Messi meets the Dawg Pound: Soccer superstar leads Inter Miami into Cleveland against Columbus
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi salutes fans at the end of an MLS soccer match against Philadelphia Union, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) takes a free kick against the Chicago Fire during the second half of an MLS soccer game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) takes a free kick against the Chicago Fire during the second half of an MLS soccer game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi salutes fans at the end of an MLS soccer match against Philadelphia Union, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) takes a free kick against the Chicago Fire during the second half of an MLS soccer game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Lionel Messi has played in his share of unique environments as one of the top soccer players in the world.
He adds another on Saturday when the Argentine superstar visits the Dawg Pound.
Advertisement
Instead of Cleveland Browns fans barking at opponents from the bleachers in the East end zone, Crew supporters will take over the space on Saturday when Columbus hosts Inter Miami.
The Crew has had the option of holding a match in Cleveland since the Haslam Sports Group took over the franchise in 2019. The Haslams also own the Browns.
'This is a unique moment in time with Messi where we can fill the building and ensure that the first experience that Northeast Ohio has with the Columbus Crew is in a packed house,' said Josh Glessing, the Haslam Sports Group's chief of strategy development who is also the Crew's president of business operations.
It will be the 11th match in MLS that Messi has played in an NFL stadium since he arrived in Miami in 2023 after captaining Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title. It is the second time that a club has moved it to a larger facility. The previous matches — nine regular season and one playoff — averaged 61,507 fans.
Advertisement
Last year, Sporting Kansas City drew 72,610 when they played Inter Miami at Arrowhead Stadium instead of their home field, which has a capacity of 18,467.
Atlanta United, Charlotte FC, the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution play in NFL facilities. Last Sunday's scoreless draw at Chicago's Soldier Field had a crowd of 62,358, a single-game record for the Fire.
The Crew expect to set a single-game record, surpassing the 31,550 it drew for a 1996 match at Ohio Stadium against the New York-New Jersey MetroStars.
'For Inter Miami to travel around Major League Soccer and for us to be able to take that game into big stadiums and sell them out speaks to the impact he has on Major League Soccer and on the sport. But there's also an exciting legacy impact that I don't think a lot of people have realized yet," MLS executive vice president Camilo Durana said.
Advertisement
Cleveland and Northeast Ohio do have a soccer history of their own. The Force of the defunct Major Indoor Soccer League was one of the top-drawing teams during the league's heyday in the 1980s.
Recently, the region has been fertile ground for youth and club teams. The University of Akron won the Division I NCAA men's soccer title in 2010, was a finalist in 2018, and has reached the College Cup final four six times.
The Zips have sent many players to MLS, including Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe.
Cleveland was in the running for an NWSL expansion team. After those efforts fell short, a local group this week announced its plans to field a club in WPSL Pro, a Division II and feeder league for NWSL.
Advertisement
Huntington Bank Field has hosted U.S. men's and women's national team matches, including two CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheaders.
Columbus is one of the original members of Major League Soccer but has found itself in competition with fans in Ohio since FC Cincinnati began play in 2016 and joined MLS three years later.
'We think it's got a real half-life with the Crew in Columbus. If we can do this right, we can create new fans in Cleveland,' Glessing said. 'We hope that these people are going to travel to Columbus in the future to engage with the Crew there because they've been exposed to something new for the first time.'
Besides Messi's fanfare, it is a matchup between MLS's only two unbeaten teams. The Crew (5-0-3) lead the Eastern Conference with 18 points while Inter Miami (4-0-3) has played one fewer match and sits in fourth place with 15 points.
Advertisement
Messi has three goals and two assists in four MLS matches this season. Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki, who grew up in Olmsted Falls, is excited for the opportunity to play in front of hometown fans.
'To me, it means a lot,' Zawadzki said. 'It's a place I've grown up going to, supporting the Browns and other teams in Cleveland. So to be there, closer to family and friends, obviously is a big part for me. So I'm just really looking forward to the game.'
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
27 minutes ago
- New York Times
Claudio Ranieri turns down Italian national team job
Claudio Ranieri has turned down the opportunity to succeed Luciano Spalletti as Italy head coach. Spalletti said on Sunday he had been sacked as head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup, after a 3-0 defeat to Norway on Friday — their first qualification match for the tournament. The 66-year-old had replaced Roberto Mancini in August 2023, but had a turbulent rein with a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign ending with a last-16 defeat to Switzerland. Advertisement Spalletti, who won Napoli's first league title in 33 years in 2022-23, oversaw 11 wins in his 23 matches in charge of the national team. Ranieri was offered the chance to take on the role, which would have been a 25th job of his career, but is instead set to stay at Roma in an executive position above new coach Gian Piero Gasperini after a successful temporary period in charge of the team. Ranieri was appointed in November with the club 16th in Serie A but helped them finish one point from Champions League qualification in fifth. 'I'd like to thank president (Gabriele) Gravina for the opportunity, a great honour, but I have reflected and decided to remain at Roma's disposal in my new position completely,' Ranieri said in a statement to Italian news agency ANSA. 'The Friedkins have given me their full support and backing for whatever decision I have taken regarding the national team, but the decision is mine alone.' The 73-year-old previously stepped down as Cagliari head coach in May 2024 after winning promotion from Serie B in 2023 and securing their top-flight status the following season. The Italian is most well-known for leading Leicester City to their against-the-odds Premier League title in the 2015-16 season, while he also won the Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup during his time in management. Ranieri's distinguished coaching career encompassed spells at Napoli, Fiorentina, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Chelsea, Parma, Juventus, Roma, Inter, Monaco, the Greek national team, Sampdoria and Watford, among others. ()
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Will Neymar Jr play in Brazil vs Paraguay FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier?
By Aman Shukla Published on June 10, 2025, 12:23 IST As the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers heat up, all eyes are on Brazil's star-studded squad, with one question dominating discussions: Will Neymar play in the crucial Brazil vs Paraguay match scheduled for June 10, 2025? Neymar Jr., Brazil's record goalscorer, has been a focal point of speculation due to his recent injury struggles and absence from the national team. Neymar, the 33-year-old forward, has faced significant injury setbacks over the past few years. His last appearance for Brazil was in October 2023, when he suffered a devastating ACL and meniscus injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. This injury sidelined him for over a year, limiting his appearances for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia and later his boyhood club, Santos, where he returned in January 2025. Since his return to Santos, Neymar has struggled with recurring muscular injuries, including a thigh injury that delayed his comeback. Most recently, reports surfaced on June 8, 2025, indicating that Neymar tested positive for COVID-19, further complicating his availability for upcoming matches. These health challenges have raised doubts about his participation in Brazil's qualifier against Paraguay. Brazil's Squad Under Carlo Ancelotti Brazil's new head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, announced his first 25-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay on May 26, 2025, and Neymar was notably absent. Ancelotti explained that Neymar's recent return from injury and lack of full fitness were the reasons for his exclusion. However, the Italian coach emphasized that Neymar remains a key part of his plans for the 2026 World Cup, stating, 'We are counting on him. He came back to Brazil to play and prepare for the World Cup.' Brazil's squad for the qualifiers includes stars like Vinicius Jr., Casemiro, and Alisson, but the absence of Neymar and Real Madrid's Rodrygo has sparked debate among fans. Ancelotti's decision reflects a cautious approach, prioritizing Neymar's long-term recovery to ensure he's in peak condition for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
2 hours ago
World Cup host city organizers acknowledge immigration crackdown may impact next year's tournament
NEW YORK -- Philadelphia's host city executive for the 2026 World Cup says organizers accept that an immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump's administration may be among the outside events that impact next year's tournament. "There are certainly things that are happening at the national level, the international level, there are going to be geopolitical issues that we don't even know right now that are going affect the tournament next year, so we recognize that we're planning within uncertainty,' Meg Kane said Monday at a gathering of the 11 U.S. host city leaders, one year and two days ahead of the tournament opener. The World Cup will be played at 16 stadiums in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year, a tournament expanded to 48 nations and 104 games. All matches from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 'Whether it's the Olympics, whether it's a World Cup, whether it's a Super Bowl, you name it, anytime you've got a major international sporting event, geopolitics is going to have a role,' said Alex Vasry, CEO of the New York/New Jersey host committee. Kane said the host committees must adapt to decisions made by others. 'One of the things that I think we all recognize is that we have to be really good at operating within that uncertainty,' Kane said. 'I think for each of our cities, we want to be prepared to make any person that is coming and makes the decision to come to the United States or come to this World Cup feel that they are welcome. We do not play a role necessarily in what is happening in terms of the decisions that are made.' Trump's travel ban on citizens from 12 countries exempted athletes, coaches, staff and relatives while not mentioning fans. 'We allow for FIFA to continue having constructive conversations with the administrations around visas, around workforce, around tourism,' Kane said. FIFA is running the World Cup for the first time without a local organizing committee in the host nation. Asked in late April whether FIFA president Gianni Infantino was available to discuss the tournament, FIFA director of media relations Bryan Swanson forwarded the request to a member of the media relations staff, who did not make Infantino available. Legislation approved by the House of Representatives and awaiting action in the Senate would appropriate $625 million to the Federal Emergency Management Agency 'for security, planning, and other costs related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.' The 11 U.S. host committees have been consulting with each other on issues such as transportation for teams and VIPs, and for arranging fan fests. At the last major soccer tournament in the U.S., the 2024 Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, started 82 minutes late after fans breached security gates. 'Certainly we were not involved in the planning or the logistics for that particular match,' said Alina Hudak, CEO of the Miami World Cup host committee. She said local police 'have done an extensive review of the after-action reports related to that in collaboration with the stadium and so all of the things that happened are in fact being reviewed and addressed and I can assure you that everything is being done within our power to make sure that the appropriate measures are being placed, the appropriate perimeters.'
