The Role of Youth Academies
The absence of promotion and regulation in the MLS in the United States is a defining characteristic that fuels debate about the competitiveness and overall success of the league. Unlike the systems in the European and South American leagues, where teams’ performance dictates their status, the MLS has a closed structure that prevents this kind of movement. I would argue that this is the exact reason for the league’s difference in level.
The promotion and regulation system in leagues like The English Premier League and the German Bundesliga, creates a constant pressure to perform and give clubs from all levels an equal chance to make it to the top, which motivates and encourages improvement. Burnley and Leeds United in England, and Stuttgart and Werder Bremen in Germany, are examples of teams that were positively impacted by the promotion and regulation systems. Both of these teams rose from lower divisions with consistent strong performances. These teams went on to greatly impact the league and prove their status. Burnley, for example, secured promotion to the Premier League in the 2015-16 season after finishing as champions of the English Championship². They established themselves as a resilient mid-table team, even qualifying for the UEFA Europa League in the 2018-19 season—an impressive feat for a promoted club. Similarly, Leeds United, after being relegated in 2004, spent years rebuilding in lower divisions before earning promotion in 2020². Leeds quickly became a competitive force in the EPL, known for their exciting, high intensity playing style, which reinvigorated the league and brought fresh excitement to matches. In Germany, Stuttgart was relegated from the Bundesliga in 2016 but made a triumphant return in the 2017-18 season, finishing seventh and demonstrating the system’s potential to reward strong performances². Werder Bremen also exemplifies this dynamic. After relegation in the 2020-21 season, they bounced back in 2022 by winning promotion and reclaiming their status as a Bundesliga mainstay². Their strong performance invigorated the league by introducing new competition with fresh dynamics, attracted new fans, boosted revues, and forced the other teams to elevate their overall level of play. Their success through promotion creates a more unpredictable and exciting league, which ultimately strengthens the league's global reputation and helps develop talent across all tiers.
In contrast, MLS lacks such a system, and teams that underperform remain at the same level, without the same pressure to improve or the opportunity to climb through the ranks. This stunts the league’s overall competitive development, limiting the excitement that comes with promotion and relegation. Rather, in the MLS, teams buy their place in the leage and do not face regulation, no matter how poorly they perform. As a result, this model brings financial stability but stifles the competitive edge that drives teams in leagues with pro/rel systems. What’s interesting to me is the effect this has on player development in the U.S. Without pro/rel, players in the lower tiers don’t have the same opportunities to rise through the ranks and showcase their talents in higher divisions. I’ve read former MLS executive Bezbatchenko’s thoughts on this, and he’s strongly in favor of bringing pro/rel to the U.S., as he believes it could stimulate youth development and give more players a chance to compete at the highest levels.¹I agree with this sentiment, as the current MLS structure doesn’t provide the same incentives for teams to invest in developing younger players the way teams do in Europe or South America. One of the most significant drawbacks of the closed MLS system is how it limits competition. Teams are essentially locked into their positions, whether they’re performing well or not, which can lead to a lack of urgency to improve. Fans, too, are less invested when they know that their team won’t face relegation if they’re underperforming.
Overall, I think the absence of promotion and relegation in U.S. soccer creates a very different dynamic compared to leagues in Europe and South America. While the closed system of MLS provides financial stability and predictability for investors, it limits the competitive nature of the sport and reduces player development opportunities. The pro/rel system in Europe and South America, on the other hand, fosters intense competition, allows for upward mobility, and creates a more vibrant soccer ecosystem. For me, it’s clear that adopting some elements of the pro/rel system in the U.S. could improve both the competitiveness and growth of soccer in this country. Whether or not MLS will ever make that change is still up for debate, but the differences in structure and approach are evident.
Footnotes:
UEFA. "UEFA Releases Study Results on Training Facilities and Youth." UEFA, 2023, https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0261-1056f674e98d-735b4b43930a-1000--uefa-releases-study-results-on-training-facilities-and-youth/.
UEFA. "Infrastructure Sustainability." UEFA Sustainability, 2023, https://www.uefa.com/sustainability.
Editorial UEFA. "UEFA Environmental Commitment." UEFA Editorial, 2023, https://www.uefa.com/editorial.