Los Angeles: FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the need for Major League Soccer (MLS) to elevate its status by recruiting more top-tier players during a conference in Los Angeles. Infantino urged MLS officials to adopt a bolder approach and attract the world’s best talents to enhance the league’s competitiveness.
He cited Inter Miami’s signings of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets as evidence of the growing demand for elite players among American fans. Infantino highlighted the significant turnout at a recent game between New England Revolution and Inter Miami as a testament to the “Messi effect,” which saw NFL stadiums filled with soccer enthusiasts.
Despite MLS salary and roster constraints, there have been calls, including from broadcast partner Apple TV, to relax regulations and enable clubs to pursue top talent more freely. Infantino stressed that investing in top players would not only improve the quality of the game but also inspire young players in North America to pursue soccer as a career path.
He underscored the importance of showcasing soccer as a viable route to success and fame, akin to other popular American sports, thus bridging the perceived gap between American soccer and its European counterpart.
