There’s no denying the significant influence that Lionel Messi‘s signing has had on Inter Miami. If there are any lingering doubts, consider the team’s qualification for next summer’s Club World Cup, now featuring a new 32-team format. Nevertheless, this decision has faced heavy criticism from some quarters, including USWNT icon Alexi Lalas.

Well, the problem Lalas has taken is with the way Inter Miam I got their spot in the Club World Cup. As the tournament will be hosted by the USA, one hosting spot was designated, and Lionel Messi’s team was selected to represent them. This announcement came from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who credited their selection to an outstanding performance in MLS where they accumulated a record-breaking 74 points.

For Alexi Lalas, however, this method of qualifying feels disingenuous. In a recent remark, he stated, “Anytime you see a headline saying Messi and Inter Miami qualified, they qualified in the mind of Gianni Infantino & FIFA.” He further elaborated his critique by saying, “There was no qualifying process laid out ahead of time. “

Alexi Lalas made it clear how this is not fair to other teams as he strongly remarked, “When teams don’t know what they’re ultimately playing for, I think it’s disingenuous to say you qualified for a tournament.”

For David Beckham’s side, this marks their first time qualifying for the Club World Cup. However, the manner in which they achieved it hasn’t only disturbed Lalas but also drawn condemnation from another ex-USMNT star as well.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s Club World Cup qualification labeled as a ‘marketing’ decision

Another former USWNT player voicing concerns about Inter Miami’s qualification for the Club World Cup is Bruce Arena. In a recent interview with talkSPORT, he remarked, “It’s clearly marketing, for sure.” He raised questions regarding the rationale behind this decision, stating, “Is Inter Miami the sole representative of Major League Soccer? If that’s the case, I think that’s wrong.”

While he disagrees with this choice, he did acknowledge that Lionel Messi’s presence is set to attract significant interest, just as it has done for MLS. The so-called “Messi effect” has been evident in this year’s regular season viewership for MLS. The league experienced a 5% increase in attendance this year, totaling 11.45 million fans—a rise of 14% compared to 2022 when the Argentine was not part of the league.

It will be intriguing to see how this influence translates into success on the pitch during the FIFA Club World Cup. Here, Lionel Messi will encounter some familiar opponents like Real Madrid and Manchester City but wearing a different jersey than before. This certainly creates an exhilarating prospect ahead.