Jordi Alba Calls MLS Playoffs Format “Unfair” After Lionel Messi & Inter Miami’s MLS Cup Elimination, Suggests New Rules

Did we just witness the biggest upset in MLS history? Well, we just saw MLS Supporters’ Shield winners, Inter Miami, fall to Atlanta United, which dashed Lionel Messi’s hopes for an MLS Cup victory. In light of this loss, Jordi Alba has voiced concerns regarding the league’s format, deeming it inequitable.

As is well known, in MLS’ playoff system the top eight teams from each conference compete for the Cup, eventually leading to one team being crowned as champions. However, Alba believes that this structure puts supporters shield winners like his team at a disadvantage after they were eliminated in the first round of playoffs.

After their 3-2 defeat, he conveyed his disappointment by saying, “We were the most consistent team, we broke the points record, we had a good season but what we wanted was to win these playoffs.”I think this format is somewhat unfair.” This prompted his criticism of the current setup: “I think this format is a bit unfair.”

Alba proposed an alternative method for determining how the MLS Cup victor should be decided. He suggested, “It’s been done for many years but I think it should be the champion of one conference against the champion of the other, to make it as fair as possible.”

The structure of MLS differs greatly from other leagues worldwide. Given that Jordi Alba has spent nearly his entire career in Europe, it’s understandable why he feels this way; typically there is straightforward recognition where accumulating the most points determines league champions—a sharp contrast to what exists across the Atlantic.