When Don Garber speaks, people with even a remote interest in Major League Soccer and, by extension, the future of Americanadian soccer as we know it, tend to cup their ears and listen. This time around, the Don’s remarks seem to point to his major global competitors (and, indeed, collaborators?) as India, and even moreso, China. From an interview with goal.com that was featured in Yahoo! (synergy!):

Clearly this transfer window, a handful of Chinese clubs made massive investments. There’s rumors of an emerging football league in India backed by the country’s wealthiest person. That’s certainly going to have some impact.

At the end of day, this is a tough business. We’ve been through the thick and thin of it for 16 years now. We’re less concerned about what happened a month ago as opposed to what’s happening over the next decade or generation.

Garber then goes on to discuss the possibility of selling TV rights (and players) from MLS overseas, the importance of player development, how Financial Fair Play could have a positive knock-on effect on MLS (presumably from teams interested in buying talented unknowns on the cheapish), and Garber’s bald-faced support of a second MLS franchise in New York to join the Red Bulls.

This vision can only be encouraging to fans of elite American soccer.