When I first heard about the new SuperLiga competition, I assumed it was yet another series of friendlies with a trumped up moniker so fans wouldn't realize that it would really be reserve teams. The inaugural SuperLiga, which begins tomorrow and pits MLS clubs against Mexican clubs, seemed to be yet another attempt to create a Champion's League aura around what's really just meaningless exhibition soccer.
But then I read this:
"SuperLiga, the preeminent club tournament in North America, will not only decide the best team in the region but also award the heftiest winner's purse in North American soccer history ... In addition to the prestige of capturing this continental honor, the club that emerges as SuperLiga champion will take home $1 million in prize money, an unprecedented prize purse in North American soccer
Now a $1 million pay day doesn't seem like a lot, especially if you consider that the European Champion's League pays out over $50 million to the winning club or that the Galaxy are paying Beckham $50 million a season, but it is the single largest purse for a North American club tournament.
The 2007 CONCACAF Champions Cup paid out only $150,000 to its winning club, Pachuca. The US Open Cup winner will receive $100,000 this year. The paydays for each of these tournaments were increased this year, but neither stand up to the potential $1 million of the SuperLiga. As a point of comparison, the Copa Libertadores Champion, a South American club championship, receives about $3 million, and the FIFA Club World Cup winner receives about $4.5 million in prize money.
The SuperLIga, at least in terms of money, is closer to the North American version of the Champion's League than the CCC. Perhaps the MLS and USSF should consider combining the two tournaments next year so that clubs from all over the region could have a chance to participate in more of a Champion's League-style tournament. As it stands now, the SuperLiga is only open to MLS and Mexican clubs who qualify according to their domestic league finishes.
So, simple economics dictate that MLS clubs should field their best lineups in the SuperLiga, and judging by the reserve squads MLS fielded in the US Open Cup (where they were beaten by USL clubs in five out of eight matches) the front offices and coaching staff know which tournament will butter their bread (so to speak). Although, I still think LA should sit their $250 million investment till he's truly healthy.
The SuperLiga starts tomorrow with FC Dallas taking on Chivas de Guadalajara at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (9pmET) and
the aforementioned Galaxy vs. CF Pachuca at The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. (11pmET). All games will be televised on Telefutura and mlsnet.com.
The tournament begins with single match group play, with the winner and runners-up of each group advancing to the semifinals. Group A features Chivas de Guadalajara, L.A. Galaxy, FC Dallas, CF Pachuca, while Group B has Club América, D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, Monarcas Morelia.
Click here for MLS SuperLiga web page
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