Inter Miami have invested in taking their finances to the next level with the arrivals of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez sparking more interest in games involving the Miami club. However, the arrivals of the former Barcelona players haven't made the impact on the MLS that was hoped for, and Inter's owner believes that the league's organization is mainly to blame.
Jorge Mas said that Major League Soccer has shown a lot of dissatisfaction with the current calendar and competition system of the North American tournament and said that the league will soon need to be 100% aligned with the European calendar, which has competitions starting in September and running until May next year.
Unlike most international leagues, the MLS currently adopts a calendar that runs from February to November. None of the world's top leagues currently adopt this calendar, with only the Brasileirão among the top 10 having the same system as the US.
The main consequence of this is that the main transfer window lasts from January 31 to April 23. Meanwhile, the main window in the major international leagues takes place in the summer (in the northern hemisphere), directly impacting the ability of MLS teams to be involved in the global transfer market.
Inter Miami calls for a stronger MLS internationally
Signaling that Inter Miami's request will be met, the MLS announced in April that the league will be exploring a move to an October and spring calendar from 2027. In addition, the North American league will explore changes to the format of the regular season and playoffs, potentially moving closer to the European leagues.
Jorge Mas's eagerness for the MLS to make these changes and compete better on the international stage makes perfect sense, as the move to the European calendar and the flexibility in the line-up rules could help the MLS compete better against the best leagues in the world.