⚽ The ‘Best (Soccer) League In The World’ Forming Soon?

As the 2021 MLS All-Star Game approaches, MLS & Liga MX merger talks heat up. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: The build-up to Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game has only stoked the rumors of a potential MLS-Liga MX merger ... we take a look at why Oklahoma is primed for a national title ... and we are treated to a laugh-out-loud video surrounding a must-see college commitment. This year’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game (9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday on FS1) is a United States-Mexico rivalry, pitting the best players from MLS against the finest that Liga MX, the preeminent competition south of the border, has to offer. And yet, if you take 90 minutes of on-field hostility out of the equation, the two leagues are actually on the same side in a growing multitude of ways. Back in March, FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested that a future which sees MLS and Liga MX join forces to create a regional super league would not only be welcomed by the world’s governing body, but also stand firmly positioned to establish itself as perhaps the greatest soccer competition on the planet. “I think the potential in the United States and Mexico is enormous, each country by itself,” Infantino said. “But, of course if you could bring those two together that would be incredible and that could quite well be the best league in the world.” [STORY IMAGE 1] Inevitably, the build-up to this week’s matchup, where the MLS All-Stars and Liga MX All-Stars duke it out at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles has only stoked the rumors further, and neither MLS commissioner Don Garber nor various Mexican soccer executives have done much to douse the flames. “If it makes sense at the right time, then we’ll take that step,” [Garber told the Los Angeles Times](. Talk of such collaborations in soccer are as old as time but none have really come to full fruition. In April, a European Super League featuring 15 of that continent’s wealthiest teams looked set to become a reality. However, it lasted for only an instant, as a passionate display of collective fan outrage caused the idea to become a non-starter. [STORY IMAGE 2] However, a U.S.-Mexico alliance, plus the Canadian teams already in MLS, would have some real legs. For a start, early indications show that fans would firmly get behind it, as long as the shift was handled in the right way. There would be two-way benefits. Liga MX is desperate to gain a further foothold in the U.S. market while MLS looks enviously at the TV ratings of the Mexican games, which average 474,000 for regular season matchups in the U.S. alone. “There is no smoke without fire,” FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas told me via telephone. “No one is doing anything to dissuade the rumors and talk about the possibilities. That says a lot. Both of these businesses look at each other longingly in different ways. They (could) both complete each other. With the ramp up towards the 2026 World Cup, it may make sense.” There would, of course, be some logistical headaches to overcome. MLS has 27 teams and is slated to increase that figure to 30 within a few years. Liga MX has 18, with a long-standing tradition of promotion and relegation – which it has put on hold for now due to the financial concerns spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic. [STORY IMAGE 3] One thought is that a combined cross-border league would need to have promotion and relegation to be workable. Other concepts involve an elite “super league” style system featuring the best of both leagues to operate outside the existing structures. FOX Sports soccer writer Doug McIntyre told me via text message that he can forsee an all-encompassing 48-team competition, perhaps with splits into regional divisions that allow old rivalries to remain intact. In real terms, the travel would not be so bad. Considering that MLS already requires Vancouver and Miami to visit each other, journeys down to Mexico City could actually shave some flying time off the schedule for many teams. What is beyond dispute is that it could create a financial boon that would allow the combined league’s teams to compete for the best talent alongside the behemoths of European soccer. It may not happen immediately, but a scenario like that imagined by Infantino would certainly be in the cards eventually. [STORY IMAGE 4] “I would be excited for it,” Lalas added. “There is the historic ingrained competition between the two counties that would automatically make it something interesting to a lot of people. “It would be something significant, not just in this region, but potentially on a worldwide scale.” [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Claire Partain, [Austonia.com]( “A merger would be difficult if the two leagues hadn't communicated in the past. Luckily, both the MLS and Liga MX are doing a lot of teamwork lately.” Don Garber, MLS Commissioner: “Could there ever be a moment where the leagues come together in a more formal way than just playing with interleague play? Perhaps. But it's a long way away, we've got a lot of work that would need to be done to figure that out.” Ryan Tolmich, [Goal.com]( “As we move gradually towards the 2026 World Cup, MLS and Liga MX are working as closely as ever.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - The Giants and Dodgers are setting up for an epic race in the NL West. See where they land in [FOX Sports MLB Writer Ben Verlander’s power rankings](. - With the USMNT roster for Wold Cup qualifying out Tuesday, major questions remain at key spots. [FOX Sports Soccer Writer Doug McIntyre has the story](. - Iowa State is on the rise, but in his Big 12 preview, [FOX Sports College Football Writer RJ Young says Oklahoma is primed for a national title](. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( Looking for a good laugh on this fine Tuesday afternoon (or evening, depending on when you read this)? Well, we’ve got you covered! Check out this video, which shows Lincoln High School four-star recruit Jalil Tucker making his college announcement on live TV. Before Tucker announces where he will be playing college football, his family is asked about their thoughts heading into their son’s big announcement. “I’m happy for him,” says Tucker’s father. “He’s a good kid. Lazy, but he’s a good kid. And I know he’s going to represent Oregon well.” Ugh oh! Right when Jalil’s dad said “Oregon,” he knew he messed up. Sure enough, Jalil went on announce his commitment to Oregon and put on the Ducks hat. Here’s to hoping Jalil goes on to have an outstanding career in Eugene and his family can all look back and laugh at this one day. Good luck, Jalil! [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox (ESPN+, 7:10 p.m. ET) Griffin Jax and the Minnesota Twins go up against Xander Bogaerts and the Boston Red Sox. Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET) Julio Urias takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who take on Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Big Ten Football Champion Ohio State: -200 Wisconsin: +550 Penn State: +1000 Iowa: +1200 Perhaps the better question here is which team will win the Big Ten West, because when it comes to the Big Ten East, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been about as dominant as one team can be. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have won both the Big Ten East and the Big Ten Championship Game each of the past four seasons. The Buckeyes will be reloading at several key positions this season, including QB, where CJ Stroud will take over as the starting signal-caller. If anyone is going to challenge the Buckeyes this season, it will probably be the Wisconsin Badgers, who return an abundance of talent, including QB Graham Mertz. While taking the Buckeyes to win the Big Ten at -200 isn’t the most attractive bet, it probably is the right bet. [WHAT THEY SAID] “Life isn't perfect, of course, but it's how you react to things that counts.” — Landon Donovan [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2021 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900