At the onset in 1996, Major League Soccer was the second serious attempt at a major league in the United States. The first effort was the North American Soccer League, which lasted from 1968 through 1984. The NASL had its moments. Also, it had the greatest superstar of the time, Pele. However, it was underfinanced. Still, to its credit, the MLS has greater stability, particularly in more recent years. But the MLS had a rough start and suffered from the same issues that doomed the NASL. The Soccer betting odds difference in the two leagues was timing.
Odds to win the 2025 MLS Cup
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Inter Miami CF | +300 |
| LA Galaxy | +550 |
| Los Angeles FC | +750 |
| Columbus Crew | +1000 |
| All Other Clubs | +1200 or higher |
Last year, the LA Galaxy won their league-record sixth Major League Soccer title by defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the 29th edition of the MLS Cup. The sportsbook championship capped off another season of growth for the MLS. Correlate that the MLS has become so successful that San Diego will join as a new expansion team in 2025.
The Major League Soccer was fortunate enough to be created as cable television was exploding. As cable sports became one of the hottest properties in the United States, it continued to expand. In turn, that expansion came the insatiable appetite for live content. At the time of its formation, nobody in America cared about soccer. However, with cable TV providers promoting it non-stop, it began to gain traction for soccer lines.
Yet another factor in the MLS’s success was signing washed-up superstars from other international leagues. The most famous, David Beckham, signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham was no longer a top-shelf English Premier League player, but he was an instant star in the MLS.
Late on, Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, is the latest superstar import for the MLS. He has a contract worth over $20 million and a stake in the franchise. Messi is best known for his World Cup heroics on team Argentina. Previously, he was also a pro legend with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Another strategy that has helped the MLS succeed is building stadiums meant exclusively for soccer. In the early years of the MLS, games were often held at massive NFL stadiums. Thus, empty seats dwarfed small crowds. Even a good crowd of 20,000 or so would look minuscule. Now, most MLS stadiums have seating capacities in the 20,000 to 30,000 range. Additionally, MLS game experiences are now engineered to have more of a “soccer culture” than in the past, which has also proven popular with fans.
Last year, the LA Galaxy hoisted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy for the first time since 2014, following a win over the New York Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup final. Indeed, it was quite a difference a year and a half made for LA Galaxy. Greg Vanney’s side finished 13th in the Western Conference the previous year, prompting widespread protests from the club’s loyal fanbase. Now, they are once again MLS Cup champions.
Certainly, the Galaxy made history with their record-breaking sixth MLS Cup. No other team in MLS history has won more than four. Now, the Galaxy has reached the pinnacle of Major League Soccer in 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2024. Finally, the drought is over. Namely, Gastón Brugman was named MLS Cup final MVP. The 32-year-old assisted Paintsil’s opening goal and filled in admirably for Puig in the midfield.