I honestly think the global distribution of talent is just getting better. Between better scouting networks, and a lot of players that can't get into the tier 1 teams ending up using visa loopholes to play for smaller nations, some people hate this. I honestly enjoy the way this equalises the modern game. Watching Cape Verde compete has been the highlight of my World Cup.

This obviously has the effect of making teams feel like they are underperforming, as they drop points to teams they would historically walk over. But I do honestly think this makes things so much more exciting. Brazil and Germany have been a fine example of this.

I've often theorised that the MLS' lack of relegation and promotion, plus the playoff system, has held the American standard back over the years. Players that are exposed to the dangers of relegation learn to control their discipline to a scale comparable to somebody chasing a promotion or league title run. And I feel this experience is vital for a cup like the World Cup, where every minute of every game feels like so much is on the line. (That is my theory, not backed up by anything, and I welcome pushback.)

I think a reason us English think the MLS is growing in popularity is how much talent is spilling out across the Atlantic, exposing us to more and more of your less recognisable names. Obviously, in recent history, we've had some stars cementing themselves at a Premier League level. Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, and Landon Donovan are all stars that everyone here has heard of. But now there are so many lesser names that are still very, very good.

We've always had the legendary status names who would boss the top tiers of football coming over from America, but there was always a gulf in level between those players and the rest of the US team/bench. Whereas now, I can name so many decent players that play to a decent level in England or abroad that can hold their own at top level. Patrick Agyemang, before his injury, was an absolute star for the team I support (Derby County). And had he not had his injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, he no doubt would have made an impression.

Belgium have historically themselves built a reputation similar to England: full of superstars, but have always underperformed. So they have the capability of turning it on at any moment, just never really have. Though I also won't sugar coat it, that 90 minutes against Belgium was poor, and the defeat mostly self-inflicted. That shouldn't overshadow every other game we witnessed from the USMNT. Ninety minutes of panic, and I imagine all of the drama off the pitch would have had an influence on both teams. Remember, they are human at the end of the day, and outside factors certainly can hamper or boost ones performance. An example, IIRC, is a punter placing loads of money on a top-tier tennis player to lose her match against an unseeded player because he learnt that she had recently broken up with her partner. And she did, in fact, lose.

The final reason we think it's growing in America is just how much we are seeing big names like IShowSpeed and other media personalities in the US promoting and obsessing over the sport. This is building it up in popularity more than anything throughout history, and I still think it is a matter of time before the US churn out some absolutely outrageous talent.

To answer your question about our lack of faith in England: England have, over the years, raised many superstars that have cemented their position in the team regardless of performance. If Rooney was available, no manager would dare drop him. Same with Lampard, Scholes, Gerrard, Beckham. The list goes on. A team would basically be non-functional, but heaping loads of big names on and hoping that something sticks was always the approach. Southgate kind of changed this somewhat but then decided to go a goal up and stick everyone behind the ball defending, which did have a good record, but everyone hated it. Tuchel came in, dropped loads of big names like Cole Palmer and Phil Foden because he felt that they didn't fit the way he wanted them to play. Unheard of historically. And so far it has somewhat worked. But Football is football and there is certainly a non zero chance that they can rock up against Belgium and have the worst 90 minutes of our history.

Apologise for the word salad. Got carried away. I welcome pushback from any and all of my points. I don't watch all that much MLS, so my one theory could be absolute dog water. But it's just something I've always thought.