Lionel Messi is rested and refreshed before Inter Miami’s first match in the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament, according to coach Javier Mascherano. Having the Argentine World Cup champion at full strength isn’t enough to dissipate any feelings about Messi’s one-game suspension for skipping the MLS All-Star Game for the first-year coach.

Minnesota United vs. Queretaro FC When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Where: Allianz Field Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV Weather: 75 degrees, partly sunny, 9 mph south wind What: The third annual

Leagues Cup, the joint venture competition between MLS and Liga MX, begins tonight with a new format and under the direction of a new leader.

Currently, there has never been a repeat winner of the Leagues Cup. Teams with one title include: Mexico and the United States each claim two titles.

América vs Real Salt Lake, 9:30p: This Leagues Cup matchup is interesting: Diego Luna was a key performer for the USMNT at the Gold Cup; Alex Zendejas was left off the Gold Cup roster, but is one of the top players in Liga MX.

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: San Diego FC, Orlando City SC Impress After Matchday 27 . The 2025 MLS season comes to a bit of a midsummer slow next week as the Leagues Cup gets underway for more than half the teams, but the latest weekend of regular season action brought some entertaining storylines.

The Major League Soccer regular season will be paused for the third year running to make room for the Leagues Cup tournament, where the Columbus Crew are defending champions. The Black & Gold won last year’s edition in dramatic fashion with a 3-1 win at Lower.

Five good teams have a shot at topping the Eastern Conference, and the Union might be the favorite. Plus a look at the start of the summer transfer window, and Tai Baribo's hopes for a new contract.

After seeing some of the biggest stars and players who were perceived as the face of the league opt out of the All-Star game, the league’s identity is now in crisis, with no clear face of the league.