Inter Miami kicks off this Saturday the defense of its historic Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup title, won in December after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1. With Lionel Messi as its standard-bearer, the Florida club faces the 2026 season with a clear goal: to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup, also known as Concachampions, for the first time.
After lifting their first MLS Cup, Las Garzas seek to establish themselves as a powerhouse in the MLS and make the definitive leap at the continental level.
A demanding away start in MLS 2026
The season will begin at BMO Stadium, home of Los Angeles FC, in the first of five consecutive away games while the club’s new stadium is being completed.
The highly anticipated debut at Miami Freedom Park, with a capacity of 25,000 fans, is scheduled for April 4 against Austin FC. It will be a historic moment for the franchise, which will leave behind its time in Fort Lauderdale to debut its first own stadium.
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Concachampions 2026: the absolute priority for Inter Miami
Although defending the MLS Cup is important, the club has made it clear that the main objective of the year is the Concachampions. The team will compete in its third consecutive participation in the continental tournament, which it enters directly in the second round due to its status as MLS champion.
In March, it will face the winner of the series between Nashville SC and AtlƩtico Ottawa.
Last year, the continental dream ended in the semifinals precisely against Vancouver, with an aggregate score of 5-1. Now, under the technical direction of Javier Mascherano, the team seeks revenge and greater competitive solidity.
Transfer market: reinforcements and significant departures
The squad suffered the departures of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, two key pieces in the conquest of the title.
To cover those absences and strengthen the defensive area āone of the weak points in 2025ā the club added:
- Sergio ReguilĆ³n (although injured in preseason)
- Facundo Mura
- Micael
- David Ayala
- Dayne St. Clair, best MLS goalkeeper 2025
In attack, Luis SuƔrez and Messi continue, while the top scorer GermƔn Berterame and the world champion Rodrigo de Paul have joined, strengthening the ambitious sports project.
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International tour and atypical year due to the 2026 World Cup
The so-called “Champions Tour” took Inter Miami to South America, where they faced:
- VS AtlƩtico Nacional (victory 1-2)
- VS Barcelona SC (draw 2-2)
- VS Alianza Lima (defeat 3-0)
Additionally, MLS will have a special schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, causing a pause in the competition.
Inter Miami 2026: New Giant of Football in America?
With Messi as the leader, a strengthened squad, and a stadium of its own on the way, Inter Miami aims to establish itself as the most high-profile and competitive club in the MLS.
The defense of the league title is already underway, but the real test will be in the Concachampions. If they win that trophy, the team could have the most important season in their short history.
