Blatter was in Toronto for the CONCACAF congress, a meeting of delegates from the confederation that covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

The meeting also coincided with the official opening of BMO Field, a 20,000-seat stadium that is home to the MLS expansion team Toronto FC and which will be a focal point of the world under-20 championship this summer.

While Beckham may provide a boost, Blatter said MLS also had to work on its stadium situation so it can avoid playing second fiddle to NFL venues.

"It's only when they have their own stadia that they can reorganize their league ... in order to offer the world of football places or jobs to play.

"Nowadays it will be difficult for good players from South America, from Europe, from Africa to come here because they are used to playing all year round. And here, if you only play six months, this is definitely a handicap and it can be overcome with the new stadia. . . . I'm sure in two three years, if they have some more Beckhams, it will be a success story."