Former USMNT striker Herculez Gomez advocates for club ownership model over MLS franchise system

Following Wrexham’s back-to-back promotions from the National League into League One and the League One into the Championship, many have praised their celebrity American owners. So much so that former U.S. international Herculez Gomez has questioned whether MLS’ model is limiting soccer investment in America, especially in light of Wrexham’s success. Gomez contrasted this with the English football system, where investors like Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were able to purchase historic club Wrexham AFC for approximately $2.5 million and build it into a global phenomenon.

“You see American ownerships all around the world, and it makes you wonder what it would look like if it was in the United States,” Gomez said on Futbol Americas. “You see Major League Soccer, they sell franchises. It’s a better investment or more worth their time for them not to spend upwards of 500 or 600 million for a franchise and be approved, and just go out and buy a team and see if you can win.”

The contrast between America's closed franchise system and England's open pyramid with promotion and relegation has long been a point of contention in soccer circles. Wrexham's rapid rise through the English football pyramid - securing back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One - has captured American imaginations partly because such a meteoric rise is structurally impossible in the current MLS system.

While a complete restructuring of American soccer remains unlikely in the near term, the success of lower-league clubs in the US Open Cup and Wrexham’s surging popularity suggest a growing appetite for alternative models. However, for now and for Wrexham, their focus will be on securing their squad ahead of what will be a gruelling season in the Championship.