By Mark Baber
December 11 – As the final game of Los Angeles Galaxy legend Landon Donovan highlighted the trans-border interests of soccer fans in Mexico and the US, the football ties between the two countries look like deepening with Liga MX officials saying that they are evaluating the possibility of incorporating Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs into the biannual knock-out Copa MX.
Liga MX president Decio De Maria said: “What we’ve started to evaluate is a bi-national [cup] concept with our partners in MLS. It’s a possibility, a good project to develop. It would be for 2016 if it is confirmed.”
On the US side of the border the idea received endorsement from Todd Durbin, MLS executive vice president of Player Relations & Competition, who issued a statement saying: “As Commissioner Garber recently mentioned in his State of the League address, we believe the more competition we can have between MLS and Liga MX clubs, whether in official tournaments or exhibition tournaments, is a positive for both leagues.
“We have a strong relationship with the Mexican Football Federation and Liga MX and are open to exploring opportunities to continue to work together to continue the growth of the game in this region.”
The television audience for MLS is reckoned to be 34% Hispanic and both the Liga MX and MLS are seeking to improve the level of interest and competitive levels of their clubs.
The idea echoes the now defunct SuperLiga, an annual summer tournament which was last played in 2011. The challenge will be on finding space in the calendar for the additional fixtures.
International club football is taking hold in the region with CONCACAF’s Champions League – which includes four teams from Mexico, four from the US and the top teams of other strong nations including Costa Rica – gaining in strength and importance with each round played.
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