Summary: It is generally considered that the Brazil soccer team is the strongest national team in the world

The common quip about soccer is: “the English invented it, the Brazilians perfected it.” And the quip is not far from the truth, it is generally considered that the Brazil soccer team is the strongest national team in the world and it is the only team to play in every world cup event. With five FIFA world cup victories including the most recent in 2002, the Brazil soccer team enjoys being the most successful national football team.

In spite of team’s dominance in the later years, the Brazil soccer team did have serious performance issues in its early years. Brazil was far from being one of the wealthiest South American countries. Internal strife and lack of proper funding resulted in the team’s sub par performance. In both 1930 and 1934 tournaments, the Brazil soccer team was knocked at the very first stages, until Leonidas da Silva managed to turn the club around in 1938. But still, Brazil soccer team was far from repute, especially on that embarrassing moment when Brazil hosted the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Despite stacks of favorable odds in their favor, they still got a beating from Uruguay in a match later known as “Maracanzo.”

When Pelé joined with the 1958 Brazil soccer team for the FIFA World Cup in Sweden, Brazil also made their first mark in history. Pelé, together with other extraordinary players like Didi, Garrincha and Zito stormed the tournament, toppling over giants like Italy and Wales to beat Sweden in a 5-2 game final. Even though being grouped with the toughest teams from the start including England, USSR and Austria, they managed to keep pressure relentlessly. The match with USSR was known for the “greatest three minutes in the history of soccer” where Pelé gave Brazil the lead.

Brazil’s next soccer years was troubled once again when political influences affected the Brazil soccer team. They had the worst performance in all World Cups though Pelé did play for the most part of the tournament.

The 1970 Brazil Soccer Team was considered the best national squad ever. It was this time when Brazil also won its third FIFA World Cup title. With Pelé, Carlos Alberto, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson and Rivelino, Brazil won the Jules Rimet Trophy and kept it for good. This was also Pelé’s last World Cup appearance.

The success of the Brazil soccer team was repeated 24 years later in World Cup USA where they won on a penalty shootout. Then it was repeated in South Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup with the “Three R’s” (Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho) hoisting the Brazilian banner.

It is often a case of wonderment that the streets of Brazil would once in a while churn out an individual that would never fail to become one of the greatest soccer players. Pelé, Rivaldo and currently the best soccer player Ronaldo, all of them had their share of these streets. As to why these streets remain so magical would always be a mystery.

The MLS or the Major League Soccer is America’s elite professional soccer league.

Major League Soccer is also endorsed by the professional division of USSF (United States Soccer Federation). United States Soccer Federation is one of the members of the Federation Internationale de Football Association or more popularly known as “FIFA”.

Major League Soccer was formed on the 17th of December 1993 to carry out their promise to FIFA that the Major League Soccer would establish a first division professional league. In return, “FIFA World Cup 1994” would be staged in the United States. Major League Soccer began playing two years later with ten teams and a very large crowd at the Spartan Stadium.

The first Major League Soccer “goal” was made by Eric Wynalda of the San Jose Earthquakes against the D.C. United. The San Jose Earthquakes became the first team to win a game in the Major League Soccer.

The number of teams participating in the Major League Soccer somehow declined slightly after its first year; however it stabilized in the succeeding years. The original ten teams were then divided into two subsequent conferences. These are the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference teams are the Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Chicago Fire, Red Bull New York and New England Revolution. The Western Conference is composed of teams F.C. Dallas, C.D. Chivas U.S.A., Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids, Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake. By the year 2007, Toronto F.C. will enter the league, making them the first non-US team in the Major League Soccer.

In the 2006 season of the Major League Soccer, two teams have changed their names. The NY/NJ MetroStars have changed their name into Red Bull New York and the San Jose Earthquakes also changed their name into Houston Dynamo.

How Major League Soccer Works

The league has made some rule changes. In its early years the league has experimented lots of rule changes. The current ruling of the MLS is that instead of a clock that would count up like in international soccer, it would count down and the countdown timer would stop on dead ball situation at the discretion of the referee. In an event of a draw, a best of five-penalty shootout will follow. In case of a tie in the best of five-penalty shootout, an extra frame is done to break the tie. The winning team will have one point opposite to the three points for the regulation victory, while the losing team will have zero point.

Although most people don’t know it, soccer has a very long history in the United States. That is why it is considered one of America’s favorite sports.

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