Javier Mascherano Sends Message To Entire MLS After Inter Miami's Club World Cup Success

Javier Mascherano is leading his former teammates to the Round of 16 in the Club World Cup. After two draws and one victory, Inter Miami will play PSG in the next round, and Mascherano sees qualifying as a statement to other MLS teams.

The former Barcelona player joined Inter Miami as head coach to reunite with Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi. Mascherano won the Champions League in 2015, as well as the old version of the Club World Cup.

During the press conference after the 2–2 draw against Palmeiras in the final group match, Mascherano sent a message to the entire MLS, as Inter Miami is the only team from the league to advance to the next stage.

"We’re into the best 16 teams in the world. I think all of MLS has to be proud of Inter Miami." said Mascherano in DAZN flash interview

The Seattle Sounders and LAFC were also representing the MLS in the tournament but failed to qualify. The Sounders were in the same group as PSG and Botafogo and lost both matches. LAFC, on the other hand, is already out, even though it still has one match left against Flamengo.

If Inter Miami doesn’t win, it means the MLS will no longer have a team representing the league in the tournament. On the other side, if PSG loses, a couple of European teams will continue in the Club World Cup.

MLS’ notorious teams are not in the tournament

Neither the Vancouver Whitecaps (leaders of the Western Conference) nor the Philadelphia Union (leaders of the Eastern Conference) are in the tournament due to a lack of titles over the past couple of years. Inter Miami, on the other hand, won the Supporters’ Shield last year.

Of course, the team has international stars, so if we go down that road, what other team — besides LAFC, which is already in the tournament and has Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris — would fit if the metric was well‑known players? The LA Galaxy. But the team doesn't fit only in this category.

The LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup in 2024, but the title came after the Club World Cup draw had been announced. Even so, the MLS decided to send the Supporters’ Shield winner to the CWC — not the playoff champion.

David Beckham started a movement in 2007 when he joined the LA Galaxy in his prime. For the next two decades, the team went on to sign big‑name players, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2018. 

The team is currently in last place in the Western Conference, but it does have Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund legend), Riqui Puig (former Barcelona star), Maya Yoshida (Japan national team captain), and Gabriel Pec (Brazilian star).