Lionel Messi and Inter Miami did not like this from the MLS.
In the midst of vacation, the worst news that Lionel Messi received from the USA
After strong uncertainty about the start date of the next championship, the MLS defined that the 2024 season will begin on February 21 with the match between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. However, issues regarding other competitions such as the US Open Cup also remained to be resolved.
Lionel Messi played only one game in this tournament, more precisely after winning the Leagues Cup against Cincinnati in the semifinals, a match in which the player from Rosario contributed two assists to tie in agonizing fashion and force penalties, where they ended up winning. Unfortunately for Lionel Messi, he was injured with the Argentine National Team and could not play in the final against Houston Dynamo. Thus, in September, the Herons fell in the final in their own stadium and were left with no chance of winning their second title.
Now, due to the intense schedule, there was talk of the possibility that the teams would not compete in the 2024 US Open Cup in order to have more rest. Specifically, the idea that was raised was that those groups that belong to the MLS send their affiliates to compete there. However, the United States Soccer Federation took action on the matter.
Days ago, it was announced that MLS teams would not participate in the competition in order to lighten the schedule. More precisely, the franchises were going to be part of the tournament, but they were going to do it with their affiliates. However, in the last few hours US Soccer issued a statement in which it rejected that possibility and now the teams are obliged to play the US Open Cup with the first team. In short, it was decided that Messi will finally compete for the cup that he came close to winning in September.