MLS at the Club World Cup: Encouraging Signs Amid Tough Starts

A Rough Opening Chapter

Three MLS clubs, three different stories—but one winless record. Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders FC, and Los Angeles FC walked away from their opening matches in the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup with two losses and one draw. On the surface, that reads like failure. But beneath the results lie nuanced performances, tactical tweaks, and signs of growth that hint at what might come next.

Let’s break down what we learned from each squad’s opening game.

Inter Miami CF: A Tale of Two Halves

Miami’s first 45 minutes against Al Ahly were lifeless, disjointed, and frankly lucky to remain scoreless. Óscar Ustari’s heroics, including a saved penalty, kept them afloat.

But after halftime? A different team emerged.

The key change was tactical: Lionel Messi dropped deeper into midfield, acting as a true orchestrator instead of lingering as a forward. The shape morphed from a flat 4-4-1-1 to a more progressive 4-2-1-3. It freed Suárez and the wide players to make earlier runs, giving Miami a rhythm and structure that had been absent.

Still, defensive liabilities remain—chiefly Tomás Avilés, whose lack of composure and poor positioning nearly cost them dearly. He was subbed at halftime and likely needs to be dropped going forward.

Next Steps for Miami:

• Messi must continue in his deeper playmaking role.

• Stick with the 4-2-1-3 to build better midfield connectivity.

• Avilés out; defensive stability in.

Seattle Sounders FC: Strong Finish, But Too Late

Facing Botafogo—the Libertadores champions armed with one of the deepest squads in the Americas—the Sounders gave up two soft goals in the first half. The first came from a needless foul by Nouhou. The second was a goalkeeper error from Stefan Frei. It was 2-0 by halftime, and Seattle had only themselves to blame.

But they roared back in the second half.

Cristian Roldan was outstanding as a defensive midfielder, scoring a goal and controlling the game’s tempo. Reed Baker-Whiting and Jon Bell injected energy and balance into both flanks. With more clinical finishing—Pedro de la Vega and Paul Rothrock each had golden chances—Seattle might have earned a draw.

Next Steps for Seattle:

• Start Bell in defense; he brought calm and clarity.

• Consider benching Nouhou after his costly lapse.

• Keep Roldan central and aggressive; he’s the heartbeat.

Los Angeles FC: Competitive Against Chelsea’s Elite

LAFC’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea was no disgrace. The Premier League side may be in a rebuilding phase, but they remain loaded with talent. And LAFC matched their intensity for long stretches.

Defensively, Aaron Long and Sergi Palencia were composed. LAFC’s buildup play regularly beat Chelsea’s initial press. But after breaking lines, the attack often stalled. Without a true creative spark in the final third, LAFC couldn’t turn midfield control into clear-cut chances. Denis Bouanga and David Martínez had opportunities, but lacked the final touch.

When Chelsea introduced Liam Delap in the 70th minute, the game changed. His sharp movement unhinged LAFC’s shape and cemented the loss.

Next Steps for LAFC:

• More urgency in transition; speed up play once midfield lines are broken.

• Sub Martínez in for Ordaz if the latter remains injured.

• Consider starting Olivier Giroud if fit, with Bouanga playing wider.

Final Thoughts: Hope with Caveats

All three clubs showed vulnerability—yet none were truly outclassed. Each had strong second halves and periods of dominance against world-class opposition. These aren’t moral victories, but they are signs that MLS isn’t entirely out of its depth.

Adjustments are needed, especially defensively and in midfield cohesion. But if these sides can build on what worked, a better second round awaits.