Former U.S. international Herculez Gomez has sparked a debate over MLS’s franchise model, suggesting that the league could benefit from transitioning to a club ownership structure, similar to the one in England. Gomez made the comments in light of the back-to-back promotions of Wrexham AFC, which recently climbed from the National League into League One and then into the Championship, under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Gomez questioned if the current MLS model, which involves selling franchises, limits investment in American soccer, especially considering Wrexham’s remarkable rise after being bought for approximately $2.5 million. He pointed out that it might be more appealing for investors to purchase a team outright and attempt to build success, rather than paying hundreds of millions for a franchise slot in MLS.
“You see American ownerships all around the world, and it makes you wonder what it would look like if it was in the United States,” Gomez said on Futbol Americas. “You see Major League Soccer, they sell franchises. It’s a better investment or more worth their time for them not to spend upwards of 500 or 600 million for a franchise and be approved, and just go out and buy a team and see if you can win.”
The contrast between MLS’s closed franchise system and England’s open pyramid system with promotion and relegation has long been a topic of debate. While a complete restructuring of American soccer remains unlikely in the near term, Wrexham’s meteoric rise has caught the attention of American fans and raised questions about alternative models for soccer investment in the U.S.
For now, Wrexham remains focused on strengthening its squad ahead of a challenging season in the Championship.
