Alexi Lalas: I'm Bullish About Major League Soccer

Tickets to this Saturday’s MLS Cup Final, where the Toronto FC will take on the Seattle Sounders, sold out in three minutes – a sign of the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S. Former MLS and U.S. National Team player and FOX Sports Analyst Alexi Lalas weighed in on the future of the sport and whether that positive momentum will continue.

“[This game will be broadcast for the] first time in prime time since 2008 and so we’re excited about it from the soccer perspective and just in general with Major League Soccer and what soccer is becoming in the United States and North America,” Lalas told the FOX Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo about FOX’s upcoming coverage of the game.

Lalas put into business terms why he is so optimistic about the future of the league and of soccer in general in the U.S.

“This is a stock that you want to have. Why do you want to have it? Because, look, it’s something that has an incredible demographic.”

Lalas viewed soccer’s popularity in America as no longer under the radar but finally getting the attention it deserves.

“The soccer nation is no longer underground, it’s no longer niche. It’s above ground, it’s passionate, it loves its sport, it’s discerning and it continues to grow each and every day.”

Lalas then weighed in on the great impact the U.S. Women’s National Team is having on soccer in the U.S.

“When you talk about the women’s soccer team and people say, ‘when is the U.S. going to win a World Cup?’ We’ve won multiple World Cups. Our women’s team is the best in the world; they are multiple World Cup champions, now we have to get the men to find a way to win the World Cup.”

Lalas added that he sees the members of the U.S. Women’s National Team as role models.

“We should be incredibly proud of all of our women on our women’s soccer team for what they do on and off the field.”

FOX Sports is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox (NYSE:FOXA), the parent company of the FOX Business Network.