The Lionel Messi roadshow at Inter Miami is back for 2024, with MLS explaining how they settled on fixture lottery winners for the upcoming campaign.
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- Everyone desperate to play host to Herons
- International commitments taken into account
- New season gets underway on February 21
- Getty
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Herons have become the biggest draw in American soccer, with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi ensuring that sell-out crowds pack into venues across the United States. Inter Miami season tickets sold out within a matter of minutes of going on sale.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Their Eastern Conference rivals will get a visit from Messi and Co in 2024, but only three Western Conference teams could realistically host Tata Martino’s side. All 14 of the teams in that picture expressed interest in welcoming the all-time great to their backyard.
- Getty
DID YOU KNOW?
That list was quickly whittled down to six – with the Colorado Rapids, Vancouver Whitecaps and Real Salt Lake having never played Inter Miami since their MLS bow in 2020. Three others – the LA Galaxy, Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City – have never hosted the Herons.
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TELL ME MORE
Colorado, RSL and Minnesota have been snubbed, with Brad Pursel – MLS’ SVP of game schedule management – telling : “Certainly we've had other great players come in the league. But there's only one Leo Messi.” He said that decisions on those missing out on the Messi show were down to “thinking of what would make sense in 2024, and then what would make sense in 2025.”
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