LIGA MX
Liga MX eyes profile boost as Messi set for Inter Miami debut vs Cruz Azul
The president of the Liga MX, Mikel Arriola, says the Mexican league stands to benefit from Lionel Messi’s mooted Inter Miami debut on matchday one of the Leagues Cup.
The president of the Liga MX says Lionel Messi’s expected Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul will help to raise the profile of the Mexican league.
Messi, who in June confirmed that he is to move to Miami, is being tipped to make his bow for the MLS franchise in this month’s Leagues Cup clash with the nine-time Mexican champions, on the opening matchday of the competition’s group stage.
Messi involvement bears out “best of best” claim, Arriola says
“We had said that this tournament was going to attract the best of the best,” Liga MX chief Mikel Arriola told an interview with Claro Sports.
“And the proof of that is that right at the start of the event, we’re going to see Cruz Azul against Miami, with Messi making his first appearance.”
Liga MX chief: Timing of Leagues Cup crucial
Arriola added that the Leagues Cup’s global audience will be boosted by the fact that the European club game is currently in its off-season period. “It’ll be 77 games in a month were there is no professional soccer in other leagues,” he said.
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When is the 2023 Leagues Cup?
In this year’s expanded version of the Liga MX-MLS inter-league competition, all 47 teams from the US and Mexico’s top divisions will be taking part.
Hosted by the US, the 2023 Leagues Cup gets underway on 21 July - the date on which Messi’s Miami take on Cruz Azul - and concludes with the final on 19 August.