Inter Miami wants Messi to make his debut on July 21st.

According to Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas, the club is trying to get striker Lionel Messi fit to play his first League Cup match against Cruz Azul on July 21.

If all goes smoothly, Messi's debut match for Inter Miami will take place at his home stadium, DRV PNK. According to the Spanish newspaper AS , organizers at DRV PNK are accelerating preparations to add 3,000 more seats, bringing the total capacity to 22,000. Security is also being increased to ensure order amidst the influx of fans driven by Messi's immense popularity.

According to SeatGeek , the cheapest tickets to watch the Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul match live are currently $1,387. This figure is expected to increase significantly from June 19th onwards, after Jorge Mas announced the timeframe for Inter Miami's desire for Messi to make his debut.

Messi is likely to make his debut for Inter Miami on July 21st. Photo: Miami Herald — Messi is likely to make his debut for Inter Miami on July 21st. Photo: *Miami Herald*

The Leagues Cup is an annual tournament launched in 2019 between clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexico's Liga MX in North America. This year's tournament will take place from July 21st to August 19th, with all 77 matches held in either the United States or Canada. The Leagues Cup is organized by MLS and the Mexican Soccer Federation, and is approved by the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

For the first time in history, the 2023 Leagues Cup will feature all teams from MLS and Liga MX – a total of 47 teams, as both leagues will be temporarily suspended. Under the format, the two finalists and the third-place team will qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winner advancing directly to the Round of 16.

On the evening of June 7th, Inter Miami announced the signing of Messi on a free transfer, creating the biggest transfer in MLS history. To attract the 35-year-old star, the American club collaborated with major brands such as Adidas and Apple. In addition, Messi also received an agreement to own a stake in an American club after his contract with Inter Miami ends.

MLS has a salary cap with several exceptions, including a designated player rule, where a club can register a maximum of three players whose salaries are not fully factored into the salary cap. This rule was created so that LA Galaxy could sign David Beckham in 2007 and was named after the English football legend.

There have been comparisons regarding the scale of the two deals, but Jorge Mas stated that Messi's agreement with Inter Miami would not be subsidized by MLS. "No rules have been changed to bring Messi into the Inter Miami squad," he said.

Mas emphasized that Messi's presence is of immense significance to MLS and the soccer ecosystem in the United States. Therefore, he feels a responsibility—personally and collectively—to capitalize on the presence of the greatest soccer player in history.

Also on June 19th, Mas posted on Twitter an image of three pink Inter Miami jerseys, along with the message "coming soon" and the hashtag "no caption needed". According to Goal , the CEO and owner of Inter Miami revealed that they are close to reaching an agreement to sign Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba - two of Messi's former teammates at Barca - on free transfers.

Hong Duy

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