MLS will be up to 18 clubs when play kicks off next season as Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers will be joining the league. That leads to a slight schedule change as clubs will play 34 matches, once at home and once on the road against each opponent. The bigger deal is the roster expansion that, I think, relates directly to the adidas sponsorship increase. Currently, MLS clubs can have 24 players and an extra two from their academy. There is no word on how the new 30 man roster will be divided, but that increase would indicate some sort of reserve league involvement. Rosters were at 28 when the reserve league was instituted and then reduced to 24 when the reserve league folded. Additionally, Canadians and Americans will both count as domestic players for all rosters. Currently, Toronto FC can count only a select number of Canadians as domestic players, while the remaining go against their foreign player count. With Vancouver joining the league and Montreal rumored to be not far behind, the cost of a Canadian will not increase. What should increase is the number of roster spots taken by Americans on those Canadian teams. My disapproval of Canadian teams in MLS is weakened by that important roster change.
MLS is for the enhancement of soccer in the United States. Having teams that require Canadians and not Americans does not do that.
Yeah, it's not just for the US. As far as i'm concerned, the crazy fanbase in Toronto only helps enhance the enthusiasm the rest of North America should follow. And Montreal fans are almost as crazy so they'll just help out the cause. It's nice to see the Cosmos coming in because most Red Bull fans are suits.
