Blow to Inter Miami as Messi and Suarez Leave
The absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez from Inter Miami’s upcoming matches is inevitable following their call-up to international duty.
While other leagues are on summer break the current Major League Soccer (MLS) season is underway and is set to finish on October 19. There will be a break from mid-July to mid-August for the 2024 Leagues Cup, involving all MLS and Liga MX teams.
Luis Suarez, also known as ‘El Pistolero,’ joined Marcelo Bielsa’s team on June 9th, while Messi is already with Argentina, preparing for the tournament.
Messi’s transcendent status and worldwide appeal make him a crucial figure in MLS growth but his participation in the Copa America takes precedence over club matches.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, Messi continues to shine. He delivered a Leagues Cup title last summer and has Inter Miami primed for a deep MLS postseason run.
Suarez, too, won’t be available for Inter Miami during this period due to his call-up to the Uruguayan national team.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino acknowledges the players’ absence during the Copa America, which runs from June 20th to July 14th
The Copa America final is set for July 15th, meaning both players will miss Inter Miami’s fixtures during that period.
Inter Miami Fixtures
Here are Inter Miami CF’s upcoming fixtures in the next month:
- Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami CF: Sunday, June 16, 2024, at Subaru Park in Chester, PA.
- Inter Miami CF vs. Columbus Crew: Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami CF: Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Geodis Park in Nashville, TN.
Inter Miami also has 2 away games with 5th-place Charlotte and 2nd-placed Cincinnati on July 4 2024 and July 7 2024 respectively before the Copa America final.
Inter Miami CF is currently in 1st place with 35 points followed closely by FC Cincinnati in 2nd place with 33 points and New York City FC in 3rd place with 29 points.
The team has had an impressive performance so far in the presence of their stars but if they don’t keep up that performance while their star players are away the teams in 2nd and 3rd place pose a threat.
As the Copa America kicks off next month, they will still be on United States soil not as Inter Miami’s players but as representatives of their countries on the international stage.
For now, fans can eagerly anticipate their return, bearing in mind international duty precedes club duty.