More Important Soccer Match For American Fans: USWNT World Cup Debut, Or Lionel Messi Inter Miami CF Debut?

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The US Women’s National Team begins its quest for a third straight World Cup championship on Friday night. The match, held in New Zealand, starts at 9 p.m. EST. Lionel Messi, the Argentinian star, makes his Inter Miami CF debut Friday as part of the "Leagues Cup."

That match starts at 8 p.m. EST in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Inter Miami CF faces a team called Cruz Azul, who I just learned competes in the Mexican soccer league, LIGA MX.

The start times mean that the two matches are going to overlap. For US Soccer fans, that means a decision to make.

What’s more important: a Women’s World Cup match featuring the US Women’s National Team?

Or a Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami CF and the last-place team in LIGA MX?

The USWNT begins their World Cup title defense on Friday night at the same time that Lionel Messi is set to make his Inter Miami debut.

The USWNT begins their World Cup title defense on Friday night at the same time that Lionel Messi is set to make his Inter Miami debut. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

According to an OutKick Twitter poll, most OutKick fans are rooting against the USWNT. But, based on anecdotal evidence, most OutKick fans aren’t really into soccer in the first place.  

So, I apologize -- loyal readers – for writing about soccer again.

But it’s funny to think that a men’s soccer match between an MLS club and a Mexican soccer club might draw more eyeballs in the United States than the US Women’s National Team.

That would really hurt their argument that they deserve to be paid better than male soccer players.

If ticket sales are any indication, fans really want to see Lionel Messi.

Although, Apple TV is exclusively streaming the match, so that’s going to hurt overall viewership.

Still, I submit that all things being equal, most sports fans would rather watch the Messi debut than the USWNT World Cup debut if they had to choose.

And that’s not great news for the USWNT players who are always crying for more money.

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.