After defeating Sporting Kansas City and advancing to the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16, Inter Miami’s schedule for the season is now confirmed. Coach Javier Mascherano faces a busy season, and expectations are high for Inter Miami to compete for and win trophies in every competition they enter. However, achieving this might be challenging. Let’s analyze Inter Miami’s involvement in each competition and assess their chances of success. Major League Soccer technically includes two competitions: the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular season record and the MLS Cup for the playoff winner. We will consider them separately.
Here’s a ranking of their competitions by winnability:
5. Club World Cup
In a tournament featuring top global teams like Manchester City, Juventus, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, Inter Miami’s primary goal should be to perform respectably. They begin in Miami, in a group with Porto, Palmeiras, and Al-Ahly. Advancing from the group stage is possible, but progressing further and facing teams such as Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and others mentioned earlier could be too difficult, even for Inter Miami’s talented squad.
4. Supporters’ Shield
Seattle Sounders are the only other team competing in as many competitions as Inter Miami this season. This will force both teams to prioritize which competitions to focus their strongest lineups on and when to rotate players. While Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield last season with a league record of 74 points, there’s less pressure to prioritize winning it again this season. Coach Mascherano won’t intentionally lose games, but resting key players like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Messi will be crucial with a packed schedule. This rotation may result in fewer points, making it harder to retain the Supporters’ Shield.
3. Leagues Cup
Top Liga MX teams have significantly improved, with examples like James Rodriguez joining Leon and Club America maintaining their top regional talent. Monterrey has also tried to strengthen by signing Sergio Ramos, though his impact is uncertain, especially given their poor league start. With fewer MLS teams participating, Inter Miami has a better chance of winning the Leagues Cup compared to the competitions ranked lower, but some still present a greater opportunity.
2. MLS Cup
Historically, the MLS Cup has been decided by star players performing in crucial moments. In a knockout tournament, having Messi on your side is a significant advantage. Being eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs would be a disappointment for Miami, serving as added motivation. The MLS Cup is one of the two domestic trophies Inter Miami hasn’t yet won (they are not participating in the U.S. Open Cup this season). Resting players throughout the season will be vital to ensure they are fresh and ready for the playoffs.
1. Concacaf Champions Cup
The Concacaf Champions Cup is arguably the most winnable competition because it requires the fewest victories. Already in the round of 16, Inter Miami will face Cavalier SC from Jamaica. If they advance, they could potentially play Columbus Crew or Los Angeles FC. The path to the semifinals won’t be easy, as the Champions Cup is designed to be challenging. However, Inter Miami only needs to overcome four more teams to become Concacaf champions. Sounds simple, right?
