Messi’s 2024 season over, what’s next for the star’s MLS career?
USA TODAY Sports’ Safid Deen maps out Messi’s 2025 and 2026 seasons, and discusses the possibility of Messi playing in the 2026 World Cup.
Mark your calendars, soccer fans: FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in 500 days.
FIFA expects at least 5 million fans to attend World Cup matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with at least six worldwide, soccer’s governing body said in a news release on Monday. Billions of people will participate.
With 48 teams playing in 104 matches, it is expected to be the biggest World Cup ever. The tournament begins on June 11 in Mexico City, and the finals will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Following last summer’s Copa America and this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, the World Cup will end the United States’ three-year long streak of hosting major soccer tournaments.
President Donald Trump, reigning World Cup champion Lionel Messi and the US men’s national soccer team are expected to be among those playing a major role in bringing attention to the game and the tournament over the next 500 days.
Here’s the state of play in the United States ahead of World Cup 2026:
Trump Says ‘Football Is Through The Roof In America’
President Trump will play a major role in elevating the game of soccer in the United States in his second term as president. His presence alone at the Club World Cup games this summer and the World Cup games next year will raise awareness of the sport among Americans.
“I’ll try to be there. If I can, I will,” Trump said during the FIFA Club World Cup draw in December. “Soccer is going through the roof in America, as everyone knows. It’s doing great.”
Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have a budding friendship, with Trump jokingly pointing out: “He’s the president, and I’m the president.”
Infantino recently met Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Fla. I met, before attending Trump’s second event in Washington DC last week.
Messi will play in the Club World Cup. Will he play in World Cup 2026?
Messi is in the twilight of his career playing for Inter Miami – an American team in Major League Soccer. He is widely considered the greatest of all time, and the greatest draw in the game.
Messi is yet to announce whether he will play in the next World Cup but football fans around the world are patiently waiting for his decision. He has a busy year ahead, including playing in the Club World Cup this summer.
Messi will be 39 years old when the World Cup starts in June 2026, meaning this could be the last defeat of Messi’s legendary career.
His presence in both the FIFA tournaments in the next two years is crucial for the development of the game in the country.
USMNT in early stages of World Cup preparations
The USMNT has replaced new Argentina coach Mauricio Pochettino, who faces the daunting task of leading the Americans to the World Cup as the host nation.
While American standout Christian Pulisic is a lock for the World Cup squad, Pochettino must assemble the best possible roster to avoid embarrassment.
The U.S. are far from World Cup favorites, but advancing to the knockout stage at the World Cup — after failing to do so during last summer’s Copa America — would be a step in the right direction.
The USMNT will play in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in Los Angeles in March and the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament this summer. The Gold Cup Games will be played in five cities in California, three cities in Texas, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Vancouver from June 14 to July 6.
What to expect from the 2026 World Cup?
Messi’s potential participation is one of many big stories ahead of the next World Cup.
Can Kylian Mbappe and France reach a third consecutive World Cup final? How would Neymar look with Brazil alongside VinÃcius Júnior, Endrick, Rodrygo and Raphinha? Can rising 17-year-old star Lamin Yamal and Spain build on their Olympic and Euro success?
American cities hosting the World Cup games include Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and the Boston area, near Los Angeles and San Francisco. World Cup matches will also be played in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
FIFA Club World Cup this summer
32 of the best football clubs from around the world will compete in the Club World Cup tournament this summer.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and MLS club Seattle Sounders are among the participants.
Messi and Inter Miami will play the opening match on June 14 in Miami. The finals will take place on July 14 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Games will also be played in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, DC.
How will US stadium security improve after Copa America?
It was the Copa America. Google’s #1 trending search topic worldwide 2024 because of the security nightmare before Messi’s final match between Argentina and Colombia at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium last July.
Ticketless fans scaled fences, pushed through gates and trampled people while evading police and security personnel. Viral videos of fans climbing ventilation systems, and harrowing scenes of women and children struggling to breathe and needing medical attention for heat exhaustion were lasting images.
After the semifinal match in Charlotte, Uruguayan players also entered the stands to protect their family members from unruly fans.
FIFA and World Cup organizers are under pressure to ensure a safe experience in 2026.
The role of Major League Soccer before the World Cup
Major League Soccer continues to advance as it enters its 30th season this year. Messi will be along for the ride in his third season, his presence consistently elevating the league globally. San Diego FC begins play as the 30th team in MLS, while the Los Angeles Galaxy are the reigning MLS Cup champions.
MLS has celebrated several milestones, including more. Last season’s matches were attended by 12 million fans.Second only to the English Premier League (14.6M). The league has the fastest growing social media following of any American sports league on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. You can find MLS games on Apple TV.
“Over the next two years, North America will be the epicenter of world soccer. Our league, clubs and players are all committed to working together on that path through 2026,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in December. “We have an incredible opportunity to continue this great momentum and build even more momentum as we continue to grow our game and the league for years to come.”
