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Around 30 years ago, both MLS and the Japanese J-League started up as entirely new domestic leagues. Since then, both have undergone considerable change and expansion. For the J1 League, 10 teams competed in the 1992 season. Now, there are 20 teams in the top flight. Likewise, MLS has experienced massive growth after starting the 1996 MLS season. That also began with 10 teams, and MLS will have 30 teams in the 2025 season. Yet, that growth has led leagues down remarkably different paths.
Major League Soccer remains a closed system without promotion and relegation. The 30 teams in 2025 will compete against select teams with minimal consequences for those having poor seasons. On the other hand, the J1 League has relegation. Therefore, the three teams finishing at the bottom of the league drop down to the J2 League. Granted, the mere presence of promotion and relegation does not mean any league is stronger. However, 30 years on from their inception, the two leagues are worth discussing in terms of how they fare against one another.
In terms of which league is stronger, one place to look could be the Opta Power Rankings. A formula to determine the strength of every professional club in the world provides an aggregate ranking for each domestic league in soccer. MLS stands as the 13th strongest league in the world, as of April 2024. At that same time, the J1 League sat 22nd. That may not be the best metric, though, so let’s look at some of the more tangible things to come out of the two leagues.
How MLS compares against the J1 League
J1 LeagueMajor League SoccerFirst year of competition19921996Promotion and relegation?YesNoAverage attendance (in 2023)18,99322,111Continental cup wins63Number of active players in top-five European leagues to make debut in league187Current national team squad from domestic league’s clubs74Number of different league champions1115Gross transfer spending in 2024$17.86 million$296.76 million
Even though the Opta Power…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/j-league-vs-mls-which-league-is-stronger/
Author : Kyle Fansler
Publish date : 2024-10-02 22:42:14
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