The footballing theme of the last few weeks has inevitably been the European Championship, in Germany the national teams have just concluded the group stage and are preparing to take to the field for the round of 16. On the other side of the Atlantic, however, the most important tournament of the Old Continent is taking a back seat to the Copa América: the 2024 edition, which will end on July 14, is taking place in the United States. And it has an expanded formula, like the one used in 2016: four groups of four teams in which six national teams from North and Central America are also registered, to be precise the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Canada, Costa Rica and Panama. It is a sort of dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup, but it is also the first major international tournament in which Leo Messi is participating after his move to Miami. Well, despite this last unprecedented condition, in the United States they have decided not to interrupt the MLS. The league that brings together the best American and Canadian teams is in fact continuing regularly with its calendar, a calendar that obviously conflicts with the national team matches. A choice that, naturally, involves giving up seeing Messi play. And not just him.
The MLS – whose structure is in fact identical to that of the NBA, with 29 teams divided between East and West who meet in the regular season and then play the playoffs with direct elimination matches – has always organized its calendar from February to December ; the playoffs and the series that awards the MLS Cup, or the title, are played just before Christmas, and then give the players a couple of months of vacation. The 2024 season was no exception, despite both the America’s Cup and the European Championships being scheduled for the summer. This decision, as mentioned, resulted in the absence – for several weeks, about five – of Messi and 48 other players belonging to North American clubs. And the problem concerns above all the strongest teams of the moment, those with the most famous players, who will have to do without some important elements for five or six games out of 34, or for 18% of the regular season.
The lack of flexibility in the MLS is explained by a very tight calendar, which in fact does not allow for exceptions or postponements given the ten months in total over which the competition is spread: “We know that it is not the ideal solution”, explained the vice president of the league Brad Pursel in an interview given to ESPN. «But the objective of fitting in 34 matches between February and October remains the priority. Also because the league’s summer matches remain important events, in terms of attendance and fan interest.” The problem is that the revenues are saying the opposite: between MLS and the America’s Cup, American fans much prefer the latter: Inter Miami, the New York Red Bulls and all the other franchises are playing in half-empty stadiums, while the matches between national teams are played in a fantastic atmosphere, in front of full and colorful stands.
Needless to say, even the clubs are not happy with how the situation has been handled. Just think of Inter Miami, which does not have Messi and Luís Suárez available, but also Matías Rojas and Benjamin Cremaschi: according to the calculations made by ESPN, the Florida franchise is giving up 70% of the goals and assists recorded in the first part of the season. It is no coincidence, it must be said, that one of the most critical coaches towards MLS was himself Tata Martino, who for exactly one year has decided to lead the new Inter Miami project.
The point, however, is that no one is really happy. Not even the players involved. Roman Burki, Swiss goalkeeper and captain of St. Louis City, who was not called up by his national team for Euro 2024, said that “the league must improve from this point of view: it is not possible that the best players leave their clubs every time there are tournaments for national teams. I understand that the calendar is tight, but this situation can create unfair disadvantages for some teams. And then, much more simply: if there are important matches between national teams, who would prefer to watch the MLS?”. The Tata Martino broadened the discussion, making it a question of the market and the attractiveness of the MLS brand: «The league must necessarily take breaks during the international windows established by FIFA. Otherwise he will lose purchasing power and attraction towards very strong players, i.e. those who are called up permanently to their national teams, whether in Europe or South America. The players want to play with their teams, but that doesn’t mean they want to give up playing with their clubs.” Phil Neville, who has been on the Portland Timbers bench for a few months, also agreed with Martino. And in fact it is really difficult to oppose this vision. Also because, very simply, the American national team is also registered for this year’s Copa América.
In any case, however, it seems that the US has learned its lesson. Or that, at the very least, the next big competition will be faced and managed with a little more common sense: “For the 2026 World Cup we will take a break,” said Brad Pursel. “An event of this type forces us to stop the championship, also because the matches will be held in Canada, Mexico and in our country.” Exactly as happened this year, one might say. But in the end, fortunately, there is always time to change your mind.
