With the United States set to host the expanded FIFA Club World Cup between June 14 and July 13, Major League Soccer will halt its schedule during part of the competition. The break begins on June 15, the day after Inter Miami opens the tournament against Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium, and lasts until June 26.
Should any of the American clubs – Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, or Los Angeles FC – advance to the knockout rounds beginning June 28, their league matches will be moved to later dates. This was confirmed by Alex Zerkel, Senior Director of Communications at MLS, who stated that match rescheduling would apply if any team progressed past the group phase.
Club World Cup creates uneven playing field
The inclusion of three MLS sides in this year’s global event brings with it two major concerns for the rest of the league. First, those clubs will have early access to FIFA’s special transfer window ahead of the tournament. While this is meant to strengthen their squads, it also allows new players to appear in MLS games before the regular summer window opens on July 24.
Since most clubs will have completed the bulk of their schedule by then – around 24 out of 34 games – the arrival of fresh talent for just a few teams is seen by many as creating an imbalance in competition. The advantage held by the Club World Cup participants has sparked debate throughout the league.
Dispute over bonus pay sparks controversy
Off the pitch, there is growing dissatisfaction among players regarding tournament bonuses. Although each team was initially promised a $1 million pool to be shared with its squad, league-imposed limits would prevent players from seeing any of that money, regardless of performance.
In protest, Seattle Sounders players wore warm-up shirts bearing messages like “Club World Cash Grab” and “Fair Share Now.” In response, MLS offered a new proposal, allowing teams to keep 20% of earnings based on match results – ranging from $200,000 for a draw to $8 million for winning the title.
However, the MLS Players Association turned down the offer, labeling it “retaliatory,” and countered with a request for 40% of those earnings. As of now, no resolution has been reached, and tensions between league officials and players remain high.
