Major League Soccer’s growth has been a long process over the past 27 years. Throughout the league's growth, one of the most interesting themes has been how heavy investment affects teams' performance. However, unlike many other leagues, money has failed to have the desired impact in the MLS. There are many factors at play for this strange trend.

The Early Stages of MLS

After the 1994 World Cup in the United States, team owners decided to create a new soccer league in the United States. Since the league's inception in 1996, Major League Soccer has been the home for American soccer, but during its first decade in existence, the league was constantly at risk of collapsing. Teams put a freeze on spending during this time indefinitely to prevent losing more money. After the 2002 World Cup, the MLS saw a major revival and the beginning of the first expansion phase for the MLS.

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