They proclaim the MLS as the most diverse league in the world, with more than 70 nationalities

The MLS emerged this Tuesday as the competition, whether within world soccer or any discipline in North America, with the most cultural diversity, hosting more than 70 nationalities in it.

According to a report issued by the league itself, it was announced that players from a total of 79 countries make the MLS the league with athletes of the greatest number of nationalities possible, surpassing other elite tournaments such as the English Premier League or Ligue 1. from France.

At least until May 9, MLS statisticians compiled that there has been a 33% increase in the last 15 years of players of multiple nationalities, accumulating just over 80 countries in that time.

Also, the 79 countries represented in 2024 marks a 44 percent increase from a decade ago (55 countries in 2014), as a diverse group of international players join MLS.

Beyond North America, MLS remains the most globally representative league among the world’s major men’s soccer leagues, including the English Premier League (69 countries represented), French Ligue 1 (68), Serie A Italy (65), Spain’s La Liga (60) and Germany’s Bundesliga (54).

The number of countries represented in MLS in 2024 is almost double that of the next closest men’s league in North America (NBA, 45 countries represented) and the total is greater than the NFL (29), MLB (23) and NHL (22) combined.

Likewise, the study highlighted that the MLS has the youngest average for any league in the United States, with a total of 26.13 years on the rosters of all teams.

Until May 13, MLS looked like the youngest league among the five major men’s sports leagues in North America. The NBA is the next closest league at 26.48 years, followed by the NFL (27.23), MLB (29.15), and NHL (29.34).

More than 150 players aged 22 or younger have played in at least one MLS game during the 2024 season (169 as of May 13) while of the 103 players who have debuted in MLS this season, the average age is 23.12 years.

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