The English Premier League is a more established league with higher financial resources and global reach, while Major League Soccer is a rapidly growing league focused on competitive balance and youth development.
| Attribute | English Premier League | Major League Soccer |
|---|---|---|
| Name | English Premier League | Major League Soccer |
| Average Player Salary | " £60,000 to £67,000 per week (€4,481,949 annually) | $354,390 (2025) |
| Global Viewership | Broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes, potential TV audience of 4.7 billion. Cumulative audiences for live programming reached 1.35 billion. | Growing international presence on platforms like TikTok |
| Number of Teams | 20 | 30 (27 in US, 3 in Canada) |
| League Age (Years) | 33 (Founded on 20 February 1992, inaugural season began on 15 August 1992) | 31 years since founding (founded in 1993, inaugural season in 1996) |
| Champions League Qualification (if applicable) | Top teams qualify for the UEFA Champions League | Teams can qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup |
| Domestic Cup Competitions | FA Cup and EFL Cup (League Cup) | U.S. Open Cup and Canadian Championship |
| Player Transfer Market Value | €12.18 billion | Thiago Almada: €25.00m (highest), Average: €1.63 million |
| Stadium Attendance Average | 40,421 per game (2024–25 season) | 23,194 (2024), 94% capacity, nearly 11.5 million fans in 2024 season |
| Revenue Generated Annually | £6.3 billion (2023/24 season) | $2 billion (last season), 27% increase compared to the previous year |
| Youth Academy Quality | Premier League Lifeskills and Personal Development Programme includes sustainability education for academy players. | Emphasizes youth development through academy programs, Homegrown Player rule |
| Competitive Balance (Parity) | Studies suggest that competitive balance has declined in the Premier League era. Egalitarian revenue model, but financial dominance of the 'Big Six' distorts competitive balance. | Parity model with salary cap, Designated Player rule, and allocation of draft picks |
| Geographic Distribution of Teams | Primarily from England, with two teams from Wales. | Primarily located across the Mid-Atlantic, Lower Plains, and Pacific Coast regions |
| Price | Not available | Not available |
| Ratings | Not available | Not available |