In a move signaling unprecedented collaboration between the MLS and USL, the Phoenix Rising FC joined the 2024 Coachella Valley Invitational lineup. Last week, during his State of the Union address, Commissioner Don Garber shared his insights on expansion, marking Phoenix as a compelling market and a beacon for soccer potential.
Phoenix Rising FC Secures Spot in Historic MLS Preseason Event
Phoenix Rising FC, renowned for its dominance in the USL and winner of this year’s league, is set to make waves in the 2024 Coachella Valley Invitational (CVI), becoming the first USL team to feature in this MLS preseason tournament played in Indio, in the same grounds of the musical festival of the same name.
Commissioner Don Garber on Expansion and Exciting Markets
The invitation came days before Don Garber’s MLS Speech on the State of the League regarding further expansion, where the Commissioner stated, “I don’t know when it’ll end when we won’t talk about expansion. Thirty teams is a lot of teams, and we’ve got to onboard our 30th in San Diego. Phoenix is an exciting market. Tampa is an exciting market.”
Garber’s acknowledgment of Phoenix as an exciting market emphasizes the league’s recognition of the city’s potential in soccer on the heels of what could be considered the most successful USL club venture to date and one that presents the best case for “promotion” even if it means jumping leagues to join Major League Soccer in the future.
Phoenix Rising FC: A USL Powerhouse Takes Center Stage
Regardless of Garber’s plans for Arizona, the Phoenix Rising FC’s inclusion in the CVI positions the team as a critical player in the evolving narrative of USL and MLS collaborations, not to mention soccer in America as a topic. This move is a testament to the rising prominence of the USL in its markets, solidified by a one-of-a-kind media contract to broadcast its games on national TV for the first time, coupled with the league’s ability to produce competitive teams that can hold their own against MLS counterparts.
Last month, CBS and the United States Soccer League agreed to broadcast games on network television for the time in the league’s history.
The @USLChampionship is coming to @CBSSports and the Golazo Network! 🤩
CBS Sports and Golazo Network will air 100 USL matches annually through 2027. ⚽ pic.twitter.com/q0m0x66czw
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 7, 2023
The agreement, which goes through 2027, includes five matches on CBS, including the USL Championship Final. It also consists of 20 games each season on the CBS Sports Network and 75 streaming matches on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Games will be simulcast on Paramount+.
And now, the participation of Phoenix Rising FC in the CVI adds depth and excitement to the MLS preseason.
Looking Ahead: Phoenix Rising FC in Focus
As soccer fans head to the desert to watch some of the scheduled preseason games, many eyes will be on the Phoenix Rising FC, especially to see how they can hold up against a mid-tier caliber team like Minnesota. Their journey in this compelling preseason tournament, just a few weeks away, will serve as an early test for the USL champs and a pivotal moment in what could be seen as a growing synergy between the USL and MLS.
It’s a start. But while Commissioner Garber’s endorsement of Phoenix was a positive sign, he remains cautious about expansion. If anything, it was said it would be post-2026. For now, the Phoenix Rising FC’s participation in the CVI raises intriguing questions about the future landscape of professional soccer in the United States and the eternal dream of a pro-rel system between the two leagues.
Stay tuned for more updates as Phoenix Rising FC and other teams set the stage to participate in the MLS preseason event.
Cover: Phoenix Rising FC
