The USA is looking to write itself firmly on the global football stage as the World Cup in North America could be a defining one for the beautiful game Stateside.
Enormous pressure is on Mauricio Pochettino and his players as the trajectory of football in the country hinges on the team’s success in the tournament. America has already made incredible steps with the sport becoming increasingly popular thanks to the investment and influx of world superstars.
However, rewind to the 1994 World Cup hosted by America, and the country put in steps to build upon hosting the greatest tournament in the world with the creation of the MLS.
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But not all was well received, and the hilarious old-style MLS penalties were introduced and are still a laughing stock today, 27 years after they were abandoned.
The old style would see a timed, one-on-one between player and goalkeeper instead of the classic static penalty from 12 yards. America’s position as host has raised the humorous question among fans of whether the bonkers idea should be rolled out again.
Thankfully, the idea didn’t even appear to cross FIFA’s mind, something that former Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa and Tottenham and 82-time USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel is incredibly grateful about.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via prediction market experts at casino.org, Friedel recalled the old penalty shootout format: “The shootouts were ridiculous, and I hated taking part in them. And no, they should not be brought back. They should be left in the video cabinet.”
Friedel left the MLS very much when the league was in its early days, playing just one full season at Columbus Crew between 1996 and 1997. He returned back to his homeland after earning a scholarship at UCLA Bruins, but left the States to sign for Brondby in Denmark before turning out for Galatasaray. “You can’t compare the MLS to when I was there. I was playing mainly in American Football stadiums and a lot of really bad fields with bad turf,” he said.
“The salary cap levels, I think were only at about the $2million mark or something like that. Where the game’s grown today is unrecognisable. Most of the teams have their own stadium and the training grounds that people have built are incredible.
But Friedel insisted the league has to go further to ensure the quality of football is given every opportunity it can to emerge as one of the best in the world.
He continued: “I do think that they should sanction teams from playing on AstroTurf. I don’t think that should be allowed. And I think the MLS should stand up to some of these owners that keep mandating they have turf.
“I think that’s another step in the right direction. But the game keeps growing. I know people always want to get ahead of themselves and say they’re on par with certain other US sports, but they’re not yet.”
“It’s also still below the top European leagues and even some of the mid-tier European leagues, but it’s growing. They desperately need to get a television contract that pays for their salary caps though. That’s the next step there.
“I’m sure they’re hoping that the World Cup helps with the sponsor revenues and the television revenues and the viewership figures, because what my fear is, is that if they can’t find that television contract and you go another decade of losses, pretty soon the owners will stop wanting to write the checks.”
The USMNT begin their campaign on Saturday, June 13 against Paraguay before taking on Australia and Turkey in a group they are favourites to win.