGAINST FIFA? This tore the league apart.
Soon the Great Depression hit and infighting over FIFA support destroyed American professional soccer.
1960-1980s
The Civil Rights MovementIn the 1960s, America was transformed by the Civil Rights Movement. Basically, the movement was based on the pursuit of equal rights for all races and genders. It led to the landmark law Title IX. Title IX required colleges to provide equal funding for male and female college programs. Long story short, women turned to soccer and it became the leading women’s sport in colleges. Eventually, American women would become the best soccer team on Earth.
NASL: The floodgates openAmerica had become the world’s superpower in the 60s and 70s. The American capitalism model had spread around the world. Increasing globalism and the tolerance spread by the civil rights movement would mean that soccer became a hip, cool, trendy new sport for wealthy suburban America. Add that with the hardcore soccer fandom brought by immigrants.
American business took notice.
The stage was set for a distinctly American new soccer league.The North American Soccer League (NASL) was formed and based their league on signing old world legends such as Pele and Beckenbauer. The league was a closed league, with no promotion and relegation. Owners can buy a team or “franchise” and stayed in the league forever. ESPN and ABC broadcasted the games. NFL stadiums were sold out, filled by fans to watch those old legends. The legends soon retired and the league fell apart soon after.
The floodgates were now open. American and world business interests now saw the incredible potential of the American market for soccer.
FIFA and the World CupsThe end of the Soviet Union confirmed America as the world’s biggest power. American business interests convinced FIFA to bring the World Cup to the states.
The 1994 Men’s World Cup and 1999 Women’s World Cup were hosted by the USA. The tournaments were a historic success and broke every financial and attendance record for a World Cup.
The 1994 World Cup also forced Major League Soccer (MLS) into existence. The MLS is still the weirdest pro league in all of sports.
The MLS was created FOR THE OWNERS, BY THE OWNERS.
The league was a single-entity league, meaning that owners didn’t just buy a franchise, they bought a PORTION OF THE LEAGUE. It was a closed league with no promotion or relegation and really was the first league of its kind.
Teams were willed into existence without any history. MLS created the most strange and complex ruleset in sport to give the owners MAXIMUM CONTROL.
Despite the horrible on-field product, the league would become stable by attracting mainstream American owners and partners. There were also hardcore fans that not only supported specific teams, but also supported the growth of the entire soccer culture in America.
Internet and GlobalizationIn the 2000s, global capitalism and global use of the internet meant that it was now hip and cool for Americans to consume international media. It was now cool to be a soccer fan.
Some people were bored of mainstream American sports and culture.
Some turned to European football because the MLS just sucked.
Some wanted to be a part of a bigger, global community.
Some just liked the prestige of the Champions League and Premier League.
Personally, I grew up as a hardcore NBA and NFL fan. Long story short, I would fall in love with world soccer because it was the opposite of American sports.
American TakeoverIn 2007 the Glazers, an elite American family, bought Manchester United in a leveraged takeover. This meant that they had bought the biggest club in the world using capital from a loan borrowed AGAINST MAN UTD. It was shocking financial wizardry and most people had never even heard of a leveraged takeover.
American elites have long owned elite clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal, and Marseille.
Even the NFL owners realize that investing in world football might be the best long-term play.
I am guessing they see the writing on the wall as concussion and brain damage studies will reduce American football participation.
Legendary NFL players are telling their kids to stay away from American football.
Arthur Blank, the owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, owns MLS sensation Atlanta United.
Even “america first”, nationalist President Trump helped the USA land the 2026 World Cup. He helped despite the fact that it would also help Mexico and Canada.
This video showing the meeting between Trump, FIFA and US Soccer says it all: https://youtu.be/wr2yMmvArLs
Trump even states the media industry will go broke once he’s no longer President.
Don’t even get me started on America’s influence over FIFA. The main sales pitch of the 2026 American World Cup was money. The US sold the fact that they could generate record revenue and would turn the event into a research lab to find new ways to squeeze more money from fans. FIFA has completely bought in to the American model: “more money is always good, it does not matter where the money comes from.”
Even hardcore American soccer supporters criticize the US Soccer Federation for putting finances before the sport. The MLS Commissioner (public leader) also stated publicly that the world respects America’s commercial and financial work but not the play on the field.
America's Influence over MexicoMexico is a historic and traditional football nation. However, they have totally converted to the MLS- model. Liga MX has ended promotion and relegation. They have also adopted American-style cheer and dance teams!
International Champions Cup: The Beginning of the EndIn summer 2013, the biggest European football clubs arrived in America for the International Champions Cup (ICC). It was a summer friendly tournament played in sold out NFL stadiums that added more games to clubs’ schedules. Despite player and coach protest over fatigue and the lack of rest, the ICC has been an incredible success. Some teams made more money than the Champions League to play in 3-4 friendlies in the ICC. Soon after, the American chief executive of the ICC would convince Europe’s top clubs to breakaway from the Champions League and domestic leagues to form an ICC-style “super league”.
In America, sport has long been BY THE OWNERS, FOR THE OWNERS.
European Football was first founded BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE.
American influences now have HUGE influence over FIFA, probably more than any other nation. US businesses have long looked at European football as the next frontier to conquer, to show how quickly they can takeover anything they want. The biggest clubs in the world (Man Utd, Liverpool) have long been US owned businesses.
Even NFL owners have jumping on the world soccer bandwagon as it seems head injury research will likely end the NFL.
Poor European OwnersThe elite european clubs that want a European Super League are the biggest brands in the world, playing the world’s biggest sport. Despite that, half of the Super League teams are still worth less than EVERY NFL TEAM.
THE NFL ONLY DOES BUSINESS IN ONE COUNTRY.
You can see how these super clubs are dreaming of an MLS- type model and they could at least double their revenue in this model.
The Seed is PlantedFIFA and UEFA are going to say: ” This is just a simple evolution to the Champions League and Club World Cup”.
The Champions League will likely be reduced to 24 clubs, and the super clubs will be able to qualify based on “history” alone. The clubs say they will stay in the domestic leagues…… for now.
BUT IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH, IT WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH until these super clubs find every possible way to make more money. These clubs DO NOT want to share money with their domestic neighbors. They will want to have total control over all of their business, without UEFA oversight.
They WILL LEAVE the domestic leagues, that is inevitable.
The size and scope of a European Super League is nothing compared to what they really want:
a GLOBAL SUPER LEAGUE. ……………..Hint: a “global MLS-type” league.
The American model has conquered European football, just like everything else.
Forget the European Super League, the endgoal is a GLOBAL SUPER LEAGUE: The American World Football Invasion: Series Part 2 of 3
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