Article by Matt Lichtenstadter
In these column inches before, MLS’ recent success with attracting internationals from across the globe has been explored and the league is becoming far more cosmopolitan in that regard. But MLS is first and foremost an American league, and one of its main goals is to develop American talent that will eventually represent their country on the world stage. And while Jurgen Klinsmann might have dismissed MLS’ potential and put his eggs in the dual-national basket, the league’s growth in this regard is clearly visible, both with the recent World Cup qualifiers and the U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Against Mexico, the US’ back eight, so to speak all had played or currently play in MLS. Some of those players have long departed the league, such as the three centerbacks, but all can say that a good chunk of their development as players is in large part due to their time spent in MLS. While DeAndre Yedlin’s improvement since heading to England is dramatic, his time with the Sounders built his foundations as a player. And about Kellyn Acosta, the young FC Dallas midfielder who has made himself a regular squad player if not a nailed-on starter is certainly emblematic of MLS’ renewed focus on youth development and how it has paid dividends for the US.
And in South Korea, the US U-20’s, with 17 domestic based players and most who either are on the books of MLS clubs currently or are products of MLS academies made a second straight quarterfinal appearance at this level. To think that multiple players based in Europe, or those who skipped this age level entirely (see Pulisic, Christian) did not come to this tournament, the success of this team with a MLS backbone is even more impressive. Tyler Adams of the Red Bulls, Brooks Lennon then and now of RSL, Derrick Jones of the Philadelphia Union, Erik Palmer-Brown of SKC and others all contributed massively to another successful tournament for the US at youth level, and while winning those tournaments isn’t necessary, getting to the quarterfinals with so many MLS names after largely basing their youth teams on foreign based prospects is something celebrate and smile about.
MLS academies are only really a decade old, as is the major US Soccer based development system and academies are also about the same age. While the clubs are not producing quite the talent that is being produced in Europe, South America or even Mexico, the quality of players that are coming through the pipeline is making not only the league better, but the US national teams at all levels better than they’ve ever been. In the past, the best education American players could get was only available in Europe, but certainly not available at home. Now, that paradigm has shifted and while Europe is still a goal for many, when they arrive, they will arrive more ready and talented than ever before.
Some clubs have done better than others at developing talent, most specifically the Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas, but the league overall is seeing a great return on its recent investments in youth development. Certainly, MLS and its teams might be holding onto some of these players for too long before wanting to sell them on to European clubs, but with players like Kellyn Acosta among others being the poster boys for the league, its academies and how they can go on to become full-fledged US internationals, that’s somewhat understandable.
Bruce Arena believes that by 2026, the US will be a sure contender to win the World Cup, not just a team that makes it through every cycle. The backbone of that team will have been forged and developed through a pipeline thanks to MLS and its academies, and some of that fruit is being picked from the vine now.
MLS has many issues, and could be developing players faster and better than they even are right now, but for these past few weeks, MLS should be celebrated for the players they have brought through and what they’ve done for their country.
