MONTERREY, Mexico — Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers has reignited the debate over the relative strength of Mexico’s Liga MX and Major League Soccer after openly declaring that the Mexican championship is stronger and offers a more intense football environment.
The Monterrey forward made the comments after receiving his first senior call-up to the Belgium national team, a milestone that came several months after leaving Chicago Fire for Rayados. In interviews with Belgian media, Cuypers explained that the move was motivated not only by footballing ambition but also by his desire to rediscover the passion and competitive atmosphere he felt was missing during his time in the United States.
“The Mexican league is stronger than the MLS. We play much more in a European way here, with greater intensity and a level much closer to Europe.”
Hugo Cuypers, as reported by Belgian media
Cuypers was particularly critical of the atmosphere surrounding regular-season matches in MLS, arguing that the competition can lack urgency before the playoffs. He said he wanted to experience football with greater emotion and intensity again, qualities he believes he has found in Mexico.
“In the United States, football is not a priority and there is little emotion. I wanted to feel passion, emotion and intensity again. And I find that here.”
Hugo Cuypers, speaking to Belgian media
Why Cuypers Chose Monterrey Over Staying In MLS
Cuypers joined Monterrey in July 2026 after spending two-and-a-half seasons with Chicago Fire. The Belgian striker said he had received other opportunities in the United States but did not want to continue in a league environment he felt would offer him the same experience he had decided to leave.
His decision was also shaped by the possibility of returning to the Belgian national team. According to reports of his interview, Cuypers believed a move to Mexico would improve his chances of earning a call-up. He said he knew he had a better opportunity of being selected while playing for Monterrey than he did in MLS.
That expectation has now been fulfilled. On November 6, Monterrey confirmed that Cuypers had been selected for Belgium’s senior squad for the November UEFA Nations League fixtures against Türkiye and Italy. It was his first call-up to the senior national team, although he had previously represented Belgium at youth level.
His Numbers In The United States And Mexico
The timing of the call-up has attracted attention because Cuypers was already producing strong numbers before leaving the United States. Reports on his 2026 campaign indicate that he scored 13 goals in 11 MLS appearances for Chicago Fire before his summer transfer. Monterrey’s announcement of his national-team selection listed six goals in 13 Liga MX matches at that point in the Apertura 2026 season.
Those figures complicate any suggestion that his selection was simply a reward for moving from one league to another. His scoring form in Chicago was already impressive, while his performances in Mexico gave Belgium another opportunity to assess him in a different competitive setting. The call-up is evidence of Cuypers’ progress and visibility, but it does not by itself prove that every player in Liga MX is superior to every player in MLS.
More Than 100 MLS Players Receive November International Call-Ups
While Cuypers has questioned the quality and atmosphere of MLS, the league’s international representation offers another important perspective. Major League Soccer reported that more than 100 players from its clubs were called up for the November 2026 international window, underlining the competition’s broad reach across national teams and age groups.
According to the league’s published call-up list, those selected are set to feature in a range of competitions, including international friendlies, UEFA Nations League matches, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The list includes both senior and youth internationals, so the figure should not be interpreted as more than 100 senior national-team players.
The selections span a wide range of countries and confederations. Among the senior internationals named are South Korea captain Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, Gabon forward Denis Bouanga, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almirón, Switzerland striker Breel Embolo, South Africa forward Lyle Foster, Nigeria midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake and Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn. Young players representing national youth teams also feature prominently.
That volume of call-ups is a meaningful indicator of MLS’s international footprint. It demonstrates that clubs across the competition employ players who remain involved in national-team programmes, while the youth selections also point to the league’s role in developing and providing competitive opportunities for emerging talent.
However, international call-up numbers are not a direct measurement of league quality. They are influenced by the nationalities of players employed by each competition, the size of squads, eligibility rules, national-team coaches’ preferences and whether youth selections are included. A fair comparison between MLS and Liga MX would also need to examine results in continental competitions, squad quality, player development, tactical standards, financial strength and performance across the full range of clubs.
In that context, the November figures do not disprove Cuypers’ personal assessment, but they do challenge any suggestion that MLS lacks international relevance or talent. The league continues to supply players to national teams across several continents, even as individual footballers may prefer the atmosphere and playing conditions they experience elsewhere.
Passion, Crowds And The Pressure Of Every Match
One of Cuypers’ strongest points concerned the matchday atmosphere in Mexico. He highlighted the support enjoyed by several Liga MX clubs, saying six or seven teams regularly play in front of crowds of between 40,000 and 50,000 supporters. He also pointed to the feeling that every league match carries meaningful consequences.
He contrasted that experience with the MLS regular season, which he said can feel like a series of friendly matches before the playoffs. The structure of the two competitions is different: MLS uses a regular season followed by a postseason knockout tournament, while Liga MX has traditionally used short tournaments with a final phase to determine the champion. Those formats shape how clubs and supporters experience the league campaign, although the intensity of individual matches varies from club to club.
Cuypers also mentioned the physical challenge of playing in Mexican cities situated at elevations above 2,000 metres. Altitude can affect players who are not accustomed to it, adding another distinct challenge to certain away fixtures in the country.
Does Liga MX Have A Stronger Case Than MLS?
Cuypers’ assessment is a personal comparison shaped by his experience at Chicago Fire and Monterrey. It reflects what he values in football: tactical familiarity with the European game, competitive intensity, passionate crowds and the sense that league results matter throughout the season.
However, judging an entire league requires more than one player’s experience. Squad depth, coaching, player development, financial resources, continental performances and the quality of competition across all clubs are also relevant. MLS has continued to attract high-profile players and investment, while Liga MX has a long-established football culture and clubs with large, passionate fan bases. Both competitions also contain significant differences between their leading teams and the rest of the field.
What Cuypers’ comments do establish is that the environment at Monterrey has matched what he was looking for after leaving Chicago. His first senior Belgium call-up has given his decision an important personal reward, and he will now be hoping to turn that opportunity into a lasting place in the national team.
For supporters of both competitions, the debate is unlikely to end with one interview. But Cuypers has made his position clear: he prefers the intensity and atmosphere he has found in Mexico. At the same time, the November international selections show that MLS remains a significant source of national-team talent. Whether Liga MX is stronger overall is a wider question that cannot be settled by one player’s opinion or one month’s call-up figures.
Sources: Starsport TV; CF Monterrey official announcement; Claro Sports; 365Scores; FOX Sports México; MLS: Every call-up for the November 2026 international window.
Photo: Hugo Cuypers playing for Chicago Fire during a 2025 MLS match. Photo by Bryan Berlin / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Archival photograph.