This will probably be too late for 9, but maybe in 10.
The only problem with multinational leagues is that all players are created 'equal' - the league has an average level that players will be created around.
It would be nice if the world setup files (nations.txt, cities.txt, ethnicities.txt, etc) could be combined and allow for more realistic world-tinkering.
For example something like the following
HTML Code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<world>
<baseratings>
<physical>
<height value="180" />
<weight value="200" />
</physical>
<batting>
<contact value="107" />
<gap value="127" />
<power value="96" />
<eye value="101" />
<strikeouts value="88" />
</batting>
<pitching>
<stuff value="93" />
<movement value="109" />
<control value="106" />
<endurance>
<starter value="145" />
<reliever value="35" />
<closer value="20" />
</endurance>
</pitching>
<fielding>
<pitcher value="123" />
<catcher value="154" />
<firstbase value="106" />
<secondbase value="123" />
<thirdbase value="117" />
<shortstop value="142" />
<leftfield value="146" />
<centrefield value="117" />
<rightfield value="148" />
</fielding>
<running>
<speed value="100" />
<baserunning value="100" />
<stealing value="100" />
</running>
</baseratings>
<worldregions>
<worldregion id="1" name="Africa" />
<worldregion id="2" name="Asia" />
<worldregion id="3" name="Europe" />
<worldregion id="4" name="North America" />
<worldregion id="5" name="Oceania" />
<worldregion id="6" name="South America" />
</worldregions>
<nations>
<nation id="1" name="Afghanistan" shortname="Afghanistan" abbreviation="AFG" nationality="Afghani">
<ethnicities>
<ethnicity set="Arabic" value="100" />
</ethnicities>
<worldregion id="2" />
<ratings type="mod" source="world">
<modifier type="batting" field="power" value="1.5" />
<modifier type="pitching" field="control" value="0.25" />
</ratings>
<regions>
<region name="Badakhshan">
<ethnicities>
<ethnicity set="Arabic" value="72" />
<ethnicity set="Indian" value="28" />
</ethnicities>
<ratings type="val" source="country">
<modifier type="batting" field="power" value="25" />
<modifier type="physical" field="weight" value="250" />
</ratings>
<city name="Eskasem" population="12120" latitude="36.72" longitude="71.56" />
<city name="Fayzabad" population="40276" latitude="37.13" longitude="70.58" />
<city name="Handud" population="5521" latitude="36.93" longitude="72.32" />
<city name="Jurm" population="12106" latitude="36.85" longitude="70.82" />
<city name="Qaleh-ye" population="9152" latitude="37.00" longitude="72.76" />
</region>
</regions>
</nation>
</nations>
</world>
probably looks naff in here, but each country can modifier the base ratings, as can each region if wanted, or a city...
These 'figures' would be used before the Player Creation Modifiers kick in, so in the example above Afghani players would on average have 50% more power but only 25% of the control of an average player, but those in Badakhshan have an average power of 25 due to them being slightly heavier (250lbs).
Ethnicities are also controllable at what ever level you want, currently it's only country wide...