IFFHS League Ranking - MLS 66th in the world, 4th in CONCACAF. What's it's real ranking?

[Ansem]

IFFHS AWARDS – THE STRONGEST NATIONAL LEAGUE IN THE WORLD 2019 – THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE NUMBER 1

https://iffhs.de/iffhs-awards-the-strongest-national-league-in-the-world-2019/

UEFA TOP 3: England – Spain – Italy

CONMEBOL TOP 3: Brazil – Colombia – Argentina

CAF TOP 3: Tunisia – Morocco – Egypt

AFC TOP 3: South Korea – Saudi Arabia – Japan

CONCACAF TOP 3: Mexico – Guatemala – Costa Rica

OCEANIA TOP 3: New Caledonia – Tahiti – New Zealand

Edited February 14, 2020 by Ansem

[youllneverwalkalone]

I hate MLS as much as the next guy but, um, what is the criteria here?

[Ansem]

.

Edited February 13, 2020 by Ansem

[Ansem]

51 minutes ago, youllneverwalkalone said:

I hate MLS as much as the next guy but, um, what is the criteria here?

Closet I got from an explanation. Can't say I understand but it's a bit severe in my opinion.

https://iffhs.de/explanations-cwr/

 

Edited February 13, 2020 by Ansem

[An Observer]

Seriously, this has to be the worst ranking of leagues I have ever seen. Brazil is 2nd; Bundesliga is 10th.  It has zero credibility if it has anything to do with the quality of the players. 

[Gian-Luca]

You really thought this obviously- ridiculous league ranking system was worth reporting in a thread on its own?

[Ansem]

23 minutes ago, Gian-Luca said:

You really thought this obviously- ridiculous league ranking system was worth reporting in a thread on its own?

Yeah, we can all agree that MLS is higher and debate where it fits.

[Blackdude]

1 hour ago, Gian-Luca said:

You really thought this obviously- ridiculous league ranking system was worth reporting in a thread on its own?

It's only worth reporting if it makes MLS look bad. 

[Kent]

Based on the results of CONCACAF club competitions, here is my list.

1. Mexico

2. MLS

3. Panama

4. Costa Rica

5. Honduras

6. El Salvador

7. Guatemala

8. Nicaragua

9. Belize

Caribbean honourable mentions to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. They might be around 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th, but it is hard to tell because of how CONCACAF (and as a result, my spreadsheet) groups Caribbean leagues together.

I have no idea how that website ranked Guatemala 2nd.

[Unnamed Trialist]

If you looked at the web the MLS was virtually tied with the 2nd and 3rd. Making it a touch less ridiculous. 

It as also a ranking strictly for that one season. Even so, a bit much. 

[Stanley]

22 hours ago, Kent said:

Based on the results of CONCACAF club competitions, here is my list.

1. Mexico

2. MLS

3. Panama

4. Costa Rica

5. Honduras

6. El Salvador

7. Guatemala

8. Nicaragua

9. Belize

Caribbean honourable mentions to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. They might be around 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th, but it is hard to tell because of how CONCACAF (and as a result, my spreadsheet) groups Caribbean leagues together.

I have no idea how that website ranked Guatemala 2nd.

Belize?  That league is a joke.

[Kent]

7 hours ago, Stanley said:

Belize?  That league is a joke.

That’s why it is 9th out of 9 in CONCACAF (excluding Caribbean leagues).

[Stanley]

5 hours ago, Kent said:

That’s why it is 9th out of 9 in CONCACAF (excluding Caribbean leagues).

It still should be lower! 😆

[Obinna]

On 2/14/2020 at 10:33 AM, Kent said:

Based on the results of CONCACAF club competitions, here is my list.

1. Mexico

2. MLS

3. Panama

4. Costa Rica

5. Honduras

6. El Salvador

7. Guatemala

8. Nicaragua

9. Belize

Caribbean honourable mentions to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. They might be around 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th, but it is hard to tell because of how CONCACAF (and as a result, my spreadsheet) groups Caribbean leagues together.

I have no idea how that website ranked Guatemala 2nd.

I think Costa Rica and Honduras are neck-and-neck for 3rd/4th. I wonder where we rank. Perhaps in the 6-8 range? Higher maybe? Don’t think we are lower...

Edited August 28, 2020 by Obinna

[Kent]

On 8/28/2020 at 2:24 PM, Obinna said:

I think Costa Rica and Honduras are neck-and-neck for 3rd/4th. I wonder where we rank. Perhaps in the 6-8 range? Higher maybe? Don’t think we are lower...

Not sure why I didn’t respond to this earlier. The sample space is too small right now to really rank us, but your range sounds reasonable. Off the top of my head I believe Forge beat a Guatemalan team (could be wrong) and lost to a Honduran team (more sure of that one). We shall see if we get more data points this year or not.

[Chad_Impact]

Now the question is, where does CANPL rank in there

 Edit (Oh woops this was already being discussed)

Edited October 6, 2020 by Chad_Impact

[AvroArrow]

Based on the skill of whoever made this list, I imagine the CPL could be ranked #1 or it could be ranked #12.

[Mikmacdo]

CPL will be number 3 in the next three years. 

[dyslexic nam]

3 hours ago, Mikmacdo said:

CPL will be number 3 in the next three years. 

I am a big fan of CPL but this seems like rose coloured glasses gone wild.  Costa Rica has a strong league and with a team like Saprissa  ($4.3M budget according to TransferMarket).  CPL isn’t getting there in 3 years IMO.  Someday?  Absolutely.   Most likely after 2026.  

[SthMelbRed]

52 minutes ago, dyslexic nam said:

I am a big fan of CPL but this seems like rose coloured glasses gone wild.  Costa Rica has a strong league and with a team like Saprissa  ($4.3M budget according to TransferMarket).  CPL isn’t getting there in 3 years IMO.  Someday?  Absolutely.   Most likely after 2026.  

How good is the second best team in Costa Rica, or Honduras, for that matter? I think that CanPL will never have a single super club like either of those countries, but if we can get to the point where the bulk of the teams in our league are as good or better than the second best team in those leagues, we can argue that we have the third best league in CONCACAF.

[dyslexic nam]

8 minutes ago, SthMelbRed said:

How good is the second best team in Costa Rica, or Honduras, for that matter? I think that CanPL will never have a single super club like either of those countries, but if we can get to the point where the bulk of the teams in our league are as good or better than the second best team in those leagues, we can argue that we have the third best league in CONCACAF.

Don’t get me wrong - I think it will happen. It is the 3 year timeframe I don’t buy.  

[dyslexic nam]

20 minutes ago, SthMelbRed said:

How good is the second best team in Costa Rica, or Honduras, for that matter? I think that CanPL will never have a single super club like either of those countries, but if we can get to the point where the bulk of the teams in our league are as good or better than the second best team in those leagues, we can argue that we have the third best league in CONCACAF.

FWIW, I took the top 4 teams and looked them up on transfermarket. 
 

CS Cartagines - $4.5M

Limon FC - $3.24M

LD Alajuelense - $4.5M

Saprissa - $4.3M

 

So Saprissa isn’t a unique outlier.  They are definitely one of the elite, but that is a pretty rich top 4 by CONCACAF standards.  Barring the MLS teams moving to CPL in the short term, it will be a while before the league has that sort of financial clout.  

[Mikmacdo]

1 hour ago, dyslexic nam said:

FWIW, I took the top 4 teams and looked them up on transfermarket. 
 

CS Cartagines - $4.5M

Limon FC - $3.24M

LD Alajuelense - $4.5M

Saprissa - $4.3M

 

So Saprissa isn’t a unique outlier.  They are definitely one of the elite, but that is a pretty rich top 4 by CONCACAF standards.  Barring the MLS teams moving to CPL in the short term, it will be a while before the league has that sort of financial clout.  

Before the pandemic York 9s roster was worth around 4 million on transfermarket I believe. 

[Ruffian]

12 hours ago, dyslexic nam said:

CS Cartagines - $4.5M

Limon FC - $3.24M

LD Alajuelense - $4.5M

Saprissa - $4.3M

Is C.S. Herediano not on that list? I seem to remember them being in CONCACAF Champions League a lot.

[dyslexic nam]

3 hours ago, Ruffian said:

Is C.S. Herediano not on that list? I seem to remember them being in CONCACAF Champions League a lot.

Quite possible.  There wasn't a ton of rigour put into my effort...