What's Holding Back Major League Soccer?
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 15 December 2021
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
New York City FC won its first MLS Cup on Saturday, defeating the Portland Timbers inside a packed (and sopping wet) stadium in Portland. And while the game was quite a spectacle, with fans lining up for seats almost a WEEK in advance, the game itself was somewhat reflective of Major League Soccer -- lots of excitement, lots of fan support, but not the best on-field product. The Athletic's Sam Stejskal joins us today to talk about the game, NYCFC's recent transformation, and to explain why, after 26 season and a lot of financial investment, MLS is still not offering the best product and is till not able to compete with the best leagues in the world.
More from Sam Stejskal:
https://theathletic.com/author/sam-stejskal/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to the lead ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. |
| 0:07.0 | Hi there, Wondry listeners. Hannah and Sruti here from TrueCram Podcast Redhanded. |
| 0:11.0 | Your favourite podcast Redhanded. We just wanted to say how excited we are to be included in Amazon Music |
| 0:16.0 | and Wondry's best podcasts of the year as chosen by their listeners, which is you. |
| 0:21.0 | So thank you so much to everyone who listened to us voted for us, all the things you do for us. |
| 0:26.0 | Any of you out there who haven't checked out Redhanded, what are you doing? What are you waiting for? |
| 0:31.0 | It's a weekly show where we deep dive into the most talked about cases like the Delphi murders |
| 0:35.0 | and also those you might never have heard of like the Nathari child sacrifices in Delhi. |
| 0:40.0 | Go listen to Redhanded right now on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:46.0 | Alexander Kelley's at a breakthrough moment for the boys from the Bronx. |
| 1:00.0 | On Saturday, New York City FC won its first MLS title and the team that once had a lot of big names on its roster |
| 1:08.0 | did it without a lot of star power. |
| 1:10.0 | Today, the Athletic Sam Staschool on how NYCFCs change in philosophy and identity helped it hoist the cup. |
| 1:18.0 | So they pivoted from big names, big sizzle, big flash to just like understated effectiveness. |
| 1:24.0 | It had some disappointments, but what they've been able to do on balance is assemble a really deep squad. |
| 1:30.0 | And it's hard to do that in this league. |
| 1:32.0 | Plus, what's holding Major League Soccer back from becoming one of the best leagues in the world? |
| 1:38.0 | Once again, the answer has to do with star power. |
| 1:42.0 | From wondering the Athletic, I'm Anders Keltow. |
| 1:44.0 | It's Wednesday, December 15th, and this is the lead. |
| 1:52.0 | Sam Staschool, welcome back to the lead. |
| 1:54.0 | Thanks so much for having me back, Anders. |
... |
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