Pitch Invasion

Who says MLS is meaningless and boring? Here’s video proof of the torment an MLS team goes through when it loses to a rival.

Last week, we reported that MLS had balked at the idea of offering the name Sounders as one of the choices in the online poll to pick the name of Seattle’s new MLS team. Fan pressure, though, seems to have contributed to a decision to allow a write-in choice, and a movement has started for Sounders as the choice. Max Rosenthal explains why.

Seattle’s MLS team, due to launch in 2009, had enjoyed a dream start in recent months due to publicity over their supporter-friendly identity. Then they had to choose a name, and suddenly, the conflict between global branding and local history drove a wedge between fans and MLS.

New York, New York? There might already be an MLS team with “New York” in the name, but today we look at the prospects for a new franchise within the five boroughs. Who’s behind this bid?

The wheels on the MLS expansion bandwagon are already turning as the league looks to fill out to 18 clubs. Will it be to the “Soccer Capital of the USA”, St Louis, that MLS looks to next? Or would another team in the Midwest not be glamorous enough?

Standing still, it seems, would be as foolish for MLS as reintroducing shootouts to decide drawn games. Expansion will be coming again, and soon. Today we consider Miami’s candidacy for the next coveted spot.

The Philadelphia supporters’ group the Sons of Ben have over two thousand members and their team won’t start play for two more years. Those following MLS closely have read a lot about them in recent times, as a year ago they had thirty-odd members and no team at all, playing an important part in giving […]

A week has passed since Pitch Invasion published an article largely based on an interview with the head of Section 8 Chicago that criticised the decision of Toronto FC to only offer around 100 tickets to visiting Chicago Fire fans for their upcoming game in October. A firestorm has erupted since. We look at the reaction so far, and the next steps for MLS.

Away support in MLS will be under the spotlight soon when Toronto take a couple of thousand fans to Columbus for their season opener. Yet Toronto’s own front office is restricting away travel to BMO Field from opponents, and MLS headquarters seems disinterested in doing anything to assist those who want to journey to watch their team. What’s the way forward?