Liga MX, MLS Superliga in the works?

Liga MX and MLS just cannot seem to get enough of each other.

The two CONCACAF leagues have made it an annual tradition of meeting in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Although Liga MX have more often than not gotten the best of their North American neighbors, it looks like MLS may get another chance to get up one up on their rivals. With Liga MX announcing on Wednesday that they are leaving the Copa Libertadores additional speculation has begun that another SuperLiga is in the works.

In an interview with Medio Tiempo’s Jonathan Collazo on Wednesday night Pachuca owner Jesus Martinez said, “”Lose a lot (the MX League), but also will strengthen the other hand, because we’re seeing if a link is made with the United States to further strengthen the bilateral issue, and also that the MLS is growing quite well, with a great view.”

The SuperLiga was a tournament staged between Liga MX and MLS from 2007 to 2010. The tournament ended after CONCACAF started ramping up their efforts to make their Champions League more of a viable tournament.

Liga MX sides have played in the Copa Libertadores since 1998. Negotiations between Mexican Football Federation and CONMEBOL, who host the Libertadores, had broken down after disagreements over what types of players the Liga MX entrants could bring in. According to a report from Futbol Total.com it is believed that Martinez offered to have their sides field teams with under-20 players and veterans with limited appearances. That offer is believed to have been denied.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has yet to comment on the rumored tournament. However, in a speech to the World Forum League back in July he said, “It’s always been a dream to put together a great tournament, which could be attractive for the fans, but there are obstacles to make this dream come true. We are looking for ways to achieve as there are 15 million fans in our region to achieve this dream, “said the American officer, during the event held in Mexico City.”

One of those obstacles may have been the Libertadores. With Mexican sides no longer participating in that tournament there is more of a window for a late June-early July tournament. The CONCACAF Champions League wraps up play normally in March and does not begin again (the season operates where the knockout stage of one year is in the fall and the next regular season starts in the spring. Hence 2016-2017) and MLS sides do not begin Open Cup play until June. Mexico’s top domestic club competition, Copa MX, begins in July and ends in November. So with all that in mind it would seem that a April-May tournament may actually work.

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The one big question is what is the end game from this? If both sides were looking for the chance to create some massive tournament with major implications this isn’t it. The original SuperLiga struggled to get the interest of supporters and teams very often used second or third string players.

The Champions League has only recently received spike in interest but still fails to really register among supporters in North America. Schedule glut will also still be an issues with the international windows and the ICC posing problems to potential sides.

So it will be interesting to see what incentives are put into place to give this tournament any real value. If the reports are true with what Liga MX was offering CONMEBOL for their sides one could not see them putting any more of an effort for a tournament with zero implications. Same goes for MLS sides that already seem hesitant towards putting out strong sides for Open Cup matches.

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