Rivalry is the essence of soccer. Of course, the same could be said of most sports, but in the case of soccer it is a lifeblood. Not so long ago, that was an issue for Major League Soccer. For all that North America’s top flight had undeniably grown in the post-David Beckham years it lacked the sort of edge that defines the game everywhere else.
And so MLS embarked on a mission to manufacture that edge. New York City FC were introduced to the league in 2015 as the city’s second team after the New York Red Bulls, while new franchises Atlanta United and Orlando City also struck up a contest.