Club America USA tour 2024: Schedule, tickets, stadiums and more

The Liga MX power will be spending plenty of time in the United States this summer.

Club América will be spending plenty of time in the United States this summer.

Las Águilas are set to take in two different competitions on U.S. soil, as well as two friendlies against Premier League sides amid a busy fixture list.

The Liga MX power will start with a Campeón de Campeones match, in which the winner of the Apertura season faces the winner of the Clausura season.

Next will be a pair of friendlies, with Chelsea and then Aston Villa on the agenda. After that, América will enter the 2024 Leagues Cup along with every other team in Liga MX and every MLS team.

As the defending Liga MX champion, América will not participate in the group stage and has been given a bye into the round of 32. Should the club have success, it could play up to five matches in the Leagues Cup.

Here are Club América’s fixtures for its 2024 summer tour of the United States, along with information on purchasing tickets.

Club America USA tour 2024

July 30: Club América vs. TBD — Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA.

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July 31: Club América vs. Chelsea — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA.

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August 3: Club América vs. Aston Villa — Soldier Field, Chicago, IL.

August 9: Club América vs. TBD — Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA.

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Leagues Cup announces home venue pool for Liga MX sides, knockout stages

13 stadiums could end up serving as temporary home venues for Liga MX sides during this summer’s edition of the Leagues Cup

If you want to see some of Liga MX’s giants during the 2024 Leagues Cup, the list of potential home venues is coming into focus.

The pool of potential “hub” stadiums for Club América, Monterrey, Chivas, and Tigres, as well as any knockout round match between the other 13 Liga MX clubs in the tournament, was announced on Wednesday.

13 stadiums, all in the United States, could potentially see a Liga MX side serve as temporary hosts in the Leagues Cup, which will run from July 26 to August 5.

While the home venues for América, Monterrey, Chivas, and Tigres have not yet been confirmed, a previous announcement on tournament modifications at least denotes the stage at which the quartet can host knockout matches.

Should Chivas advance from Group West 2, the Guadalajara-based club will serve as the round-of-32 host if its point haul is superior to its opponent. Monterrey will get the same status in the round of 16, while América — who along with the Columbus Crew have been granted a bye directly to the knockout round — will have hosting privileges through to at least the semifinals.

Leagues Cup hub stadium pool

  • Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
  • BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, Colo.)
  • Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, Calif.)
  • Geodis Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
  • Paypal Park (San Jose, Calif.)
  • Q2 Stadium (Austin, Texas)
  • Red Bull Arena (Harrison, N.J.)
  • Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, Texas)
  • Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, Calif.)
  • Subaru Park (Chester, Pa.)
  • Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
  • TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)

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Leagues Cup 2023: Standings, teams, schedule, TV and streaming

Your complete guide to the 2023 Leagues Cup

The first-ever Leagues Cup will see MLS and Liga MX clubs halt league play for a month-long tournament across the U.S. and Canada in July and August.

The tournament begins on July 21, with 15 three-team groups based on geography featuring a mix of teams from both leagues. Each group will feature round-robin play, with the top two finishers advancing to a knockout stage featuring one-off matches running through to a final on August 19.

The champion of the Leagues Cup will secure a place in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16, while the losing finalist and the third-place game winner will also gain a place in the CCC’s first round.

The entire Leagues Cup will take place in the United States or in Canada, with matches between Liga MX sides picked based on geography in the group stage and at neutral sites in the knockout round.

While standard rules will be in place for games that end with a winner and a loser (three points for the victors, none for their opponent), the Leagues Cup will discard draws. Games that are tied at full time will proceed to a penalty kick tiebreaker, with the winner of that shootout receiving two points while the loser gets one.

All matches will air on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app, while select games are on Televisa, Univision, FOX Sports, TSN and RDS.

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Here is the 2023 Leagues Cup schedule.

West One

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Tigres 2 0 0 0 3 1 +2 6
Portland Timbers 1 0 0 1 3 2 +1 3
San Jose Earthquakes 0 0 0 2 0 3 -3 0

West One schedule

Sat, July 22: Portland Timbers 2-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Wed, July 26: Portland Timbers 1-2 Tigres
Sun, July 30: San Jose Earthquakes 0-1 Tigres

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

West Two

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
CF Monterrey 2 0 0 0 7 2 +5 6
Real Salt Lake 1 0 0 1 3 3 0 3
Seattle Sounders 0 0 0 2 2 7 -5 0

West Two schedule

Sat, July 22: Real Salt Lake 3-0 Seattle Sounders
Wed, July 26: Real Salt Lake 0-3 CF Monterrey
Sun, July 30: Seattle Sounders 2-4 CF Monterrey

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

West Three

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Club Léon 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1 5
Vancouver Whitecaps 1 0 1 0 4 3 +1 4
LA Galaxy 0 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0

West Three schedule

Fri, July 21: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 Club Léon (Club Léon wins 16-15 on penalty kicks)
Wed, July 26: LA Galaxy 0-1 Club Léon
Sun, July 30: LA Galaxy 1-2 Vancouver Whitecaps

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

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Central One

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Columbus Crew 2 0 0 0 6 2 +4 6
Club América 1 0 0 1 5 4 +1 3
St. Louis City SC 0 0 0 2 1 6 -5 0

Central One schedule

Sun, July 23: Columbus Crew 2-1 St. Louis City SC
Thu, July 27: St. Louis City SC 0-4 Club América
Mon, July 31: Columbus Crew 4-1 Club América

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

Central Two

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Chicago Fire 1 0 1 0 4 3 +1 4
Minnesota United 1 0 0 1 6 3 +3 3
Puebla 0 1 0 1 1 5 -4 2

Central Two schedule

Sun, July 23: Minnesota United 4-0 Puebla
Thu, July 27: Minnesota United 2-3 Chicago Fire
Mon, July 31: Chicago Fire 1-1 Puebla (Puebla wins 10-9 on penalty kicks)

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

Central Three

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
FC Cincinnati 1 1 0 0 6 4 +2 5
Sporting Kansas City 1 0 1 0 4 3 +1 4
Chivas 0 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0

Central Three schedule

Sun, July 23: FC Cincinnati 3-3 Sporting Kansas City (FC Cincinnati wins 4-2 on penalty kicks)
Thu, July 27: FC Cincinnati 3-1 Chivas
Mon, July 31: Sporting Kansas City 1-0 Chivas

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

Central Four

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Toluca 2 0 0 0 8 4 +4 6
Nashville SC 1 0 0 1 5 5 0 3
Colorado Rapids 0 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0

Central Four schedule

Sun, July 23: Nashville SC 2-1 Colorado Rapids
Thu, July 27: Nashville SC 3-4 Toluca
Mon, July 31: Colorado Rapids 1-4 Toluca

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

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South One

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Mazatlán FC 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 5
FC Juárez 1 0 1 0 4 2 +2 4
Austin FC 0 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0

South One schedule

Fri, July 21: Austin FC 1-3 Mazatlán FC
Tue, July 25: Mazatlán FC 1-1 FC Juárez (Mazatlán FC wins 4-2 on penalty kicks)
Sat, July 29: Austin FC 1-3 FC Juárez

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

South Two

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Orlando City 1 1 0 0 4 3 +1 5
Houston Dynamo 0 1 1 0 3 3 0 3
Santos Laguna 0 0 1 1 4 5 -1 1

South Two schedule

Fri, July 21: Orlando City 1-1 Houston Dynamo (Orlando City wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Tue, July 25: Houston Dynamo 2-2 Santos Laguna (Houston Dynamo wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Sat, July 29: Orlando City 3-2 Santos Laguna

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

South Three

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Inter Miami 2 0 0 0 6 1 +5 6
Cruz Azul 0 1 0 1 2 3 -1 2
Atlanta United 0 0 1 1 1 5 -4 1

South Three schedule

Fri, July 21: Inter Miami 2-1 Cruz Azul
Tue, July 25: Inter Miami 4-0 Atlanta United
Sat, July 29: Atlanta United 1-1 Cruz Azul (Cruz Azul wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

South Four

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Charlotte FC 1 1 0 0 6 3 +3 5
FC Dallas 1 0 1 0 5 2 +3 4
Necaxa 0 0 0 2 1 7 -6 0

South Four schedule

Fri, July 21: FC Dallas 2-2 Charlotte FC (Charlotte FC wins 4-1 on penalty kicks)
Tue, July 25: FC Dallas 3-0 Necaxa
Sat, July 29: Charlotte FC 4-1 Necaxa

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

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East One

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Philadelphia Union 2 0 0 0 8 2 +6 6
Querétaro 1 0 0 1 2 5 -3 3
Tijuana 0 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0

East One schedule

Sat, July 22: Philadelphia Union 3-1 Tijuana
Wed, July 26: Philadelphia Union 5-1 Querétaro
Sun, July 30: Tijuana 0-1 Querétaro

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

East Two

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Pumas UNAM 1 0 1 0 5 2 +3 4
D.C. United 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 3
CF Montréal 0 1 0 1 2 3 -1 2

East Two schedule

Sat, July 22: CF Montréal 2-2 Pumas UNAM (CF Montréal wins 4-2 on penalty kicks)
Wed, July 26: CF Montréal 0-1 D.C. United
Sat, July 29: D.C. United 0-3 Pumas UNAM

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

East Three

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
Atlas 2 0 0 0 2 0 +2 6
New York City FC 1 0 0 1 5 1 +4 3
Toronto FC 0 0 0 2 0 6 -6 0

East Three schedule

Sun July 23: New York City FC 0-1 Atlas
Wed, July 26: New York City FC 5-0 Toronto FC
Sun, July 30: Toronto FC 0-1 Atlas

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

East Four

Team W PW PL L GF GA GD Points
New York Red Bulls 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 5
New England Revolution 1 0 1 0 5 1 +4 4
Atlético San Luis 0 0 0 2 2 7 -5 0

East Four schedule

Sat, July 22: New York Red Bulls 0-0 New England Revolution (New York Red Bulls win 4-2 on penalty kicks)
Wed, July 26: New England Revolution 5-1 Atlético San Luis
Sun, July 30: New York Red Bulls 2-1 Atlético San Luis

(Home teams listed first. All times Eastern)

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Knockout rounds

Round of 32

Wednesday, August 2, 2023  Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando CityDRV PNK Stadium – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Mazatlán FC 1-2 FC Dallas Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX

CF Pachuca 0-0 Houston Dynamo (Houston Dynamo advance 5-3 on penalties)Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, TX

LAFC 7-1 FC Juárez BMO Stadium – Los Angeles, CA

Thursday, August 3, 2023 Atlas FC 2-2 New England Revolution (New England Revolution advance 8-7 on penalty kicks)Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA

Philadelphia Union 0-0 D.C. United (Philadelphia Union advance 5-4 on penalty kicks)Subaru Park – Chester, PA

Pumas UNAM 0-1 Querétaro Audi Field – Washington, DC

New York Red Bulls 1-0 NYCFC Red Bull Arena – Harrison, NJ

Charlotte FC 0-0 Cruz Azul (Charlotte FC advance 4-3 on penalty kicks)Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX

Friday, August 4, 2023  Columbus Crew 3-3 Minnesota United (Minnesota United advance 4-3 on penalty kicks)Lower.com Field – Columbus, OH

FC Cincinnati 1-1 Nashville SC (Nashville SC advance 5-4 on penalty kicks)TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH

Chicago Fire 0-1 Club AméricaSeatGeek Stadium – Bridgeview, IL

Toluca 4-1 Sporting Kansas City Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City, KS

CF Monterrey 1-0 Portland Timbers Providence Park – Portland, OR

Club León 1-3 Real Salt Lake America First Field – Sandy, UT

Tigres 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps (Tigres advance 5-3 on penalties)BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

Round of 16

Sunday, August 6, 2023  

FC Dallas 4-4 Inter Miami FC (Inter Miami advance 5-3 on penalties)Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX

Monday, August 7, 2023 

Queretaro 1-1 New England Revolution (Queretaro advance 4-3 on penalties)Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA

Charlotte FC 2-1 Houston Dynamo FC Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, TX

Tuesday, August 8, 2023  

Club América 2-2 Nashville SC (Nashville SC advance 6-5 on penalty kicks)GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN

Philadelphia Union 1-1 New York Red Bulls (Philadelphia Union advance 4-3 on penalty kicks)Subaru Park – Chester, PAToluca 2-2 Minnesota United (Minnesota United advance 4-2 on penalty kicks)Allianz Field – St. Paul, MN

Tigres 0-1 CF Monterrey Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, TX

LAFC 4-0 Real Salt Lake BMO Stadium – Los Angeles, CA

Quarterfinals

Friday, August 11, 2023

Philadelphia Union 2-1 Quéretaro Subaru Park – Chester, PA

Inter Miami FC 4-0 Charlotte FC  DRV PNK Stadium – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Nashville SC 5-0 Minnesota United GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN

LAFC 2-3 CF Monterrey Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA

Semifinals

Tuesday, August 15Philadelphia Union 1-4 Inter Miami CFSubaru Park – Chester, PACF Monterrey 0-2 Nashville SCGeodis Park – Nashville, TN

Third-place game

Saturday, August 19

Philadelphia Union 3-0 CF MonterreySubaru Park – Chester, PA

Final

Saturday, August 19

Nashville SC 1-1 Inter Miami (Inter Miami win 10-9 on penalty kicks)Geodis Park – Nashville, TN

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Messi, Inter Miami claim Leagues Cup trophy over Nashville SC

Messi wins a trophy? You don’t say!

Inter Miami without Lionel Messi? Cellar dwellers.

With Messi? Unbeaten in seven, and now Leagues Cup champions.

Messi and Miami claimed the club’s first-ever trophy, defeating Nashville SC on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at Geodis Park. Messi scored, as is seemingly a thing that will happen in every appearance he makes for the Herons, but a gritty Nashville side showed there is a way to hang in there against a star-studded Miami side.

Every team that has tried to solve the problem that is Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba has taken a different tack.

Nashville’s approach? Gary Smith choosing a pair of defensive midfielders and the two hardest-working pressing wingers on the roster pointed to a more conservative approach, but Nashville opted for a mid-block with some bouts of high pressing as opposed to a pure park-the-bus approach.

Miami had scored in the 12th minute or earlier in each of Messi’s first five starts, but Nashville’s approach kept the Herons from so much as a single shot attempt until Robert Taylor tested Elliot Panicco — something of a surprise starter in goal — in the 21st minute.

Unfortunately for the hosts, even the best approach can be undone because Messi is Messi. He’ll score the kinds of goals that he alone can score.

Cue the highlight!

However, despite the wizardy, Nashville’s plans were largely working: Miami had plenty of the ball, but walked in at halftime with just two shots.

Nashville needed more than that, though, and ended up looking to its own favorite trick for a goal: a scrappy set piece amid a mosh pit inside the box. Fafà Picault would end up getting the final touch.

Messi nearly produced another wondergoal in the 70th minute, bursting away from Dax McCarty to uncork a long-range rocket that slapped off Panicco’s left post.

Nashville’s big names aren’t, you know, Messi or Sergio Busquets, but they’re still major threats. Seven minutes after Messi’s threat, Hany Mukhtar and new addition Sam Surridge carved out a two-on-two counter against Miami. Surridge saw his low shot saved well by Callender, while Mukhtar’s follow-up was deflected inches wide.

If anything, Messi’s shot off the woodwork seemed to be Miami’s last push for goal, as heavy legs on an aging side that had seen little rotation gave Nashville an opening. Mukhtar and Surridge both forced Callender into reflex saves as the hosts smelled an opening for a winner.

However, that set the stage for an unreal sequence for the game’s final kick: Busquets caught Nashville throwing numbers forward, playing substitute Leo Campana in alone.

Campana dinked the ball over Panicco, whose follow-through took out the retreating Shaq Moore. Surely, this was it.

Well…

Leagues Cup matches go straight to penalties if tied at full time, meaning that what followed that bizarre sequence was a coin toss. Messi and Busquets converted, and while Mukhtar did the same for Nashville, Randall Leal had his effort in the second round kicked away by Callender.

Miami was one kick away in the fifth round, but Victor Ulloa was denied by Panicco, and Surridge kept Nashville alive.

On into the night it went. 12 straight players stepped up, and 12 straight finished clinically. Callender, in round 11, put his spot kick into the roof of the net, a shot a striker would be proud of.

Just seconds later, the 25-year-old offered one better, saving Panicco’s shot and giving Miami its first-ever trophy, and Messi his 44th.

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Messi does the most predictable thing in the world: score a Leagues Cup final golazo

Messi cannot be stopped

Lionel Messi cannot be stopped by man.

Teams in Spain and France learned this the hard way, as did Champions League contenders, CONMEBOL national teams, and an entire World Cup field in 2022. Everyone wants to stop the guy, everyone fails, it’s just how soccer works when he’s playing it.

So naturally the Leagues Cup final saw Messi and Inter Miami facing down a Nashville SC side that has been the preeminent defensive team in MLS for several years in a row. A loud crowd at Geodis Park was roaring more for the home team than for Messi. The hosts kept Miami from even one sight of goal in the first 20 minutes. It was going well!

Was.

One loose ball after a block in the Nashville area bounced closer to Messi than anyone else in the game. Messi had five Nashville defenders forming a barrier. Walker Zimmerman was stepping hard to him, a collision that — given their size disparity — would end in something other than Messi taking a shot.

But this is Messi, and the result was a goal that had everyone watching the game talking.

Inter Miami would go on to lift the Leagues Cup trophy, defeating Nashville on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC: How to watch Messi in Leagues Cup final

Can Messi pull it off in the final?

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s magical Leagues Cup run has reached its final turn. Can he mark the occasion once again?

Messi, joined by former Barcelona-turned-Miami teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, have reached the Leagues Cup final. Awaiting Miami is Nashville SC.

Since the trio’s arrival, Inter Miami has become a powerhouse. The team scored 22 times in 22 MLS matches prior to Messi joining. They have 21 in Messi’s six games played thus far, with the Argentine legend scoring nine himself.

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But Nashville has also been rejuvenated of late.

Former Premier League striker Sam Surridge has netted three goals in three games since joining the club. Surridge and MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar will be a formidable test for the upstart Miami side.

Here is everything you need to know to catch all the action:

Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC (Leagues Cup)

  • When: Saturday, August 19
  • Where: Geodis Park (Nashville)
  • Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Apple TV

Leagues Cup Starting Lineups

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender, Yedlin, Miller, Kryvtsov, Alba, Arroyo, Busquets, Gomez, Messi, Martinez, Taylor

Nashville SC possible lineup:
Panicco, Lovitz, Zimmerman, MacNaughton, Moore, Shaffelburg, Godoy, McCarty, Muyl, Mukhtar, Surridge

Leagues Cup Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Friday, August 18, at 5:12 p.m.

Inter Miami (-110) vs. Charlotte FC (+240)

Draw: (+270)

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Messi’s sons came up with idea for Marvel celebrations

We’ve already seen Thor, Black Panther and Spider-Man so far

Lionel Messi said his Marvel-themed celebrations were an idea thought up by his three sons.

After scoring during several Inter Miami home games in the Leagues Cup, Messi has celebrated with poses from Thor, Black Panther and Spider-Man.

In an interview with the Miami Herald, Messi said that his sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro came up with the idea for the celebrations amid a summer of heavy Marvel movie watching.

“My three sons are still on vacation, have not started school yet, so every night we watch Marvel superhero movies,” Messi said. “They came up with the idea and asked that whenever I have a game and score a goal, I do a Marvel superhero celebration.

“That’s how it started, and we continued that ritual. Each time we watched a new movie, we would practice a goal celebration. But I only do them for home games, when the kids are here, near me, so we can share those moments. When I see them in the stands, that is when I do them.”

Messi has had plenty of opportunities for celebrations in his brief Inter Miami career thus far, scoring nine goals in just six Leagues Cup games since making his debut last month.

Thanks in large part to Messi’s heroics, Inter Miami will play for the Leagues Cup title against Nashville SC on Saturday night.

Don’t expect any Marvel celebrations, however: The game will take place at Geodis Park in Nashville.

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Lionel Messi: Big USMNT fan

Sadly, Messi is not eligible to make the switch from Argentina to the USMNT

Lionel Messi has been paying attention to the national team of the country he now calls home — and he likes what he sees.

The Inter Miami star said he has been impressed with the U.S. men’s national team’s recent performances, particularly in the 2022 World Cup.

The USMNT went unbeaten in its group, drawing Wales and England before clinching a spot in the knockout round with a win over Iran. The team’s World Cup came to an end with a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the last 16.

Messi, whose own World Cup went slightly better than the USMNT’s, said in an interview with ESPN that his new country’s national team and league is growing in quality.

“I think that soccer in the U.S. has grown a lot in this last year,” Messi said. “It has shown that in the results the national team has had lately. It was a great squad in the World Cup, too. Very competitive. It held its own against every team it had on its slate. It’s getting closer and closer to the level of Mexican soccer.”

Messi has led Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup final on Saturday at Nashville SC, scoring nine goals in just six matches to help completely revitalize his new team.

The 36-year-old said the tournament has been highly competitive, which is what he’s expecting when he plays his first MLS matches as well.

“This Leagues Cup demonstrated that [MLS is getting closer to Liga MX],” he said. “There is no Mexican team in the final. While you can question a lot of things, the reality is all the matches were very close, very competitive. Anybody can beat anyone else. I get the sense that the same happens in [MLS]. It’s a competitive one where anybody can win. One where the home team is strong, and it’s difficult to win away. I’ll still be getting to know a little bit of that after my first match.”

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Argentina coach Scaloni defends MLS quality as Messi keeps dominating

Messi has nine goals in just six games with Inter Miami thus far

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has defended the level of Major League Soccer amid Lionel Messi’s red-hot start to life in North America.

Messi has scored an incredible nine goals in just six Leagues Cup games since making his Inter Miami debut last month. His latest strike on Tuesday helped Miami to a shockingly easy 4-1 win over Philadelphia in the semifinal.

The ease with which Messi and his longtime Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have settled in has led to some derision over the perceived level of MLS.

But Scaloni, who coached Messi and co. to a World Cup win in 2022, has said he doesn’t think the league is low quality.

“I don’t think the level is bad,” Scaloni said at a press conference in Miami on Tuesday.

“On the contrary, I was at Inter Miami’s game versus Charlotte (FC) and I didn’t think it was bad. In fact the level was acceptable. Every football match is difficult. You have to play them. There’s no doubt that (MLS) is a league that’s trending up. It’s improving and it’s attracting footballers to come and play here. It’s a country that’s also attractive. But I can see the challenges that MLS presents and I’ve seen good teams here.

“I know that this league is going to continue to improve. There are some very good players here and even better players will make their way here.”

Scaloni was speaking at an event to mark the Argentina Football Federation’s planned expansion into North America, with a large training complex near Miami serving as the centerpiece.

The coach said that having a home base in North America would be crucial ahead of the 2024 Copa América and 2026 World Cup, an event he is still hopeful Messi will play in despite having said multiple times that 2022 would be his last World Cup.

“In principle it is enough that he plays football and is happy,” Scaloni said of Messi. “For us it is already a step forward. And because of how he is, with his competitive DNA, wherever he is, he is always going to compete. So let’s hope he can be at the next World Cup. I won’t be the one to say no, have no doubt about that.”

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Leagues Cup final: Messi, Inter Miami will face Nashville SC

A wild Leagues Cup will conclude in Nashville

The teams that qualified for the Leagues Cup final will be happy to be in the running for a big bonus and a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup.

They probably won’t be as delighted as executives from MLS and Apple TV, who already have Lionel Messi vying for a trophy on their platforms.

Messi and Inter Miami will square off with Nashville SC in the 2023 Leagues Cup final. The match is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET Saturday, August 19 at the latter’s home, Geodis Park.

The winner, apart from claiming a $2 million cash prize, will also get a bye into the round of 16 in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Different paths for Miami, Nashville to final

Miami earned their spot by more or less running over anyone in their path. A series of very early goals and Messi wizardry has resulted in the Herons reeling off five wins out of six. Even FC Dallas pushing Miami into a penalty kick shootout required a preposterous 4-4 draw, and that knockout game still ended with Messi and co. moving on.

Cruz Azul lost in dramatic fashion, Orlando City came up short in a fractious match, and Dallas went out in the tiebreaker. In Tuesday’s semifinal, the Philadelphia Union joined Atlanta United and Charlotte FC in getting lit up by Messi and Miami. The same team that has 22 goals in 22 MLS regular season games has scored 21 in just six Leagues Cup matches. Despite being on the road for the final, the Herons are surely the favorites.

Nashville’s path has been far more circuitous. The Tennesseans lost to Toluca in the group stage, and had to get help from the Liga MX side to guarantee a place in the knockout stage.

From there, it didn’t get easier. Nashville’s path included the Supporters’ Shield leaders FC Cincinnati (who they eliminated on penalties after a 1-1 draw), followed by Liga MX titans Club América. Once again, Nashville advanced, but only by surviving one of the most bizarre games in recent memory.

Finally, things got a little bit easier, as Gary Smith’s club clobbered Minnesota United 5-0, but all that did was set a date against a giant in CF Monterrey. Late on Tuesday, Nashville showed major nerve in a 2-0 win over one of the region’s elite teams.

Fans at Geodis Park finished that match chanting “we want Messi!” and now, they’ll get exactly what they hoped for.

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