MLS’ Conference structure ensures that Lionel Messi has just a handful of guaranteed games in the West in 2024.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Jan 30th, 2024 06:30 EST
Kirby LeeUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Inter Miami are currently on the Saudi Arabia leg of their globe-trotting preseason schedule, with trips to Hong Kong and Japan in the pipeline. Much has been made of the Herons’ exhaustive warm-up fixture list but there is good news for Miami’s travel-weary squad, the 2024 regular season is fast approaching.
The travel demands placed upon Lionel Messi and co. should be eased once the regular season has begun, with most of their MLS fixtures taking place in the East of the United States. The league’s Conference structure ensure that each team plays just a handful of games against sides in the other division.
Second session in Saudi Arabia complete 👊 pic.twitter.com/YSfzslSRcn
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) January 27, 2024
Inter Miami have six regular season games against Western Conference teams, three at home and three away.
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Which Western Conference sides will Inter Miami play?
Messi’s arrival in summer 2023 brought the eyes of the world to Inter Miami and, on one memorable occasion, some of the most famous faces too. The Herons’ regular season clash against Los Angeles FC brought Selena Gomez, Leonardo DiCaprio and Prince Harry to BMO Stadium, to name just a few.
There’s no LAFC rematch for Inter Miami this season, but Messi will return to Los Angeles to take on LA Galaxy (February 25). Miami’s two other Western Conference visits will take the team to Sporting Kansas City (April 13) and Vancouver Whitecaps (May 26).
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Lionel Messi stole the show on his last trip to Los Angeles.SEAN M. HAFFEYAFP
Three teams from the West will be making the long journey to Fort Lauderdale to face Tata Martino’s men. The MLS regular season opener sees Real Salt Lake (February 21) head to Miami, with Colorado Rapids (April 6) and St. Louis City (June 1) completing the visiting trio.
The eight MLS teams lucky/unlucky enough to avoid Messi and Miami are: Seattle Sounders, LAFC, Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes, Portland Timbers, Minnesota United and Austin FC.
