Lionel Messi handed Inter Miami boost after making promise to fans last season

31 January 2024 , 20:31

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Lionel Messi captained Inter Miami to victory in the Leagues Cup last summer (Image: Getty Images)

Inter Miami have received a favorable Leagues Cup draw as they will benefit from being the only MLS club in their group.

Lionel Messi 's side will play Liga MX teams Club Puebla and Tigres UANL during the group stage, but neither of their two games requires them to travel south of the border into Mexico. That was also the case during last year's inaugural edition of the expanded tournament, as Inter Miami hosted Cruz Azul at the DRV PNK Stadium despite their opponents technically being the home team.

It meant both Inter Miami group stage games were at home, with the other being against Atlanta United. No games happened in Mexico last year, which will continue to be the case this season.

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But attempts have been made to address that absence of home advantage. The four top-ranked Liga MX clubs, of which Tigres is one, will now receive 'hub privileges.'

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Those clubs will have travel kept to a minimum and play as the home team at pre-determined venues. The Leagues Cup will announce the specific stadium at the same time as the tournament schedule. Tigres' privileges cover the group stage games against Inter Miami and Puelba.

Only one other MLS club, Austin FC, are in a group with two Liga MX clubs, Monterrey (who also have hub privileges up to and including the round of 16) and Pumas. The changes come after the league's president Mikel Arriola expressed frustrations with the format before the Leagues Cup final.

Messi and Inter Miami start their Leagues Cup defence in late July (AFP via Getty Images)

“We’ve been able to hear the fans who have complained about their teams playing as the visitors,” he said. “The Leagues Cup dual committee has to listen to those voices in order to represent our clubs. We’ll lean on that analysis to make modifications next year, especially so that the playing field is more even.”

At the time, he was also "sure that we could work something out" to play games in Mexico, describing the tournament as "very flexible." That, though, will not be the case again this year.

And it is to the benefit of Inter Miami, as it makes for a much kinder draw after the new tiered ranking system deeded them in the third out of three tiers despite being the reigning champions.

Those rankings come from the 2023 Supporters’ Shield standings, which Inter Miami finished third-bottom of, above only the Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC. They are thus ranked 40th out of 45 clubs competing in this year's tournament.

Inter Miami's opponents, Puebla and Tigres, are 21st and 6th, respectively. It also increases the likelihood of Messi delivering on the promises made after lifting the Leagues Cup weeks after arriving in Miami.

Celebrating the success on Instagram, he wrote: "CHAMPIONSSS!! We are very happy to win the first title in the history of this club. Everyone's hard work and commitment made it possible. Hopefully, this is just the beginning..."

Matthew Abbott