MLS representative Lino di Cuollo on the role of developing markets

Speaking as part of day two of the Future of Football International Congress, Major League Soccer representative Lino di Cuollo shared his valuable knowledge on the growth of the beautiful game in the world's emerging markets. For the MLS, the secret has been in a three-phase plan, based on growth, independence and making the league more attractive to a global audience.

The league was brought into being back in 1996, with just ten teams. The creation of the North American competition actually went back to 1993, as part of a project to get the country ready for the 1994 World Cup. The MLS has steadily grown ever since, with unique ideas including the centralisation of players' contracts controlled by the league to ensure stability and balance between teams.

"In the MLS, we made it so that the competition is on the pitch. Off it, we work together", said the MLS representative, in a presentation that explained the league's growth into a league that could attract foreign talent, but with strict financial rules ensuring that budgets were kept under control.