Lionel Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer proves there is “no ceiling” for the game in North America, says the continent’s chief football administrator. On Sunday, Messi will be unveiled to fans at an event held by his new club Inter Miami, while in Los Angeles a sell-out 70,000 crowd will watch Mexico face Panama in the Gold Cup final at the SoFi Stadium.
Victor Montagliani, president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), believes it is a moment to change the perception of football in the region. “Everyone has always looked at our region as the future of football,” he told BBC Sport. “But our region is also the present in terms of our leagues, our clubs, our competition and what we bring to the table from a global standpoint.
“This is just the beginning. There is no ceiling for the growth of the game in our region. “Having Lionel Messi in MLS is a tremendous boost. “Not only is he the best player in the world on the pitch but off it he has been a tremendous ambassador to the game. It is not just the bigger picture in terms of the league – and it is a tremendous boost to the league. At the micro level, you can see tickets have gone through the roof for visiting teams.”
While Messi will generate huge interest in every match he plays, this month’s Gold Cup is also the start of a sequence of major tournaments held in North America, including the Copa America in 2024 and the first 32-team Club World Cup in 2025, which leads to the 2026 World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
