A dramatic derby is born in LA

Major League Soccer has announced that it will create the first official derby in modern United States history by establishing another team, 'Chivas USA' , in Los Angeles in 2005.  The Mexican owned and operated club will share a ground with the 2002 league champions LA Galaxy, and form one half of what figures to be a New World clasico worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster - one closely drawn along tricky cultural lines in the melting pot of Southern California.The addition of the team owned by Jorge Vergara,Denmark football shirt, who counts among his possessions the celebrated Mexican club Chivas and Costa Rican giants Saprissa, should give MLS a longed-for foothold in the football-mad Mexican-American population.  Beyond that, it may also translate to increased international respectability,Belgium football shirt, something the nine-year-old league has always craved.A Mexican-American beaconThe fascinating rivalry-to-be between the Galaxy, consistently one of the league's best sides,Manchester City Euro 2012 Shirts, and 'Chivas USA' will mirror a much broader conflict that is reflected in all aspects of life for millions of Mexican-Americans, including football of course.  Apart from any other financial or organisational concerns this is likely to leave the red and white stripes of the new team standing in for Hispanic interests, sporting and otherwise.The 1000-strong group of supporters singing at the press conference and the presence of Mexican (and Chivas) greats Francisco Palencia and Ramon Ramirez, only reinforced the important national connection that the club should no doubt engender.Vergara's business partner Antonio Cue told the assembled journalists and fans that the new team's goal was "to be an entertaining, primarily Spanish-speaking squad that will attract soccer fans from all backgrounds."He continued: "Our team will become a rallying point for Chivas fans all over the United States, and we promise we will deliver our brand of soccer to every MLS market."An enmity unquestionedMuch loved, though also envied in the manner of Manchester United in England, Chivas is a natural name to draw previously lukewarm Latino fans into the league.  It also creates a polarisation of interests in the improbable derby that could one day equal any of the other fiery religious, class or cultural rivalries that have sprung up in some of football's great cities.Certainly, the improvement of the U.S. national team, culminating in their 2-0 success over El Tri in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, has irked many south of the border who have grown used to regional dominance.  Ten-time champions in Mexico, Chivas are renowned for using only Mexican players, so the assumption is that the new Los Angeles team will get as close to the same as they are able within league and immigration restraints.Vergara did claim that his team would be open enough not "to close the doors on our brothers from Central and South America." The commanding boss with the bright orange shirt gave a nod to the challenges that lay ahead by saying that his group had "to remember that they were dealing with a different society here. Even though we will have Mexican and Spanish-speaking people, we have to respect the culture and it's going to be different (than Chivas Guadalajara) in many ways."Most importantly, he insisted that the club would be a "team with a lot of heart and desire to make us champions very soon."Whether that happens or not, the move would appear to be a fascinating, if risky, one for all parties.  'Cross-border' fireworks begin in 2005.