Following comments by Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla, talk is heating up about whether Liga MX and the MLS will eventually collaborate on a tournament.
Liga MX and the MLS staged a tournament called North American SuperLiga for several years. The North American SuperLiga ran from 2007-2010, featuring four teams from each of the two leagues before it was cancelled after its last season, in part because of the growing popularity of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Bonilla is now reviving talks of a new tournament, a discussion that comes in the aftermath of Liga MX pulling out of the 2017 Copa Libertadores because of scheduling conflicts. For his part, MLS commissioner Don Garber has also previously expressed interest in a new tournament with Liga MX, but has cited scheduling conflicts as a potential roadblock.
While there is nothing concrete in place, the latest word of the tournament comes as Liga MX officials track the success of the MLS. More from ESPN FC:
Pachuca president Jesus Martinez told Medio Tiempo there are advantages for Liga MX clubs to strengthen ties with MLS.
“[Liga MX] loses a lot [by not being in the Libertadores], although it will be strengthened in another way, because we are looking at a league with the United States to strengthen the bi-national issue. And MLS is also growing very well, with a great vision.
“The [Copa Libertadores] window closes, but we hope to open others. Enrique has some very ambitious projects.”
However, Bonilla cautioned that a good accord with MLS was only the first step in planning a new event.
“The league has a great and close-knit relationship with MLS. We’re working to do things together,” he said. “But we also have a great relationship with the Bundesliga, Premier League and the Colombian league.
“We are creating projects with each of them to improve Mexican football.”
Based on previous comments from Bonilla, Liga MX may wind up returning to Copa Libertadores in 2018, so the league’s absence from the event may be short-lived. Even if that turns out to be the case, however, it seems that both Liga MX and the MLS will take a serious look at forming a new tournament.
Photo of 2013 MLS All-Star Game by Brett Flanders via flickr.com.