Chicago Fire ready for Miami spectacle, with or without Messi
This Wednesday, the eyes of the soccer world will be on the Chicago Fire.
Inter Miami, North America’s burgeoning super club fueled by the starpower of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Josef Martínez, DeAndre Yedlin, and the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, will travel to the Lakefront for an all-important showdown with massive playoff implications. While reports are that Messi won’t play due to an injury, tens of thousands of tickets have already been sold, and a sold-out crowd is expected for what should be an unforgettable spectacle under the bright lights of Soldier Field.
“I think it's a big moment,” Head Coach Frank Klopas told the media Monday. “I think these are moments that, as a team, you have to take advantage of. They're all Chicago fans, sports fans that might not always come to the games… but also, it's an opportunity now for us to showcase the quality of the players that we have.”
It is incredibly likely that Wednesday’s game will be the best-attended Fire game in history. In 2021, for the final home game of the season, 31,308 fans were in attendance, and all the way back in 1998, the Fire drew 37,122 and 36,444 fans against the L.A. Galaxy and Tampa Bay Mutiny respectively. Despite Messi’s expected absence, the game has officially sold out, and it will still be a special occasion.
Whether or not Messi makes the trip to Chicago won’t just have an impact on ticket sales, it will also define how the game plays out. Inter Miami have been a very different team when Messi has been available compared to when he hasn’t, as exemplified by a recent 5-2 loss at Atlanta, 1-1 draws with Orlando and New York City, and 2-1 Open Cup final loss at home to Houston. While still a very good team with plenty of game-changers, they’ve only won once (4-0 against last-placed Toronto) since Messi’s injury and now sit four points out of the playoffs.
“Even when he's not on the field, I think that they're still a very good team,” Klopas said. “They made some really excellent additions in a secondary window.”
“I can compare it [to] the Chicago Bulls. When Michael Jordan didn't play, they still had a very good team. But then you have Michael Jordan and maybe they’ll win eight in a row. So I think Miami is still a very, very good team with some excellent players, but then you have the icing on the cake, that when Messi plays, he’s one player that will always give you an edge at any moment.”
While many of the fans who purchased tickets to see Messi at exorbitant prices may be disappointed they won’t get to watch the Argentine play in the flesh, they will still be treated to what should be a great game, and DP midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri hopes they’ll be hooked.
“It's gonna be exciting,” Shaqiri said. “That's why it is more important that we perform well and put a good performance, not only for the club, but also for the fans who may come for the first time in the stadium to watch soccer.”
“The most important thing is that we win the game, and the people go back home happy and that the next time they're gonna come again and cheer us more.”
