Inter Miami has once again put the Copa Libertadores at the center of the conversation, this time in a clear and public way. Javier Mascherano, the team’s head coach, reaffirmed the club’s desire to compete in the South American tournament and made it clear that the idea exists internally, even though it does not depend on decisions made by the club itself. Before traveling to Peru for a friendly against Alianza Lima, the Argentine didn’t hide his enthusiasm when addressing the topic.
“Obviously, for us, being able to take part in the Copa Libertadores would be fantastic, personally I’d love it. But I have no idea if it’s possible or not. I can’t say. I know Mexican teams took part at one point and then stopped. If the possibility exists, I hope it does, but that will depend on the organizers,” Mascherano said during a press conference.
Messi, global audiences and the commercial weight of the discussion
Mascherano’s comments align with what had already been said by Jorge Mas, the club’s co-owner. The American executive revealed that Inter Miami has already held talks with CONMEBOL about a potential Libertadores appearance, while acknowledging that there has been no concrete progress.
“Obviously, a tournament like the Copa Libertadores, I’d love to see Inter Miami take part someday and compete against the giants of South America. It’s a competition Leo has never played in. Those are our aspirations,” he said.
The direct mention of Lionel Messi is no small detail. The fact that the Argentine has never played in the Libertadores adds significant symbolic weight to the conversation and expands its reach, especially in other markets. A potential Inter Miami appearance in a tournament of that magnitude would have an immediate impact on audiences, broadcast rights, and sponsorships. That helps explain why the topic draws so much interest, even without any practical definition at the moment.
Concacaf, precedents and challenges off the field
Mascherano raised an important point by recalling the participation of Mexican clubs in past editions of the Libertadores. The precedent exists, but it also left lessons behind. Issues such as scheduling, travel, time zones, and operating costs have always been obstacles. It’s important not to forget that playing in the Libertadores means long trips, complex logistics, and a direct impact on the budget, something that weighs not only on the club but also on the fans, who follow and sustain the project and end up being central to the discussion. How would a South American fan manage to follow a team based on another continent? That’s something that needs to be considered. The same, obviously, applies to those who follow Concacaf teams.
At the moment, Inter Miami is returning to work after just over a month off following its MLS Cup title against the Vancouver Whitecaps in December. The friendly against Alianza Lima marks the official start of the preseason. For now, the Libertadores remains in the realm of stated aspirations. But it’s a dream that makes noise, fuels debate and, above all, forces soccer in the Americas to discuss something that until recently seemed unthinkable.