What are the main differences between MLS and the Liga MX?

With Columbus Crew and Pachuca through to the Concacaf Champions Cup final, Sammy Sadovnik compared the US and Mexican leagues.

Luis Guillermo Vázquezluis_lgazulAndy HallUpdate: May 3rd, 2024 06:55 EDT0

JULIO CESAR AGUILARAFP

Comparisons between Major League Soccer and the Liga MX continue. It’s impossible not to contrast and compare both leagues every time a MLS side plays a Mexican team. The debate resumed on Wednesday when the Columbus Crew defeated Monterrey 3-1 at the BBVA stadium to secure a place in this summer’s Concacaf Champions Cup final. Awaiting them will be another Mexican team, Pachuca.

MLS and the Liga MX: How do they differ?

Fútbol de Primera radio analyzed both leagues and reached the conclusion that Mexican soccer continues to look down on MLS, and feels superior every time a Mexican side faces a North American or Canadian one.

⚔️ | ¡TODOS JUNTOS POR EL PASE A LA LIGUILLA!#PachucaSomosTodos💙 #PACPum pic.twitter.com/3slNOjN5oX

— Club Pachuca (@Tuzos) May 3, 2024

“This constant exercise of looking in the mirror of the MLS teams. I don’t know if this comparison is useful or if they are better than us now. The point is more to look forward, to try to improve oneself and see why the rival surpassed us,” noted Rosa Beatriz Sánchez regarding the comparisons that are always made between the two leagues.

“The most important thing here is the lack of knowledge that exists. Monterrey beat Inter Miami, they beat Cincinnati, and then suddenly along comes Columbus Crew, who as we know, are the reigning MLS champions, and eliminates them. But as they are from the MLS, there is this conception that they have to look down on themselves,” added Jaime Gallardo.

This @ColumbusCrew team is special.🗣️ @andrew_wiebe & @MattDoyle76 pic.twitter.com/UGv66h914T

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 2, 2024

The differences between MLS and Liga MX

Despite the constant comparisons, especially taking into account the economic value of the respective rosters, the FDP panel of pundits believes that the system in both leagues is very different and that the Mexican market is usually highly inflated.