The Growing Rivalry Between The Saudi Pro League And Major League Soccer As Alternatives Outside Europe
In the Al Nassr-Inter Miami game build-up, most of the focus was on the two football titans: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The two watched from the sidelines, with injuries keeping them off the pitch.
However, beyond the trending news is the growing rivalry between the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer. Both leagues are growing and have applied similar tactics to attract well-known names to raise the profile of their respective leagues.
Both the US and Saudi Arabia are set to host the World Cup in the next few years, and the leagues are striving to improve the quality of their league to ensure the host nation can field a competitive squad when the tournament starts.
The MLS has the advantage of being the more established league with higher stadium attendance numbers and a strong contingent of home-grown players. However, the SPL is not resting on its laurels, and with the heavy investment from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, it can manage to accelerate its plans. Soon, the Saudi Pro League may catch up with the MLS and even compete with the top five European clubs for talents in their prime. Whether that translates to a growing pipeline of homegrown players remains to be seen.
