MLS Schedule 2024: Which cities will Messi visit next season?

Publish date: 2024-06-08

Lionel Messi's first full season with Major League Soccer's Inter Miami begins on 21 February at home to Real Salt Lake in a clash three days before other opening matches.

However, given the way the calendar falls, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner could miss at least six games due to his commitment to the Argentina national team.

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MLS scheduled 11 opening matches on 24 February, three the following day and Vancouver from 2 March. Salt Lake will have just two days off before playing in St. Louis on 24 February.

The regular season ends with 14 games on Oct. 19; the only team in the 29-team league that doesn't play that day is Toronto, which finishes Oct. 5 at home against Miami.

Messi joined Miami in mid-2023 and appeared in just six MLS regular-season games with the club, though he led the team to its first trophy by winning the Leagues Cup shortly after his arrival.

The Real Salt Lake match marks the first meeting between that club and Miami. Also playing Inter Miami for the first time this season are Colorado (in Fort Lauderdale on 6 April) and Vancouver (in British Columbia on 25 May).

Messi could miss several games due to Argentina call-ups

MLS released its schedule and each team will play 34 games, the New York Red Bulls offered a Christmas ticket promotion with a catch, which would not include a game against Miami.

Miami visits the New York Red Bulls on March 23 during a FIFA international window in which Messi could be with Argentina.

Because of the June FIFA window and Copa America, Messi also could be with defending champion Argentina when Miami plays at Philadelphia (June 15), at Columbus (June 19), at Nashville (June 29), at Charlotte (July 3). and at Cincinnati (July 6).

After the Copa America final on 14 July, Miami also has home games against Toronto (17 July) and Chicago (20 July).

Unlike most leagues, MLS schedules matches during some FIFA playing periods, when the release of players to national teams is mandatory.

Which cities will Messi visit in MLS 2024?

The way the MLS schedule works, teams play their conference rivals twice, once at home and once away.

In Inter Miami's case, that allows for six games against Western Conference opponents, meaning the only Western cities in which Messi would play MLS games this season are Los Angeles (against the Galaxy on Feb. 25), Kansas City (April 13) and Vancouver (May 26).

Western teams coming to Fort Lauderdale for games in which they will see Messi are Salt Lake (first game on Feb. 21), Colorado (April 6) and St. Louis (June 1).

Teams that have not played Inter Miami as part of the MLS regular season: Seattle, LAFC, Houston, FC Dallas, San Jose, Portland, Minnesota and Austin.

Messi's MLS tour 2024

Date: Feb. 25 | 8:30 p.m. ET

Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park

Date: March 16 | 2:00 pm ET

Stadium: Audi Field

Date: March 23 | 2:00 pm ET

Stadium: Red Bull Arena

Date: April 13 | 8:30 pm ET

Stadium: Children's Mercy Park

Date: April 27 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: Gillette Stadium

Date: May 11 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: Stade Saputo

Date: May 15 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: Exploria Stadium

Date: May 25 | time to be determined

Stadium: BC Place

Date: June 15 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: Subaru Park

Date: June 29 | 8:30 pm ET

Stadium: GEODIS Park

Date: July 3 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: Bank of America Stadium

Date: July 6 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: TQL Stadium

Date: Aug. 31 | 8:30 pm ET

Stadium: Soldier Field

Date: Sept. 18 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Date: Sept. 21 | time to be determined

Stadium: Yankee Stadium

Date: Oct. 2 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: Lower.com Field

Date: Oct. 5 | 7:30 pm ET

Stadium: BMO Field

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