Major League Soccer has always had a pride problem. It is inherently an American thing. The league cannot accept that it is not ‘greatest in the world’. This inherent sense of undeserved superiority works in leagues like MLB, the NFL and NBA. They are the best in the world. But the same cannot be said for soccer.
In fact, the pinnacle of soccer is a long way from North America. South America, Europe and Africa produce much higher-standard players than North America does. In South America and Africa, the domestic clubs have embraced the fact that European competition is where the elite players and teams compete.