MLS and Copa Libertadores: A Match Made in Heaven or Just a Cheap Payday for CONMEBOL?  | OneFootball

There are rumblings in South America that Inter Miami — and by default Major League Soccer — will be invited to the 2027 edition of the Copa Libertadores. What that means in the long run remains to be seen, but in the short term it feels like just one more stop in the Lionel Messi circus that MLS has become.

When a hamstring injury rendered Lionel Messi unable to play for Inter Miami in a preseason friendly against Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico, the match was simply rescheduled and slotted into the middle of the opening weeks of the MLS season.

Such is the power of Messi that Inter Miami would move a match like this because of his absence. Fans in Puerto Rico were paying top dollar to see the man play, not the team.

Something similar is happening in South America, mainly within CONMEBOL, where president Alejandro Domínguez has a clear wish: to see Messi play at least one Copa Libertadores tournament in his career. According to various sources, that moment is closer than ever: 2027, to be exact.

While nothing is official, the reported spots would go to Inter Miami and one Liga MX team. Taking a page from the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, sporting merit would have little to do with Miami’s qualification to the tournament. It would simply be an invitation for Messi and company.

All of this would ultimately be subject to CONCACAF approval. If and when Inter Miami is formally invited, it would most likely mean that the club could opt out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, should it qualify, in lieu of the Libertadores due to scheduling conflicts.

That would be a blow CONCACAF may not be willing to take, but may have to swallow, as Messi’s team could sway the powers that be in favor of the famed South American competition.

The reported allocation of two to four additional spots — potentially adding another MLS and Liga MX team — comes amid a proposed format change CONMEBOL is analyzing. The idea would expand the tournament from 32 to 36 teams, aligning it more closely with the evolving UEFA Champions League model, while adding the commercial and star power of MLS and Liga MX.

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Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has been a key voice pushing for his team’s inclusion, but across South America there is significant debate about what these spots would mean for the integrity of the Copa Libertadores.

In a recent interview, Ramón Jesurún, president of the Colombian Football Federation, stated that confederations outside of Brazil and Argentina will once again raise the issue of spot allocation. Currently, Brazil has seven places and Argentina six, while the rest of CONMEBOL receives four each. Jesurún argues that this creates a sporting disadvantage, particularly for Colombia, whose Liga BetPlay Dimayor is often regarded as one of the top three leagues in South America according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.

What Would a Copa Libertadores Invite Mean to MLS?

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The central question is: How serious is CONMEBOL about including MLS in the Copa Libertadores? Over the past decade there have been repeated rumblings about possible invitations for MLS clubs, yet nothing has materialized. The reality may be that MLS has been hesitant about committing teams to a competition it does not control, especially given the travel demands at a time when its own season is just beginning.

MLS is also set to undergo a calendar change in 2027, which further complicates the evaluation of how MLS teams would compete in the tournament. Currently, Copa Libertadores runs from February through December, which would coincide with the MLS transition season currently scheduled for the early months of 2027. However, if invitations extend to future editions, MLS clubs could eventually participate in midseason form, which is one of the benefits of the calendar switch.

On paper, it is a step in the right direction for MLS to have at least two teams competing in a tournament defined by passion and high-tempo play — environments MLS teams seldom experience. It is arguably past time for MLS to step outside its bubble and compete among the best in the hemisphere. But that comes at a cost. MLS would run the risk of seeing some of its top stars exposed to increased chance of injury or extended absences from domestic competitions if a club were to advance deep into the tournament.

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For CONMEBOL, it is a no-brainer from a commercial standpoint. Having Messi play meaningful matches on South American soil is exactly the kind of spectacle the competition craves. The confederation missed similar opportunities during the MLS eras of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Zlatan Ibrahimović.

The bigger concern is what happens post-Messi. Would CONMEBOL remain committed to integrating MLS and Liga MX teams as permanent participants, giving MLS supporters a true opportunity to see their clubs compete in a tournament often mentioned alongside the UEFA Champions League in prestige? Or would CONMEBOL cash in on Messi and then move on?

History of MLS Clubs in CONMEBOL Competitions

The history between MLS clubs and CONMEBOL competitions is limited and, at times, turbulent.

D.C. United competed in the Copa Sudamericana in 2005 and 2007. In both instances, they delivered respectable performances but failed to advance beyond the early knockout rounds.

In the 2001 Copa MercoNorte, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars finished with a respectable 3-3 record in their group but failed to qualify for the knockout stages. Their only on-field win came against Deportivo Italchacao of Venezuela, as their two other victories came in the form of forfeits from Chivas after then-coach Óscar Ruggeri refused to travel to New York due to security concerns following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Incredibly, CONMEBOL initially intended for certain matches to proceed as scheduled despite the tragedy. Even more controversially, the Kansas City Wizards played a Copa MercoNorte match against Sporting Cristal in Lima on September 12, just 24 hours after the attacks.

Kansas City finished with a 1-1-4 record, becoming the first professional sports team to play a match immediately after 9/11. Former U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola later told MLSsoccer: “To this day, the biggest regret of my career is not standing up for what I believed in and playing in that game. We were the only American sports team to play on or immediately after 9/11. After the match, we were unable to get a flight out of Lima for three days due to delays and international security restrictions.”

Divided Opinions

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Various journalists from around the region shared their perspectives on MLS involvement in Copa Libertadores. Critics of the crossover competition are cynical of its true intentions, and view it simply as another attempt to fatten up the bottom lines of each respective league and confederation.

“Regarding Inter Miami, I prefer sporting merit over commercial and marketing interests,” said ESPN Argentina’s Rosario Pompizzi.

“It doesn’t sit right,” said Uruguayan journalist Brahian Kuchman Bottaro. “These invitations seem driven not by sporting merit, but by marketing — ratings and money. It takes away from the essence of the competition. Why does Copa Libertadores need an MLS or Liga MX team? They already have their own competitions. No CONMEBOL team competes in CONCACAF or UEFA, so why should they?

“I understand the spectacle of seeing Messi or Suárez in Copa Libertadores — there is a show element to it — but beyond that, there is no real sporting justification.”

However, the premise of North American teams entering the South American competition, particularly given the timing, is too tantalizing to pass up on.

“I see many positives beyond the travel — it’s just far, and that’s the only issue,” said Filippo Silva, aka Tactical Manager, a popular football commentator. “I think the top MLS and Liga MX teams are better than most teams in the Libertadores these days. They may still be below most Brazilian clubs, and perhaps behind the top one or two from Argentina or Ecuador, but they would raise the competitiveness of the tournament.

“I don’t think they would be title contenders right away, but they would be knockout stage teams. It would increase the level and definitely bring more money. And yes, if Messi plays, that changes everything. But even excluding Messi, these teams are more competitive than many we’ve seen in recent group stages. In my opinion, it’s a positive for both sides.”

Ronnie Tapia of Soccer View Radio added:

“MLS joining Copa Libertadores would definitely be exciting and would serve as a test for the league — a way to measure ourselves against some of the biggest teams in South America. I think fans would welcome something different instead of the same Leagues Cup matchups year after year.

“With 2026 being such a huge year for soccer in the U.S., it’s the perfect time to have serious conversations about giving the MLS and Liga MX champions a place in Libertadores. That opportunity could push teams to build more competitive rosters, create greater incentives to win MLS Cup, and generate more global exposure.

“In my view, it’s a win-win for MLS, Liga MX, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL. You’d get compelling matchups, fresh storylines, and clubs that rarely face each other. Ultimately, it means more quality soccer for fans and more to play for.”

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The waters remain divided. For CONMEBOL, which has already been criticized for recent decisions such as the expanded Copa América in the United States and the push to include all 10 South American nations in the 2030 World Cup, adding MLS or Liga MX teams to Copa Libertadores does not sit well with many traditionalists.

In the Northern Hemisphere, however, MLS and Liga MX fans are eager to see their teams compete in passionate competitions against top talent.

Opportunity may not knock again for MLS in CONMEBOL tournaments. Will this be a one-hit spectacle, or the genuine start of a lasting partnership between MLS and South America?

Time will tell. For now, the Copa Libertadores — and its history — could simply be the next major stage in the Lionel Messi opportunity machine.