Former MLS players Dax McCarty and Taylor Twellman believe that Inter Miami`s performance in the Club World Cup group stage demonstrates the league`s increasing competitiveness relative to European giants. While Miami advanced to the knockout rounds, fellow MLS sides LAFC and Seattle Sounders were eliminated.
McCarty emphasized the necessity of winning significant matches like Miami`s victory over Porto if MLS aims to consistently compete with teams from the world`s top leagues. He described the outcome against the historic Portuguese club as a “massive result for MLS as a whole.”
Taylor Twellman, a former USMNT player, asserted that for MLS to be recognized as the premier league in North America, it must regularly defeat Liga MX teams in high-pressure games. However, he acknowledged the impact of Inter Miami`s displays against European and South American opponents in the CWC.
Twellman views this as a crucial period for MLS, stating that Miami`s results indicate the league is now at a point where it can genuinely compete on a global stage. Both analysts concluded that MLS teams are “not far off” from this higher level of competition, seeing the CWC performance as validation for doubters and the league alike.
Direct Comparison and What`s Next
The Club World Cup has provided MLS teams with a direct comparison against top international competition. The tactical discipline and intensity shown by clubs like Inter Miami suggest systematic improvement within the league.
Having advanced from the group stage, Inter Miami is scheduled to face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in Atlanta.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood