Should the Major League Soccer Switch to an Open System?

Thu, Feb 13, 2025
by CapperTek

Soccer is the most watched sport on the planet, and one of the things that makes it so exciting is the promotion and relegation system. Followers love watching who will remain in the league at the end of the season and who will fail to avoid the drop into the next one. 

Relegation doesn’t just make a league more interesting for the fans, however. This system can encourage clubs to be more financially responsible. It also creates fairness because underperforming clubs move down to a level more suitable for them, whereas well-performing ones can compete in a higher league if they step up to the plate. Matches become more meaningful, especially if they’re part of a relegation or promotion battle. 

One league where there has been debate about introducing an open system is the Major League Soccer (MLS). The league is one of the few in the world that has a closed system of fixed teams. But should it introduce relegation? Below is a look at the pros and cons of an open system. 

For relegation 

As the debate rages on, it has become clear an open system offers the league several benefits.

Greater interest from fans and investment from teams

An open system would see more sports betting fans engage more with the sport. This interest would encourage clubs to invest more in their teams and infrastructures, both to achieve promotion and to avoid relegation. 

One way fans do this is through sports betting online, which has only become legal in some states in more recent years. Regardless of their interest or knowledge in the game, they will develop it more if they are even the slightest bit interested in it. Anyone not familiar with relegation can find relegation in soccer explained online after a quick search. 

When a league is up against soccer titans such as the UK’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and other prestigious leagues, any attention a league can get from fans is welcome in the US. An open system would trigger greater interest, leading to higher attendance at games and increased viewership of game broadcasts. 

More investment in American soccer overall

The system would also benefit the wider soccer ecosystem in America. There would be more investment in grassroots soccer, as teams in lower leagues have a reason to invest more in players and facilities, as it will help them long term. Ultimately, this would create a deeper, better pool of players for the US men’s national team to choose from. 

A more competitive league

Some clubs languish at the bottom of the league, with nothing more to play for than pride. An open system would give them something more to fight for. The drive to stay in the league would also lead to higher quality of play and make the league more competitive, which, in turn, would also foster engagement from fans. 

Against relegation

Not everyone believes an open system would be a good thing for the MLS. 

Uncertainty for potential investors

Some teams have spent massive amounts of money to secure a spot in the league. An open system would mean there was no guarantee of remaining in the league, even if a team has paid the expansion fees to join it. This makes payment of the fees a risk for teams, which could deter them from joining. It could also have an impact on the league, as potential investors may stay away.

The current system is working

One of the main arguments in Favor of keeping the current system is that it’s working, so why change it? 

Although soccer isn’t as popular in the US as basketball, baseball, and American football, there’s no denying that it’s growing. The improvement in the quality of the league and the arrival of Lionel Messi has fuelled considerable growth and interest in the league. More people are attending games. The league has received more sponsorship, and more people are engaging with the league on social media. The MLS is in a good place right now. 

A more level playing field

In leagues such as the Premier League, money is a huge factor, although there are efforts to place clubs on a more equal playing field in this regard for a more balanced level of competition. Despite proposals for spending caps in the league, many have noted larger clubs can still spend more than smaller clubs. 

A closed system addresses some of the money issues and allows coaching, the club culture, and the front office to take more of a prominent role. This makes the dynamic more interesting and more complex. Clubs don’t necessarily win a league because they’ve spent more money than the rest. The league becomes more unpredictable. 

There’s no denying that a promotion and relegation system would bring benefits to the MLS. However, there are fears that a new system could do more harm than good to a league that is already enjoying considerable success and appears to be growing constantly. Should the MLS switch to an open system? They’ve got some thinking to do before going ahead.