from an eight-team league to the turning point of MLS

Canada’s locker room is pure joy after the victory against Venezuela. Qualifying for the semifinals of their first participation in a Copa América meant the greatest sporting feat of this team, leading to their participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they could not pass the group stage. Nobody wanted to miss that moment, not even Sidney Crosbyone of the best ice hockey players of all time, hugging the footballers as if he were one of them.

Contrary to the logic of the Argentine sports perspective, it is the players of the soccer team who ask photos of Sid the Kidconsidered one of the most successful in this sport on ice – a double Olympic gold medalist – and current captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins – an NHL team -.

Jacob Shaffelburghe Messi of the MaritimesHe smiled like a child. “It was incredible. I was able to see a legend from Nova Scotia (NdR: city where he was also born). It was one of the most incredible things I have ever experienced. Finally meeting him was incredible,” acknowledged the author of the goal against Venezuela and the assist in the other goal scored by his team, the work of Jonathan David.

“It was fantastic to meet Kid on a historic night”David himself wrote, tying these threads together.

It was very meaningful to see Crosby at a time when football (or soccer, as it is called in these parts) dominated the media scene and public opinion. Exactly one year ago, on July 9, 2023, Canada lost to the United States in the Gold Cup, leaving behind an upward curve. It was the last game as coach of John Herdman.

Now, the Maple Leaf team finds itself in a place that not even a staunch optimist like new coach Jesse Marsch – who took over 55 days ago – could have imagined. But these results hide other important points in the development of a sport in a territory where popularity drifts towards ice hockey, basketball and baseball.

Canada has its own Premier League. Conceived in 2017 and launched two years later, the substantial difference with others that have the same name in other parts of the world is that they only include eight clubs, currently disputed from June to December and they play four rounds of matches.

After the 28 dates, the first four go to the Playoffs for the title, which was won by Forge FC on four occasions, a hegemony only stopped by Pacific FC in 2021.

This meteoric rise on the international stage is a stark contrast to Canadian soccer’s past struggles. The great advance began with its classification at Qatar World Cup, the second in its history. An important catalyst for this transformation has been the expansion of MLS in Canada, beginning with the debut of Toronto in 2007, followed by Vancouver in 2011 and Montreal in 2012.

When MLS expanded to Canada, the commissioner, Don Garber, stated that one of the league’s goals was to help the Canadian national team. “When we arrived we set the goal of helping Canada qualify for the World Cup,” Garber said. “But the goal was to help build the sport across the country, and thanks to our three clubs and Canada Soccer, we are seeing the benefits,” he concluded.

This move professionalized the entire soccer system, leading to the establishment of MLS club youth academies and other elite youth academies across Canada. “The catalyst for all that was the arrival of MLS to the city”noted one expert, adding: “It really launched the sport into the imagination of Canadian sports fans, which in turn leads to more money being invested in it.”

The current Canadian team has a lineup of talented players, 14 of whom play in MLS and many others have roots in the league. Maxime Crepeauthe Portland Timbers goalkeeper, was the star in the penalty shootout against Venezuela, deflecting two, like Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez.

Alphonso Daviesnow a star full-back for Bayern Munich, began his career in the Vancouver Whitecaps youth system, progressing from the club’s academy to the first team before making the jump to Europe.

The Colorado Rapids center scoreboard Moïse Bombito is a rising star at 24 years old, and Nashville SC winger Shaffelburg, who already managed to convert against Leo Messi’s Inter Miami, are key players leading this new era of Canadian soccer.

MLS’s influence extends beyond player development. On May 13, 2024, Canada hired Jesse Marsch, a former MLS player and former head coach of two MLS clubs, as head coach of the national team. This appointment was made possible thanks to significant financial contributions from the owners of the three Canadian MLS clubs..

As Canada prepares to face Argentina this Tuesday, soccer has become an important part of the nation’s sporting landscape. A victory would not only propel them to the final of one of soccer’s most prestigious international tournaments, but would also serve as a testament to the transformative impact of MLS. The Canadian National Team’s trajectory is a shining example of how strategic investments and professionalization can elevate a nation’s presence on the world stage.