Messi meets the Dawg Pound: Soccer superstar leads Inter Miami into Cleveland against Columbus
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
8 minutes ago
- Fox News
NJ Gov Phil Murphy preparing for World Cup 1 year out: 'Most-watched event in human history'
JERSEY CITY, NJ – Wednesday marks exactly one year until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, and the party got started in the state where the final will be played. It's the first time since 1994 that the continent is playing host to the most popular sporting event in the world, and Phil Murphy's New Jersey will be the site of the final. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford will host eight matches total, including five in the group stage and games in both the rounds of 32 and 16. In speaking to the media on Wednesday at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, the location of the official 2026 World Cup fan festival, Murphy predicted that the final at the home of the New York Giants and Jets will be "the most-watched event in human history." And for those in attendance, "the MetLife experience will be outstanding," said Murphy. "It will be secure and safe, easy to get in and out, great experience for the fans once they're in the stadium," Murphy continued. "This is what it's all about. A bunch of preparation, and now being able to show our vision and get the reaction we got, which was excitement, energy, interest. This is what it's all about," added Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee. "It's real. We're a year out, and to see the reaction from everyone of how much excitement there is for the World Cup makes us that much more excited." Liberty State Park is the home to tremendous views of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty while filled with greenery, making it the perfect spot for fans to gather. So, while Murphy will undoubtedly be at all eight World Cup games played at MetLife, there is a further responsibility to make sure that fans are entertained for the other 96 contests played in the other 15 host stadiums. "The fan fest, it's going to be beyond words. Twenty-two screens, capacity of 45,000. When we're not at MetLife, we'll be here watching. Those experiences are extraordinary. This will be no exception," Murphy added. "When you look at the ability for people to get here from New York and New Jersey, the iconic skyline and views from this, and then, when you're just thinking of where to put on the party, there's nowhere better," Lasry said. "It's a unique place to put on the most iconic fan fest that we're looking at. To be able to do that in New Jersey with the view of New York, it kind of brings together the partnership." The 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place in North America next year and will be featured on FOX Sports. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
CBS News
19 minutes ago
- CBS News
North Texas unveils World Cup plans with matches, media hub, and stadium name push
With exactly one year to go until the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, organizers in North Texas are unveiling new details about the region's role in hosting the world's largest sporting event. Stadium name sparks discussion Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, speaks during a news conference on Wednesday. CBS News Texas Nine matches are scheduled to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which FIFA has officially designated as "Dallas Stadium" for the tournament. However, local organizers have submitted a petition to rename it "Arlington Dallas Stadium" or "Dallas Arlington Stadium," though no decision has been made yet. The proposed name change reflects a desire to better represent the host city of Arlington while maintaining the global recognition of Dallas. The final decision is still pending, but it has sparked conversation among local leaders and fans alike. Dallas to host global media The impact of the World Cup will extend far beyond the stadium. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas will serve as the International Broadcast Center, drawing thousands of media professionals from around the globe. Training camps across region In addition, six base camp locations will be established across North Texas, including TCU, UNT, Dallas Baptist University, Toyota Stadium, Mansfield Stadium, and the University of Dallas in Irving. These facilities will serve as training and lodging sites for teams, staff, and media in the weeks leading up to their matches. Fan fest to energize region A 39-day fan festival is also planned, promising to bring energy and excitement to the region throughout the tournament. The festival is expected to attract fans from around the world and showcase the cultural vibrancy of North Texas. Organizers highlight cultural impact Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, emphasized the significance of the event during a news conference at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. "The passion, the energy of the soccer… They are here to celebrate sport and culture that goes along with it, so we're very excited to welcome the world to Dallas," Paul said. Economic boost projected She also noted that updated projections estimate the World Cup will generate between $1.5 and $2.1 billion in economic impact for the region, with more than half of the visitors expected to come from outside the United States. Security plans underway Paul added that safety and security remain top priorities, with coordination underway between FIFA and both state and federal agencies to ensure a safe and seamless experience for all attendees. The first match at AT&T Stadium is scheduled for June 14, 2026.
Fox Sports
33 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
A reality check for the USMNT: Why Poch's plan backfired in an ugly loss
If Mauricio Pochettino wanted to learn more about the depth of the U.S. men's national team player pool, he sure got a lesson on Tuesday night. The Argentine coach's young and experimental USMNT lineup was roundly embarrassed 4-0 by Switzerland in a friendly match in Nashville, in a game that served as the Americans' final dress rehearsal for the Concacaf Gold Cup, which Pochettino's squad opens on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago (kickoff at 6 p.m. ET on FOX). The big takeaway? If this team is going to make any noise at all at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil a year from now, the USMNT regulars can't get back soon enough. For reasons too various to fully recap here, Pochettino is without most of what most would consider his strongest possible lineup this summer. Christian Pulisic isn't there. Neither are Folarin Balogun, Sergino Dest, Weston, McKennie, Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, Tanner Tessmann or Tim Weah. Heart and soul midfielder Tyler Adams, the USMNT's captain at the 2022 World Cup, sat out Tuesday's debacle because of a foot injury that may yet rule him out of the Gold Cup. Take a dozen of the most seasoned players out of any national team, and the results might not be pretty. Then there's the fact that Pochettino came into this two-exhibition set — the U.S. lost 2-1 to Türkiye in Connecticut last Saturday — planning to use almost all the 26 players on his roster. The plan backfired, with the U.S. conceding all four goals during a 23-minute span midway through the first half. "It's my responsibility, the decision of the choice of the starting 11," Pochettino said afterward. "It went in the wrong direction from the beginning. We were never again in the game against a very good team like Switzerland, with experienced players, a team that is playing really well. [So] my first thought is not to blame the players, it's to blame ourselves. "That was my decision and that decision didn't work." Pochettino started 20 different players over the two contests, and he has now fielded 65 players in all since replacing Gregg Berhalter at the U.S. helm last September. "With more than 60 players, it's difficult to have the continuity or balance," Pochettino said. "We changed a lot, [both] the starting 11 and the roster." Just two players started both games, and Pochettino left the experienced likes of Chris Richards and Tim Ream on the bench in Music City, though Ream was among a number of subs who came on in the second half and helped shut down the Swiss over the final 45 minutes. But the young starters were thoroughly outclassed by a Swiss XI that included European standouts like Manchester City center back Manuel Akanji, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka and Borussia Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel. Fullbacks Max Arfsten and Nathan Harriel were badly exposed defensively. It was the fourth consecutive loss for Pochettino's team, all of them at home. Coming on the heels of the regulars' last-place finish at March's Concacaf Nations League finals, the hope was that a few of the understudies would run with the rare opportunity to log big minutes in a tournament setting. Some have: Diego Luna continues to impress. Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman could still have a big Gold Cup. So too could the U.S. It just doesn't seem likely. Last year's 5-1 drubbing by Colombia foreshadowed a historic Copa América failure, as the Americans became the first host nation not to advance from group play in the 108-year history of that competition. Pochettino will no doubt field his strongest possible lineup in the Gold Cup. The U.S. will still be severely shorthanded. That doesn't bode well for their chances against competitive foes who'll be mostly intact. Two years ago, Panama eliminated a third-string USMNT in the Gold Cup semis. Three of those games were in the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela, where the Americans sent a "C" squad and paid a steep price, finishing last in their group with a negative-6 goal differential. Sure, a team of U.S. reserves famously shocked Mexico's regulars in the 2021 Gold Cup final. But that hasn't been the norm historically. It isn't even the ultimate goal. "After working one month together, some players that maybe you don't think have the possibility to be on the roster at the World Cup, could be," Pochettino said. "Maybe someone can surprise us. It's about opportunity. But you take a risk when you compete with this level of opponent." This roster is still capable of showing well at the Gold Cup, though. If they can come together as a team, find a lineup that clicks and catch lightning in a bottle, they remain capable of making a deep run. However the results go the rest of this summer, it's clear that Pochettino will need every possible weapon at his disposal a year from now to make the World Cup campaign a success. "The boys are so motivated to play in the Gold Cup," Pochettino said. "The feeling after Türkiye was good. We made nine changes and the combinations didn't work. That's it. "We can lose [this game], but we can win the Gold Cup and arrive at the World Cup and do well." We'll see. Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports who has covered United States men's and women's national teams at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him @ ByDougMcIntyre . recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
