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Messi
Inter Miami coach urged MLS to change the match schedule because of Messi
According to coach Tata Martino, the American Professional Football League (MLS) should take a break on FIFA Days, when Inter Miami lacks Lionel Messi because of the upcoming national team gathering.
Since 1996, MLS has still taken place on occasions when national teams compete on the FIFA calendar (FIFA Days). But Martino thinks it’s time for MLS organizers to analyze and find the best way to schedule the 2024 season to prevent these conflicts. “Maybe a solution will happen,” he said on August 31.
According to British newspaper Sportmail, MLS needs to resolve a number of issues to be able to comply with the way the rest of world football operates. The point here is trying to find a balance to help MLS stay true to its identity without completely turning into a “European” league. At the same time, there are some regulations that the MLS regulates that don’t make much sense.
After joining Inter Miami as a guest of Los Angeles FC on the evening of September 3, Messi will join Argentina for two matches against Ecuador on September 7 and Bolivia on September 12. Thus, the 36-year-old striker certainly missed the Inter Miami match against Sporting Kansas City on the evening of September 9, and only returned for the match against Atlanta United on September 16.
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A similar problem occurred in October, when Argentina played the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay on October 12 and Peru on October 17. Accordingly, Messi – if in best condition – can play Inter Miami’s match against Cicinatti on the evening of October 7 and will almost certainly miss the match against Charlotte on October 18.
At the FIFA Days gathering in early September, besides Messi, Inter Miami also lost a number of other important players, according to the list of related national teams just announced. This number includes goalkeeper Drake Callender, midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi (USA), strikers Josef Martínez (Venezuela), Leonardo Campana (Ecuador), midfielder Serhiy Kryvtsov (Ukraine), midfielder Robert Taylor (Finland).
“Whatever, we will have to play with the rest. I think Inter Miami will still have 12 players not counting the goalkeepers who can play, and have to add some players from the reserve team. This is not unusual in the MLS, and we have to look forward,” Martino added when asked about the staff for the Sporting Kansas City match in round 38 on September 9.
“I’ve worked with the team for two months, but really only really trained for 50-52 days. We still haven’t had a full week of tactical practice. Playing a game in four days doesn’t allow us to do that. I have enough time to practice and bond,” said the Argentina coach.