Media rights exec hopes to create merged CONMEBOL and CONCACAF Champions League
Teams in Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX could soon be playing its international club competitions at an even higher level as plans to merge two confederations of Champions League football into one are underway.
Riccardo Silva, president and co-founder of MP & Silva, a sports media rights company, is gauging interest in a combined CONCACAF and CONMEBOL Champions League.
Silva envisions the tournament as a chance not only to elevate the level and prestige of the competition, but grow the game in both regions.
"The possibility of having U.S. teams compete against some of the best teams in Brazil and Argentina could help to raise the overall quality of football at an elevated rate," Silva told Sports Business Daily's Ian Thomas. "The Americas also have a combined population that is 30 percent higher than that of Europe, which shows the commercial potential of this idea."
Currently, each confederation hosts its own version of the title. Silva proposes a 64-team tournament, with an initial group stage followed by a knockout round, akin to the UEFA Champions League. It would start in February and go for seven-to-nine months, mostly with mid-week matches.
Winners of a merged Champions League would have a financial incentive, as Silva estimates that prizes worth $440 million could be distributed among the clubs. Each team would receive $5 million for qualifying, with the winner taking home $30 million at the end.
"When you look at the money that could be involved and what will be provided to clubs, we believe this can be a turning point for soccer across the two continents," Silva said.
Silva says a merged Champions League in the Western Hemisphere could be worth more than $500 million in television and marketing rights alone.
"(It's) unbelievable that this has not existed yet," Silva said. "If teams want to play in a competition, and broadcasters want to broadcast it, I don't see a reason for anyone to block it."
Silva and his company have consulted with top teams in Brazil and Uruguay and received pledges of support. Their next step is to reach out to U.S. Soccer, Liga MX, and MLS. They've hired former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue to advise them on their efforts.
"The concept of top North American soccer clubs competing against top South American clubs comes in the right moment for soccer's continuing strong development in the U.S. market," Tagliabue said.
There is no timetable yet for when such a tournament could come to fruition.