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The various S'th American leagues are popular domestically and with fans that've emigrated to countries like the US but it's more than just the 'hype machine' surrounding UEFA that would say they're inferior leagues to the ones in Europe. Saying that, I don't know what MLS can do to really strengthen its domestic popularity and worldwide credibility. It's not practical for it to be included in tournaments that would include the elite European clubs. A lot of Britsh clubs visit the US in the closed season, but these are just for friendlies. There have been so many atempts to invigorate MLS over the years but I just think that a mixture of geographical circumstance and cultural indifference will mean that it'll never really take a foothold in the way that it has in countries like England, Italy, Holland, Spain, etc. I know Americans personally who have come to England and are shocked at the sheer amount of public interest there is in football over here. It certainly isn't the case for everyone in England but football is probably about as close to a national obsession that we have. And a lot of that stems from a certain self-loathing joy that comes from seeing the team you support (be it national or league) lose. It's a strange cultural quirk that sees a kind of pride in defeat that I'm not sure is found in other parts of the world. We're like a nation of Red Sox fans, in that respect.
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