For his part, Beckham says he's "committed to it and committed to the cause" of soccer in America.
But the spat has opened up wider questions about Beckham's commitment to soccer in America and Major League Soccer's ability to not only lure but keep big name players.
"I think soccer in America can one day become very important, and one day, when I retire, I would like to buy a team in Major League Soccer, " he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
But given the changing economic times it is not all that different than what happened in the mid-sixties when an attempt was made to ride the coattails of the 1966 World Cup and to sell professional soccer in North America.
FORBES: Did USA Experience Play A Part In The Qatar Dream Football League Hoax?
In an interview with Soccer America published in December 2010 Blazer said that despite reservations about South Africa, FIFA left with a feeling that if a great World Cup could be pulled off there, it could be done anywhere.
FORBES: Why The IOC Should Be Very Worried About FIFA And Brazil 2014
In 2012, Corinthians pocketed more than any other soccer club in Latin America.
FORBES: Corinthians, The Most Valuable Soccer Team Outside of Europe
London, England (CNN) -- Four years ago, Tim Howard watched from the sidelines as the United States crashed out of the World Cup after failing to make it past the group stages in Germany, which was a blow to soccer's slow development in America.
CNN: Howard hopes confident U.S. can spring World Cup surprises
The four networks in Latin America show soccer and baseball.
Each year the bottom teams from the top-tiered soccer leagues in England, Europe and Latin America are kicked down to the next level.
Electronic Arts announced on Thursday that Real Madrid midfielder Kaka would be on the cover of EA Sports FIFA Soccer 11 which hits stores September 28 in North America.
David Beckham has arrived in America to be the savior of soccer.
The minivan quickly became the preferred vehicles of "soccer moms, " who were becoming a formidable force in America's political landscape, at least according to pundits.
In the global economy, however, small ponds are at a disadvantage: Whereas baseball's popularity mostly resides in North America and the Pacific Rim, soccer is watched by the entire globe.
Soccer is huge in Europe, and Football is huge in America, not just because every sports station is broadcasting it, but because everyone in Europe has kicked around a soccer ball and every American has thrown a football.
Not to mention Europe and South America, where he hopes soccer stadiums will fall in line.
Carlos Slim and his company America Movil recently bought stakes in one Spanish and two Mexican soccer teams, but none of the three franchises rank nearly high enough on any valuation list.
But only 6% of those net revenues were generated from outside of North America, and part of this revenue resulted from partnerships with soccer teams in France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
FORBES: Underarmour Continues To Gain Strength Across The Pond
应用推荐