MLS studies stopping at FIFA dates so as not to lose stars

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino said this Tuesday (29) that he believes it is “likely” that Major League Soccer (MLS) will decide to stop competition during FIFA dates from 2024 to prevent stars like the Argentine Lionel Messi miss game days in the league.

“I know that for the next year they are looking at the issue and that is likely to happen,” Martino said at a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s game against Nashville.

Until this year, MLS continued to play its games on Fifa dates and will do the same in September, which means that Inter Miami will not be able to count on Messi in an important moment of the season.

Messi will be available against Nashville on Wednesday and Martino confirmed he is likely to be in the starting line-up after starting as a substitute on Saturday’s visit to the New York Red Bulls to be rested.

“The game he needed to recover a little was the last one, in New York, the same thing happened with Sergio Busquets. So, if there is no inconvenience, he will be in the game”, anticipated Martino.

“It’s very difficult not to think about the team in terms of him and how we can get the best out of him. In every scheme we use, we always think about how he can have a greater impact on the game. So far, in that sense, we’re going well, because the other players understand very well what the idea is and how we can better explore Leo’s possibilities without ceasing to be a team”, said the Argentine coach.

Messi has scored 11 goals in nine games for Inter Miami and won the Leagues Cup on July 20, the first title in the club’s history.