¿MLS in trouble? Club World Cup tests USA football

Will MLS Be Able to Compete in the Club World Cup?

Major League Soccer (MLS) faces a significant challenge in international competitions. Despite its 30 years of existence, MLS teams have achieved few continental titles. However, the recent participation of three teams in the FIFA Club World Cup raises a crucial question: Can MLS compete globally? The tournament, which began on Saturday, pits 32 of the world’s biggest clubs against each other. Inter Miami, LAFC, and Seattle Sounders will represent MLS, facing renowned teams such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and South American champions Flamengo and Palmeiras. MLS arrives at this tournament after a resounding defeat of its league leader in the Concacaf Champions Cup final. Vancouver Whitecaps was surpassed by Cruz Azul, with a score of 5-0, a result that generated doubts about the league’s ability to compete internationally.

When we made mistakes, we were punished. That’s what good teams do in big finals like this.

Brian White, Vancouver Whitecaps player

The contrast in talent and experience between Cruz Azul and the Vancouver Whitecaps was evident. The market value of Cruz Azul’s starting eleven significantly surpassed that of Vancouver, reflecting the disparity in investment and access to high-level players.

Infantino: The Club World Cup is a ‘big bang’ in the history of football.The suspension of Sebastian Berhalter and the poor performance of Andrés Cubas also affected Vancouver’s performance, further complicating their situation. The gap in the depth and value of the teams’ squads widens when considering the opponents that MLS clubs will face in the Club World Cup. Since Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami, the team has been the focus of attention in the MLS in international competitions. The presence of Messi and other former Barcelona players has generated greater media coverage and marketing campaigns to increase the visibility of the league. With the world watching, the MLS places its hopes in Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi will lead Inter Miami in the FIFA Club World Cup.Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has adopted a realistic approach, acknowledging that the level of the American league is below that of the Club World Cup participants.

We have to be honest. The level of play will be higher than what we have faced in the Concacaf [Champions Cup] and in MLS. The Club World Cup has a very high level, and it’s a level that we clearly don’t have. We have to be honest about it, and there’s no shame in saying it.

Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami coach

Sergio Busquets has also expressed his perspective, pointing out the difficulty of competing in the tournament. Opta’s rankings suggest that LAFC (126th), Inter Miami (146th), and Seattle Sounders (191st) face significant challenges. LAFC is positioned between RB Salzburg and Sunderland; Inter Miami, between FC Twente and West Bromwich Albion; and Seattle, between Blackburn Rovers and Southampton. The Club World Cup presents itself as an opportunity with risks and rewards for MLS. If MLS teams do not perform well, the perception of the league as a low-level circuit will become even more entrenched. However, a respectable performance could change the perception, with a potential greater than the impact of existing opinions. MLS hopes its teams can get past the group stage. For the Sounders, entering the competition is an exercise in damage limitation, given that they have been placed in a difficult group. Expectations are higher for LAFC and, especially, for Inter Miami, with the hope that Messi can lead MLS to glory.