5 Steps MLS Must Take to Be Among World’s Best Leagues by 2022

Soccer continues to grow in the United States, and Major League Soccer is a big reason why. It has consistently gained fans over the years, and that shows no sign of slowing down.However, the MLS is still not considered an elite league around the world. Over the next 10 years they hope to change that perception. It is a tall task, but one that is not as impossible as some may believe.Parity is starting to become more and more prevalent around the globe. That will allow the MLS to close the gap and show that their squads are joining the ranks of the other important clubs across the globe.Here are five things that the MLS has to have happen in order to be considered among the elite.Begin Slideshow

MLS Power Rankings: Week 2

The second weekend of play in Major League Soccer kicked off in Toronto and closed in San Jose, and in between we saw plenty of surprising results. The most surprising result came in Portland when the Montreal Impact continued their hot start to the season by beating their second opponent from Cascadia in two weeks. With three of the top teams in the league given the weekend off to prepare for the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, the highest profile result came in San Jose on Sunday night when the Red Bulls handed the Earthquakes a victory. Here is how the power rankings look after the second week of the MLS season. Begin Slideshow

MLS: 8 Things We Learned from the Weekend Games

Week 2 of MLS is in the books, and it did not help tip the scales in terms of which conference is superior, the East or the West.Of the six games played between teams from opposite conferences, there was an even spilt in terms of wins and losses—three wins for each respective coast. There were no ties this week; each game provided a winner. The highest-scoring team was Chivas USA. The Goats netted three times in their 3-1 victory over FC Dallas. This was also the only game won by more than a one-goal margin.Toronto FC's Robert Earnshaw was the leading scorer for the weekend. His brace helped secure the Reds' first three points of the season.The results leave two Canadian sides atop the standings. The Vancouver Whitecaps shifted into the top spot in the West with six points, as did the Montreal Impact in the East.Overall, it was a fun weekend that helped shed some light on the state of the league. Here are eight takeaways from the second week of MLS.Begin Slideshow

New England Revolution Impressive, Chicago Fire Listless in Week 2 Matchup

On Saturday night in front of a sparse crowd on a blustery night in Chicago, the New England Revolution opened up their 2013 campaign with a 1-0 away win over the struggling Chicago Fire. Honduran Jerry Bengtson scored the game-winner for the Revolution in the 61st minute, as he headed in a beautifully chipped pass from second-half substitute Kelyn Rowe. The Revolution, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2009, looked sharp through much of the contest, putting together some great attacking combinations through their midfield.Coming off a 2012 campaign in which New England struggled to find goals, the Revolution found solid stretches on possession in the attacking third through the midfield play, particularly through the efforts of Juan Carlos Toja, who was involved in most of the Revolution’s dangerous sequences. For the Fire, who lost their 2013 opener last week to the L.A. Galaxy, things are beginning to look much worse. Center midfielder Joel Lindpere, who was brought in to help the Fire improve their central midfield play, once again struggled to impact the game and went long stretches without getting on the ball. When he did get involved, Lindpere was just average.In the 32nd minute, Lindpere served a great ...

CONCACAF Champions League: MLS and USMNT Wrapup

Three Major League Soccer teams and players from the U.S. Men’s National Team player pool completed the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals this week. The Champions League—no, not that one—is the international club competition for members of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, or CONCACAF.  The winner of the tournament advances to the annual FIFA Club World Cup. If you’ve ever wondered how MLS teams compare to club teams from other countries, this tournament provides the answers.  MLS and Liga MX teams have a clear edge in the competition, with the Liga MX teams dominating the tournament’s later rounds.  Three MLS and three Liga MX teams remain in this year’s final eight. All of the quarterfinal games are televised in the U.S., and this is some of the most entertaining soccer you will find anywhere.  Played with an expected Latin flair, the pace of the games is very high and the action is end-to-end.  Read on to find out how MLS teams and USMNT players fared in the first quarterfinal leg, then leave a comment with your opinion of this tournament.Begin Slideshow

MLS Saturday Wrap

MLS' second week of action was highlighted by a pair of stunning upsets.The New England Revolution and Toronto FC found themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings last season. After impressive victories Saturday night, the two teams have cause for optimism in 2013—a sentiment the Chicago Fire cannot echo after two matches.Here's a detailed look at all of Saturday's action.Note: Be sure to check back for updated recaps and analysis from all of Sunday's action.  Begin Slideshow

5 Key Battles to Watch in MLS This Weekend

The 2013 Major League Soccer season is off and running and after a series of great Week One matchups, there is plenty to look forward to in Week Two. Particularly tantalizing this weekend will be the matchup between DC United and Real Salt Lake on Saturday and the game between the New York Red Bulls and the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday. Here are five key battles to watch in this weekend’s games.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Complete Weekend Guide, Team News, Game-by-Game Predictions

Week two of MLS starts this Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. EST first whistle in Canada, with Toronto FC hosting Sporting Kansas City.  The weekend finishes with a 10:00 p.m. EST kickoff in California, as the San Jose Earthquakes face the New York Red Bulls.There are eight matches in total.Three teams are off from MLS play with this week because of their participation in the CONCACAF Champions League: Houston Dynamo, the Seattle Sounders and the Los Angeles Galaxy.The games this week should provide some excellent insight into the forever debated conversation about which MLS conference is superior—the Eastern conference, or the Western conference.  Six of the matches provide opposing conference matchups. Begin Slideshow

Matchups to Keep an Eye on in MLS This Weekend

After an opening weekend with some good and not-so-good performances, MLS has a slate of eight matches for your enjoyment this weekend. The Sounders, Dynamo and Galaxy have the week off, presumably because they're participating in the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League.Let's roll through the schedule and look at the key matchup from each game.Begin Slideshow

Top 10 Strikers to Watch in MLS This Season

Major League Soccer is stocked with brilliant and dangerous strikers. As MLS continues to grow in talent and reputation, goal scorers from across the world are flocking to the states to ply their trade in the 18-year-old league. This slideshow presents the top-10 strikers to watch this season and details what makes these specific soccer players so talented.It is a diverse list in terms of style, technique and ability.  Each striker offers various and different skills that make them unique.While there are other players who could be considered for inclusion, there is no doubt that the strikers selected are here worthy.  Simply put, these athletes are special.  Begin Slideshow