THE 2021 Major League Soccer season (MLS) gets underway this weekend in the United States, kicking off one of the world’s most interesting, quirky and unpredictable football leagues.

By the time the match between Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes kicks off in Texas, over in Europe talks will have been held on the future of the Uefa Champions League where they appear to be using MLS as a blueprint for a new structure.

An extended group stage, an additional number of participating clubs, league tables to determine how qualified teams enter the play-offs and a knockout tournament to decide the champion — this accurately describes both the current MLS format and the proposed plans for the Champions League.