MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks Messi, Leagues Cup on eve of All-Star Game
WASHINGTON (AP) — MLS Commissioner Don Garber figures Lionel Messi’s arrival is simply the beginning of an thrilling few years for soccer in North America.
The United States, Mexico and Canada are internet hosting the World Cup in 2026, and earlier than that, the 2024 Copa America and 2025 Club World Cup come to the U.S.
“North America is driving a lot of the energy and a lot of the potential value of soccer on a global basis, and we believe that MLS is one of the drivers of all of that energy,” Garber mentioned. “All of the opportunity and energy and excitement about what’s going to happen over the next number of years is going to have the whole world saying, `Well, they finally got it.”’
Garber took questions from reporters Tuesday, the day earlier than the MLS All-Star Game in Washington. A workforce of MLS All-Stars faces Arsenal on Wednesday night time. Messi’s resolution to return play for Inter Miami has given the North American league a lift, and it was no shock when that matter got here up fairly a bit on the commissioner’s news convention.
“A transformational moment for our league, for sure,” Garber mentioned. “You have the best player in the history of the game to be choosing Major League Soccer is something we couldn’t be more excited about — and the fact that the first game will be Friday in our new inaugural Leagues Cup.”
Messi is anticipated to make his debut for Inter Miami in opposition to Cruz Azul on Friday within the Leagues Cup, a CONCACAF-sanctioned event that features MLS groups from the U.S. and Canada, in addition to members from Mexico’s Liga MX.
“There’s been so much talk about the rivalry between our national teams,” Garber mentioned. “We are equal partners in this World Cup-style tournament that will have our teams playing their teams. Lots of energy behind it, lots of prize money, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.”
When Garber was requested about what his subsequent dream is for the league, he mentioned MLS is “probably past the dream point.”
“We want to be one of the top soccer leagues in the world,” Garber mentioned. “Now we proved to the world that we can at least compete with the top player in the world, but how do we capture the hearts and minds of fans around the world? How do we capture the hearts and minds of every player?”
That — versus short-term issues like ticket gross sales — is how Garber will consider success after including Messi.
“How does it really speak to the reputation of the league?” Garber mentioned.
NOT THE SAME
D.C. United coach Wayne Rooney, who’s teaching the MLS workforce this week, was requested if some form of All-Star Game may work within the Premier League in England. The former Manchester United star was skeptical.
“The culture’s different,” Rooney mentioned. “It’s a huge game here, but I think in England, the rivalry between teams, the coaches will complain about players playing too much. I just don’t think it will work in England.”
DON’T COUNT ON IT
Garber was requested about the opportunity of promotion and relegation coming to MLS. Not within the close to future, he mentioned.
“I don’t see it happening any time soon, but I’ve also learned that never is a long time,” he mentioned. “We’ll have 30 teams. Maybe at some point we’ll have more than 30 teams. We’ve got this interesting competition going on with Mexico. Who knows how all that plays itself out? The minor leagues are developing well in our country.”
