Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino believes winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield could qualify his side to next summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, a competition that will feature 32 club teams from around the world in a first-of-its-kind tournament format.
Inter Miami are favorites to win the MLS Cup this season and currently hold a four-point advantage over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Supporters’ Shield race. The shield is awarded to the MLS side that earns the most points over a 34-game regular season. By contrast, the MLS Cup is won after completing the league’s playoff format.
During an interview with The Athletic on Wednesday, Martino was asked whether the Supporters’ Shield carries the same weight as an MLS Cup title.
“The thing is, when you win (MLS Cup), you earn that star above the badge,” Martino said. “The day that I’m given a star for winning the Supporters’ Shield, in that case, it’ll be worth it.
“But it shouldn’t be diminished because ending the season with the most points in the league automatically qualifies a team for a CONCACAF Champions Cup berth. Plus, there’s still one last spot to be had for the Club World Cup. Winning the Supporters’ Shield would give Inter Miami an argument to be considered for that spot.”
Inter Miami are favorites to win the MLS Cup (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
CONCACF will receive four slots to the Club World Cup with two coming from MLS. That does not include the pending at-large bid that FIFA gives to the host country.
So far, Liga MX clubs CF Monterrey (2021 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners) and CF Pachuca (2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners) have qualified for the tournament. The Seattle Sounders qualified by virtue of winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
FIFA’s website lists the open slot as going to the host country, with no further criteria mentioned.
At the MLS All Star Weekend in July, league commissioner Don Garber said that a match between the 2024 MLS Cup winner and this season’s Supporters’ Shield winner could determine which MLS team claims the host slot.
“We’ve made suggestions to FIFA and right now if you look on their website it says ‘TBD’,” said Garber. “It will be a host team, so it will be an MLS team and we have many options. Is it the MLS Cup winner? Is it the Supporters’ Shield winner? Do we have a game between the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup winner?
“There’s a wide variety of things that we’re toying around with. I think the Club World Cup is going to be a great tournament and I’m pleased we have Seattle already qualified and we’ll have another team qualify. We just haven’t finalized it yet.”
Regardless, decisions will have to be made. An alternative will be needed if Seattle wins the MLS Cup this fall. At that point, a winner-takes-all match may not be the solution.
(Top photo: Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)
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