FIFA shows the ultimate disrespect to MLS with not consulting us about the schedule.

Worse yet, the USSF has scheduled qualifiers at the same time as MLS games. Sorry to burst your bubble Kartik, but MLS is not responsible when they put out their schedule and months later CONCACAF or the USSF schedule games to take advantage of TV windows. ESPN is also to blame for suggesting certain times for matches that conflict with a majority of MLS games.

The USSF and Bradley also need to be taken to task for calling in all these MLS guys during the season. Other countries are equally inconsiderate. Jamaica called in Ricketts on Wednesday and also called in some USL player I read about at the very last minute throwing his club for a loop. I don’t follow USL like you do Kartik so you probably know the player I am talking about.

So basically what we have is MLS with no say, and yet they get bashed for simply playing and the USSF and Bradley can show utter disrespect and yet not get criticized on this site. European clubs aren’t even playing now- why not take mostly European players for this tournament.

Those morons on Big Soccer reinforce why I never go to that joke site.

Dallas currently has the same problem and thus has underperformed as a market even when the (don’t call us) Hoops have been decent in the past.

Houston has the league’s best GM, best coach, and most consistently winning team and also gets good crowds. But I would argue Houston with some of the best footy infrastructure in the country would lead MLS in attendance most years if not for the heat. Sitting out at Robertson for those 2pm local time Telefutura games which the Dynamo feature in regularly is downright oppressive.

The TV ratings for MLS are the highest in the Houston market. They have the best team but their attendance while good is not as high as some others. Why? 110 degree heat index summers.

Please come to Chicago in the winter. If you pick the average day you wouldn’t get off the plane. You can play at night in the warmer climates, ok still not great but bearable. No such option in the north in the winter. My father taught be growing up that if I go to Wrigley Field before June 1 just dress for a football game in December. He was right. I do not want to say your not well informed but while many European nations are further north then many MLS cities due to climatic conditions, ie; oceans and jet streams, and things like that, the weather is more moderate.

I do agree that MLS does not want to up against the NFL or even NCAA football for that matter. Even Kartik, has his attention drawn away to an American football game when the college season starts. I will admit that the NFL forces soccer to the backseat for me. So, weather and football are major issues for the MLS.

Your absolutely right on the need for MLS not to schedule games during a USMNT match or in my opinion an El Tri match. That much MLS can do. They can schedule games to avoid teams playing who will be heavily hit by call ups. Or move certain games to midweek.

Yes, FIFA calenders just like NCAA schedules are made years in advance and would take a large effort to change. When I was in college I was involved in trying to reschedule an NCAA basketball game that had TV network implications since it was a game with a Number 1 ranked team. You would not believe the effort involved. So, I know a little bit about moving a game to midweek or longer. However, FIFA works with the European League schedules and weather conditions all the time and should also do such with MLS. The American soccer season has to be viewed by FIFA as a vital component of world football and not any longer a sideshow. US Soccer as a world player, MLS as a big league, and Concacaf tournaments now mean something. Yes, I suggest FIFA think about us and MLS think about FIFA and the USMNT schedule as well

Are you asking FIFA to clear international fixture dates (which are worldwide and set years in advance) with MLS?

Regardless of the merits whatever they may be of such an idea that will never happen. MLS knows the fixture dates in advance and they can pretty much guess when the US will be playing. Work around them. Have games 3 hours before or 3 hours after BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME!