Inter Miami holds meetings, intense practices to right ship ahead of Philadelphia clash
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates headed to Philadelphia on Friday with a palpable sense of urgency to defeat the first-place Union, fueled, in part, by a players-only meeting Sunday night after the team's 3-0 home loss to Orlando City.
Despite its star-studded lineup and lofty preseason expectations, the team has slipped to sixth place in the East, is winless in six of its past seven games, and has conceded 20 goals during that stretch.
Defender Ian Fray said before training Friday morning that the team's veteran stars spoke up at the meeting, and one result has been increased intensity at practice all week.
'It's been rough stretch of games that we're not used to, but this week has been the hardest week of training I think we've had all season, and the guys have really come together,' Fray said.
'The intensity has been high, the coaches made that change in practice, where we're really working extra hard and the players taking the accountability to put in the extra work. We're ready for this game.'
Last Memorial Day Weekend, Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets did not travel for the road game at Vancouver, choosing to stay home and watch their sons play in the club-sponsored Dreams Cup youth tournament. This time, it's a different story.
'I knew about last year, but obviously, this year we are at a moment where we need them, so they will travel,' coach Javier Mascherano said.
Fray added that every player is dialed in and has a strong desire to get out of this funk.
'We're so used to winning all the time, and now we get the stretch of losing, so it was about putting in the extra work, everyone knows we have to do that,' he said. 'We all know we're not in a good moment and we have players here that maybe know how to turn things like this around.'
Fray said that goalkeeper Oscar Ustari has been one of the team's most vocal leaders during this stretch.
Mascherano said having the luxury of a full week of practice between games allowed the coaching staff to work the players longer and harder to try to correct weaknesses, especially on the defensive side.
'We have taken advantage of this week to work on a lot of things that we have to improve on, and It has been very productive, but it is not something different from what we have been doing,' Mascherano said.
'We took advantage of the long week to have more intense and longer training. We have focused on regaining confidence. The team has lost confidence, and the sport has an emotional side to it. You can train a lot but in the end it's how you face each game. We've been speaking with the players and stressing that turning things around is in our hands.'
In addition to the players' meeting, Mascherano and his staff held team meetings and individual conversations with players to get the group back on track. The team was unbeaten in its first 14 games under Mascherano, including a 2-1 win at home against Philadelphia on March 29.
'As a coaching staff, we need to know what they players are thinking and feeling,' Mascherano said. 'For us to help them evolve, we need to know those things.'
He added that club management has given him full support and has not interfered with his coaching.
Inter Miami has 22 points through 13 games and trails the Union by seven points; but Miami has a game in hand and three games during the next seven days, so this is a critical stretch for the team to climb back up the standings.
After Philadelphia, Miami plays back-to-back games at home on Wednesday against last-place Montreal (1-9-4) and on Saturday against third-place Columbus Crew (7-1-6), which Miami beat 1-0 on the road in April.
'[The Union] is in first place, we haven't been in a good moment, so this is the perfect opportunity to show everybody why we're still the best team in the league,' Fray said. 'This game is set up perfectly for us to show everyone we're still Inter Miami.'
In addition to getting back to the top of the East, Miami is motivated to get back in good form for the upcoming Club World Cup. The team will take a month-long break from MLS to play in the group stage of the tournament.
Miami plays in the opening match June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium against Egyptian club Al Ahly, then heads to Atlanta for a June 19 game against Portuguese club Porto and then back to Hard Rock for a June 23 game against Brazilian club Palmeiras.
FIFA is allowing teams to add players for the tournament. Mascherano said he has spoken to club officials about where the team needs help, and now it is up to them if they want to add reinforcements.
He also is eager for Messi to sign a contract extension, as that will add stability for the long-range plans and give the fan base reason for optimism.
'Obviously, as a coach, I want him to renew his contract as soon as possible and I hope the news can be announced as soon as possible, above all for the peace of mind of the fans, and the peace of mind of everyone around the club,' Mascherano said. 'I'm not the one who has to deliver it or comment on it. I am not involved in the negotiations.'
How to Watch: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Subaru Park and fans can watch on Apple TV MLS Season Pass.

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New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
Club World Cup: Everything you need to know about the revamped tournament
This summer's revamped and expanded FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 teams from across the world compete across 11 cities in the United States. With it being a first-of-its-kind tournament, there are many questions to answer as intrigue builds over how it will play out. The first match is on June 15, so it's time to get up to speed with the talking points, including the $1billion (£750million) prize pot, how Lionel Messi is playing, and the fans travelling potentially thousands of miles to watch their teams compete in the group stage. Follow the Club World Cup on The Athletic this summer… Let's start with the competition itself. The Club World Cup is a 32-team tournament organised by FIFA, football's world governing body. All six of FIFA's confederations are represented — 12 clubs from UEFA (Europe), six from CONMEBOL (South America), five from Concacaf (North America), four from AFC (Asia), four from CAF (Africa) and one from OFC (Oceania). Advertisement Brazil is the country with the most participating teams (four: Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Palmeiras), with the U.S. the only other nation providing more than two sides (three: Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders). Teams have been drawn into eight groups of four, with each side playing their group opponents once. The top two of each group will progress to the round of 16, and from there it will be single-match knockouts to the final. We have put together all the groups and a full fixture list in one handy article. FIFA's two-club limit on teams from a single country — except if more than two clubs from the same country had won their leading continental tournament, as was the case with the Brazilian teams, and 'hosts' Inter Miami — meant some of Europe's more renowned sides, such as La Liga's champions Barcelona and Premier League winners Liverpool, missed out even though they were ranked higher on the pathway than, for example, Austria's Red Bull Salzburg. Some of the world's best-known clubs are, however, playing, including Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and River Plate. Look out for Auckland City of New Zealand, the only representatives from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). They have won the region's Champions League 11 times in 14 years, but can they compete with global stars? Botafogo from Brazil could be an interesting watch. They won the Copa Libertadores in 2024 but are close to an agreement to sell three players (striker Igor Jesus, left-back Cuiabano, and centre-back Jair Cunha) to Nottingham Forest. Groups A, D, E, and F only have one European team, so teams from another continent will progress to the round of 16 from these groups. In Group H, Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) and Pachuca (Mexico) should challenge Salzburg (Austria) for second place behind Real Madrid. Advertisement Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to add to their treble of the Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France this season. The way PSG demolished Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final makes them the form European team. Real Madrid, with five titles, won the most Club World Cups in its previous format, and with their squad — Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, to name just three — they will be one of the teams to watch, at least. Manchester City, though below par in the Premier League, should be dangerous opponents under Pep Guardiola, especially as the team's form improved slightly towards the end of their league campaign. Most of the European teams are expected to progress through the group stage, but Flamengo lead Brazil's Serie A after 11 games and could be a threat. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) reached the final of the CAF Champions League this campaign. Lionel Messi is set to feature, but the inclusion of his Inter Miami team has raised eyebrows. In the past, the host nation's top league champions were awarded a bonus qualification spot as 'hosts'. Inter Miami qualified after winning the 2024 Supporters' Shield, awarded to the MLS team with the best regular-season record, but they were not the national champions in the U.S. The winners of the MLS Cup, a play-off tournament based on league rankings, are typically regarded as the true winners. Messi and Inter Miami were knocked out of the 2024 play-offs in the first round by Atlanta United, with LA Galaxy beating New York Red Bulls in the final. Miami's inclusion means Messi and former Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba are set to play. With Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract coming to an end, the 40-year-old posted a cryptic message on his social media last week: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested Ronaldo may play for one of the teams at the Club World Cup in an interview with YouTuber IShowSpeed, but the Portugal forward has confirmed he will not be taking part. Advertisement Neymar is another global football icon whose contract expires this summer, with his future at Santos uncertain. Clubs have a special transfer window between June 1 and June 10 to add players before the opening game kicks off in Miami on June 14. Two of the world's best strikers, Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) and Erling Haaland (Manchester City), will feature, too. Real Madrid will have new manager Xabi Alonso in the dugout, and former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to make his Madrid debut after they paid a €10million (£8.4m; $11.4m) fee for him to join before the tournament. Liam Delap could make his debut for Chelsea after the club signed him for £30m from Ipswich Town. Inter Milan will have a new manager, expected to be former defender Cristian Chivu, after Simone Inzaghi left for Al Hilal. Other deals could see Jonathan Tah feature for Bayern Munich and Jorginho for Flamengo. As The Athletic's Steve Madeley has explained, standard player contracts in Europe typically run from July 1 to June 30, meaning clubs involved in the Club World Cup could find themselves with players leaving as free agents during the tournament. For this reason, there is a mid-tournament registration window from June 27 to July 3. This will allow clubs to replace out-of-contract players with players who might have joined at the end of their contracts elsewhere, or been bought from other clubs after the end of the extra transfer window. As part of the mid-tournament window, clubs can add two extra players, potentially taking their squad size from 35 up to 37. A maximum of six changes to their squad overall are permitted. For a new player to take part in a Club World Cup match, his club must have registered him and notified FIFA at least 48 hours before kick-off. Players cannot play for more than one club in the tournament. Advertisement Through winning continental tournaments (CAF, AFC, UEFA, Concacaf, CONMEBOL) or a ranking pathway from 2020-21 up to this season. At the end of May, LAFC won a play-off game against Club America to replace Club Leon, who were removed for failing to meet FIFA's criteria on multi-club ownership. UEFA's 12 places were decided by Champions League performances between the 2020-21 and 2023-24 seasons, so the winners through these seasons — Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid — all qualified. Other European teams qualified through UEFA rankings over the four seasons. The opening game will be held at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on June 14 and the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the 2026 World Cup final will be held, on July 13. All 63 matches will be held in the United States, a year before the country co-hosts the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. The 12 host stadiums are: Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium Cincinnati, TQL Stadium Los Angeles, Rose Bowl Stadium Miami, Hard Rock Stadium Nashville, Geodis Park New Jersey, MetLife Stadium Orlando, Camping World Stadium Orlando, Inter&Co Stadium Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field Seattle, Lumen Field Washington, DC, Audi Field The Concacaf Gold Cup, which is also being hosted in the U.S. between June 14 and July 6, will overlap with the Club World Cup. Committed Auckland City fans will travel more than 17,000 miles to reach TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), and Geodis Park (Nashville,) then home again, unless they progress to the knockout stages. From the United Arab Emirates, Al Ain will play two of their group games at Audi Field (Washington, DC) and one at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), amounting to around 15,000 miles to go to all three group games and a return trip to the UAE. Advertisement By contrast, two of Inter Miami's games are in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium, with the other in Atlanta. Last June saw two of Europe's biggest players' unions, the English Professional Footballers' Association and its French counterparts, the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels, join forces to launch a case against FIFA, arguing the rights of its members were being violated under European Union (EU) laws. In an unprecedented move in October, FIFPro — the global players' union — and the European Leagues, which represents 39 leagues in 33 countries, filed a complaint to the European Commission, an executive branch of the EU, to protect the welfare of their players. FIFA argues that its new tournament aligns with unchanged attempts to 'protect the overall interests of world football at all levels of the game' and has accused major European leagues opposed to the Club World Cup of acting with 'hypocrisy and self-interest'. FIFA has consistently stressed that the football calendar, one that will run until 2030, was decided in consultation with all stakeholders, including player unions, before it was signed off. FIFPro, among others, disagrees. It sees no room for the Club World Cup to be played every four years, especially given the expansion of other leading competitions, including the Champions League and World Cup, which will be a 48-team event for the first time next summer. The Athletic has reported concerns within the U.S. government about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of visa applications before the Club World Cup, and many more for the 2026 World Cup. Philip Buckingham General sale tickets are sold, using dynamic pricing that can fluctuate up or down, via Ticketmaster. Some tickets are available for fans of the participating clubs at The Athletic reported that FIFA's quest to fill stadiums is floundering and the organisation has dropped the price of tickets, having unveiled a new tier of lower pricing for games during the tournament. Advertisement In a statement to The Athletic, FIFA confirmed: 'New batches of more affordable match tickets have been released this week.' The organisation did not clarify what this new bracket refers to, but tickets on FIFA's partner Ticketmaster are now showing up as vastly reduced compared to the lowest prices that had been available to fans. During the group stages, Argentine side River Plate against Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds appears to be the lowest-priced ticket, selling for as low as $24 for the match at Lumen Field in Seattle at 3pm ET on June 17. Real Madrid's group games are proving to be popular. No tickets are available for less than $132 to watch their game against Mexican side Pachuca (in Charlotte), while prices start at $310 against Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal (in Miami) and $253 against Red Bull Salzburg (in Philadelphia). For the semi-finals, the cheapest tickets on general sale cost about $300, which is substantially down on FIFA's original aims a few months ago. The best-priced ticket to the final is $538, but thousands of seats remain available. Adam Crafton There is a $1billion pot to be shared. European clubs will take most of this. There is $525m on offer for participation alone, with Europe's 12 competing clubs taking home $306m (58 per cent). They will get between $12.8m and $38.2m in a 'ranking based on sporting and commercial criteria' for participation, with the six South American clubs getting a flat fee of $15.2m. 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Advertisement All 63 matches will be broadcast free around the world on the online platform of DAZN, which struck a deal worth $1billion with FIFA in December for the global rights. In the United Kingdom, Channel 5 will show 23 of the 63 matches live following a sublicensing deal with DAZN. These will include four round-of-16 matches, two quarter-final games, one semi-final and the final.

Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
MLS players' union says dispute over Club World Cup compensation is ongoing
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Associated Press
8 hours ago
- Associated Press
MLS players' union says dispute over Club World Cup compensation is ongoing
Major League Soccer and its players' union remain at odds over compensation for the players with the three MLS teams taking part in the Club World Cup. The Seattle Sounders, LAFC and Inter Miami are the only MLS clubs among the 32 teams playing in the Club World Cup, which starts Saturday. Each team will earn $9.55 million as a club for participating in the tournament, with a chance to win additional prize money based on performance. The Major League Soccer Players Association said Sunday that the league issued a proposal Friday that did not include any additional participation bonuses for the players and offered 'below-standard' back-end compensation. The union also said the league asked for unrelated concessions to the collective bargaining agreement. Currently, there is a provision of the collective bargaining agreement that caps the amount of prize money that can go to players at $1 million. The MLSPA believes the players are entitled to a bigger share of the funds. 'The timing, substance and retaliatory nature of the proposal sends a clear message: MLS does not respect or value players' efforts with regard to this tournament,' the MLSPA said in statement Sunday. 'Although not surprised, the players and the MLSPA are deeply disappointed by this message.' Major League Soccer issued a statement Sunday to clarify its position. 'As the Seattle Sounders FC, Inter Miami CF, and the Los Angeles Football Club prepare to compete in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, Major League Soccer has agreed to voluntarily provide additional performance-based compensation to players from the three participating clubs,' the league said. 'MLS has proposed an enhanced structure for the Club World Cup to reward both participation and competitive achievement in the tournament. In addition to the guaranteed $1 million per team for qualifying, 20 percent of all prize money earned from the group stage onward would be allocated to players. If an MLS club wins the Club World Cup, its players could collectively receive more than $24 million in performance bonuses.' The statement went on to say that MLS owners believe that performance-based incentives are appropriate given the expanded format and increased prize pool for the tournament. 'The League values the continued dedication and commitment of its players and looks forward to supporting them as they represent their clubs -- and Major League Soccer -- on the global stage this summer.' The talks between the two sides were ongoing. Last weekend, the Seattle Sounders called attention to the issue by wearing T-shirts before a match that read 'Club World Cup Ca$h Grab.' On Sunday, a number of players posted the hashtag #FairShareNow, including Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei and LAFC center back Aaron Long. 'The players remain unified in using their collective voice and demanding a fair share of the rewards earned from their hard work,' the union said. The Club World Cup features an expanded field of club teams from around the globe and will be played across 11 U.S. cities. ___ AP soccer: