The UEFA Champions League gives us a fair idea of how the elite European clubs stack up against each other. However, there is no such tournament that pits an MLS team against the European powerhouses. Considering the rapid rise of the US-based soccer league, people are now wondering if Major League Soccer sides could hold their own in the EPL, dubbed ‘the hardest in the world’. The question eventually made its way to USMNT veteran, Alexi Lalas.

Regarding the question, Lalas replied, “Mid-table.” From the looks of it, the former defender could be referring to Lionel Messi and Co. at Inter Miami and/or Minnesota United, who are first in the MLS Eastern and Western Conference, respectively. A bold take as per many fans. However, it is worth noting that Lalas has had European experience as he played in the Serie A in the 1994-95 season for Padova. Also, the USMNT legend’s comments seem to have been influenced by a recent game.

In the recent FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Leicester City, Axel Disasi committed a huge mistake! The Frenchman received the ball from a throw-in and in his attempt to pass the ball back to the goalie, he struck it a little too hard. The goalkeeper was unable to save the attempt, and this resulted in a goal for Leicester City. Lalas straightaway commented on the footage, saying, “Proper Football.”

One reason why it is difficult to compare MLS sides with Premier League teams is that both rarely play competitive games against each other. In fact, in 2022, Seattle Sounders became just the first side to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup! Hence, the best way to compare the quality of soccer in the two countries would be through rankings.

How do the MLS clubs stack against English clubs in rankings?

As per FootballDatabase’s soccer club rankings, the #1-ranked team in the world is Manchester City with 2084 points. The first MLS team on this list is Philadelphia Union at the 372nd position with 1475 points. Inter Miami is ranked 1072. Even in the North America- CONCACAF bracket, LIGA MX teams are ahead of the MLS clubs. To make matters worse, Nottingham Forest, a team fighting against relegation in the EPL, is ranked 157th while the Championship’s Leeds United comes in at 302.

This indicates that Lalas’ comments are debatable. Also, two recent matches further illustrate that MLS teams are still not comparable quality-wise. In February, Inter Miami was thrashed 6-0 by Al Nassr. Likewise, the MLS All-Star XI was beaten by Arsenal 5-0 in the 2023 pre-season.

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Hence, it is reasonable to suggest that Inter Miami, or any other top MLS side for that matter, will struggle to end up mid-table in the brutal Premier League.

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