MLS needs Messi and Miami to have success in Champions Cup

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are through to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a tournament that carries ample possibilities for MLS. Even though the league has not given the North American and Caribbean equivalent of the Champions League much attention or importance, there are certain things the Champions Cup affords. One of those is qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup. That club competition is undergoing a revamp in the summer of 2025, and the United States is the host.

As of now, the only American team to be competing on home soil is Seattle. The Sounders have qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup as a result of winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2022, becoming the first American team to do so since 2000. In that year, DC United was the best among eight teams. Both MLS and the CONCACAF Champions Cup have changed drastically.

With Inter Miami’s success, the international presence of both the Champions Cup and MLS can go up. It is no secret that people will watch Messi in any competition he plays in. For example, his first games with Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup pulled 1.75 million viewers. That only accounts for Spanish-language TV, too, as that first game against Cruz Azul aired on MLS Season Pass for English-language audiences.

More games in the Champions Cup means more Messi, more MLS success

If Messi plays in more significant games with trophies on the line, people will tune in. Yet, the question remains as to how this can benefit Major League Soccer. The CONCACAF Champions Cup has no direct aid for MLS other than giving clubs a platform to play more games. That is exactly why MLS needs Miami to thrive. The Florida club’s success directly impacts MLS’s success. In other words, when Inter Miami builds momentum in other competitions, fans will be more inclined to watch the club.

For instance, the Leagues Cup helped bring viewers to Major League Soccer. By the time Messi had joined Inter Miami and prepared…

Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-needs-messi-and-miami-to-have-success-in-champions-cup

Author : Kyle Fansler

Publish date : 2024-03-15 21:24:10

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