The American League opens the door to including Mohamed Salah

The commissioner of the American Professional Soccer League, Don Garber, said that the competition is strongly seeking to sign Mohamed Salah, captain of the Egyptian national team, who ended his nine-year career with Liverpool last month, if the opportunity arises.

He said: “We would like to contract with Mohamed Salah. We will wait and see how these negotiations go.”

Garber rejected the constant criticism that the competition is still the destination for players at the end of their football careers, and said that the average age of players in the competition is 26 years, referring to the competitiveness described by the players who joined it.

He pointed out that Lionel Messi’s arrival to Inter Miami has changed the global perception of the American League, and that the competition has outperformed Barcelona and Saudi competitors in signing the Argentine star.

He added: “He certainly did not come here to retire. He plays the full 90 minutes in every match and struggles as if winning that match is no less important than winning any other match he has played before.”

Garber stressed that the association does not view the 2026 World Cup as just a six-week showcase, but rather as a launching pad for a new era, with the aim of transforming global interest in the game in North America into sustainable growth in fan numbers, importance and prestige.

Garber added that the American League began planning for the tournament after obtaining the right to host in 2018, and used the event as fuel for expansion, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the league’s position globally.

“We sat down and said the World Cup would be the star that guides us on the way,” Garber said.

He added: “What did we need to do to become a different league by the time the World Cup starts on home soil?”

Since then, the MLS has added seven teams and nine stadiums dedicated to soccer. With roster rules changed to encourage investment in young players, average attendance increased by 35 percent, and a global media partnership with Apple launched.

According to the American League, the value of clubs has tripled since 2018, and their total value now amounts to about $23 billion.

Garber said the league does not want the World Cup to be a short-lived event that fades once the tournament is over.

He added: “We do not want the tournament to be like a concert by Taylor Swift, a pop star, where there is tremendous energy, and then a period of time passes until she returns for another concert. We want it to be like entering a new home.”

He pointed out that the American League expects an increase in attendance after the World Cup, as local league competitions in host countries have historically benefited from this event. But he added that the league will measure success on a broader scale through popularity, importance, awareness, player appreciation, and fan interaction.

Garber said: “What we will measure now, through research, is whether it is more popular? Have we become more important? Have more people become aware of the American League?”