How much progress has the league made?

Major League Soccer begins its 25th season this weekend. That alone may surprise many as there were many doubters and naysayers when the league began back in 1996 with ten teams. The total number of teams is now 26 and will reach 30 by 2022 with the addition of Austin, Charlotte, Sacramento and St. Louis.

MLS averages 20,000 fans per game. This is the third highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S. after the NFL and MLB. It’s also the seventh highest attended professional soccer league in the world.

Over the years many of soccer’s biggest names have plied their trade in the American league. The list includes: David Beckham, Thierry Henry, David Villa, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Ibrahimovic and Didier Drogba among many other big names.

Unfortunately for MLS, major leagues around the world have a higher profile and a lot of history. If a player has the opportunity to play soccer at the highest level, they are going to choose La Liga, Serie A, the Premier League, Bundesliga or other top flight leagues over MLS. The bottom line is that the level of play is higher in more established leagues than it is in MLS. Major League Soccer is making inroads but it’s going take some time to attract top players in the prime of their careers.

Here’s what fans have to say about MLS:

That’s true. The problem is that world soccer is readily accessible and plentiful today. In addition, while MLS level of play has improved considerably there are still too many clunkers and teams barely competing.
— The Boss (@RobertWCross) February 21, 2020

I never watch MLS,inferior to the PL in every way,it’ll get better but not enough in a country that’s over saturated in sports.
— RustyMckeever (@MckeeverRusty) February 29, 2020

Premier League makes you realize that the MLS has a long way to go to have the quality of players, it’s much more exciting than MLS. But being a Man U fan is brutal more often than not these days
— Hot Takes and Hostility (@615Hockey) February 13, 2020

Just read an AP article in the sports section of the SJ-R that is saying in the next 10 years MLS will overtake MLB in popularity. Hahaha...not in my lifetime! Almost as boring to watch as golf. ZZZZZZZZZZ...
— Big Kahuna (@bigkahuna644) February 27, 2020

I’m from LA. But I’m stating the facts. The MLS is boring to watch. I watch game’s from league 2 and I rather watch that than the mls
— Juan Ochoa (@Juan0choa) February 26, 2020

The good news is that there are fans who truly support the league:

Always love opening week of @MLS, pumped for @NashvilleSC and @InterMiamiCF but even more pumped for @CharlotteMLS next year
— Ryan (@ryandonahue96) February 29, 2020

Love that the @MLS is back. Looking forward to the new mls season and @NWSL season coming up. Excited for soccer in this country
— Jake Davis (@JakeDavisSoccer) February 29, 2020

This is so incredibly, comically bad. I LOVE MLS I MISSED YOU SO MUCH
pic.twitter.com/YgPEllLHga
— Kylo Force Choking Appreciator (@LindsayAdaire) February 29, 2020

Doing my yearly ritual of watching every game of MLS opening day, it's kind of crap, but I love it. #MLSisBack
— Closet Kickboxer (@CKickboxer) February 29, 2020

So what are your thought on Major League Soccer and the quality of the league?