da spicy bet： U.S. Soccer has rejected Major League Soccer's plans to field youth team squads in the U.S. Open Cup next season.
da leao： Article continues below
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MLS announced intention to field youth playersU.S. Soccer pull ranks on proposalFirst-team squads to compete in historic tournamentWHAT HAPPENED?
The governing body issued a statement on Wednesday denying MLS club's permission to field MLS Next Pro development teams as representatives in next season's competition. MLS had previously announced their plans to field weaker sides without consulting U.S. Soccer, who referred to the MLS announcement as a 'request' in their declaration.
AdvertisementWHAT U.S. SOCCER SAID
In a statement posted on X, U.S. Soccer announced: “Major League Soccer has requested to allow MLS Next Pro teams to represent MLS in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. After thoughtful consideration, we have informed MLS that the U.S. Soccer staff recommendation, which was adopted by the Pro League Taskforce, is that the request be denied.
“As we move forward, we will continue our review of the Open Cup to ensure it aligns with the U.S. Soccer strategic pillars. We remain committed to addressing the needs and concerns of all of our members, including MLS, and other stakeholders to enhance and improve the U.S. Open Cup.”
WHAT MLS SAID
A statement posted by MLS just minutes later read: "Major League Soccer recently proposed to U.S. Soccer a plan for MLS NEXT Pro teams to represent the League in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. MLS took that step because it believes that there are several essential goals and concerns that must be addressed in connection with the tournament, including developing young professional players and providing them with greater opportunity to play before fans in meaningful competition in a tournament setting, prioritizing player health and safety, reducing schedule congestion for MLS clubs, and enhanced investment from U.S. Soccer."
The statement concluded: "MLS is committed to finding a viable solution for the 2024 tournament and is working to find a pathway that addresses its goals and concerns. Moving forward, MLS will remain focused on increasing opportunities for up-and-coming players, a key component of the League’s player development strategy that ultimately benefits the U.S. national team program."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
MLS' announcement Friday had caused consternation among fans who viewed the move as a cynical ploy to clear the club calendar at the expense of a competition that has been in existence since 1913. Critics quickly pointed to the sheer number of exhibition games that MLS clubs participate in over the course of a season as well as the recent introduction of a mid-season competition involving Mexican clubs.
U.S. Soccer's surprisingly robust intervention will delight traditionalists but is likely to only be an opening gambit in a struggle over the calendar that will rumble on.