It was revealed on Friday that the New York Red Bulls had requested a postponement of their upcoming match against Inter Miami due to several players being away on international duty. This request was made in an effort to ensure that both teams could field their strongest lineups. In most top leagues around the world, matches are postponed during FIFA international windows to accommodate players representing their respective countries. However, Major League Soccer (MLS) has chosen to continue playing matches during these periods, resulting in teams being depleted of key players.
For the upcoming clash between the Red Bulls and Miami, each team will be missing six players who have been called up by their national teams. This includes standout players such as Miami midfielder Diego Gómez (Paraguay), goalkeeper Drake Callender (U.S. men’s national team), as well as the Red Bulls’ captain and marquee offseason signing Emil Forsberg (Sweden) and defender John Tolkin (U.S. under-23). Additionally, Miami will be without the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who was initially called up by Argentina but is now sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Inter Miami boss Gerardo “Tata” Martino expressed his disappointment in MLS rejecting the request to postpone the match. He acknowledged the challenges of playing without key players but maintained that the team would still be able to put together a competitive lineup. Martino highlighted the impact of having players missing due to injuries in addition to international duty, emphasizing the importance of depth in the squad.
Despite Messi’s absence from the upcoming match, Martino provided an update on the Argentine star’s recovery from injury. He mentioned that Messi had returned to training and was making progress towards full fitness. The team’s focus is on getting Messi ready for the upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal matchups against Monterrey, with the hope of having him back in action soon.
The decision by MLS to proceed with matches during FIFA international windows has created challenges for teams like the New York Red Bulls and Inter Miami. The impact of missing key players due to international duty and injuries raises questions about the league’s scheduling policies. As teams navigate through these obstacles, the focus remains on overcoming adversity and fielding competitive lineups in every match.