Inter Miami: Messi's Return, New Stadium and the Leagues Cup
Inter Miami opened their 2026 Leagues Cup with a 4-2 comeback win over Atletico San Luis on August 5, powered by Lionel Messi's first two goals since the World Cup. The reigning MLS Cup champions now play at the new Miami Freedom Park stadium under coach Javier Mascherano. Sources: ESPN, MLSSoccer, beIN Sports.
The context
Inter Miami are living the busiest stretch in their short history. On August 5, 2026, they opened their Leagues Cup campaign with a 4-2 comeback win over Mexico’s Atletico San Luis, and the headline wrote itself: Lionel Messi scored twice, his first goals since the 2026 World Cup final. Three days earlier he had made his return from a post-tournament break as a half-time substitute in a 2-2 league draw with Columbus Crew.
The club Messi joined in 2023 has changed shape around him. Inter Miami are the reigning MLS Cup champions, having beaten the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final on December 6, 2025, the first major title in club history, with Messi assisting both Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende. The man on the touchline that night, Javier Mascherano, Messi’s former Argentina and Barcelona teammate, remains head coach for 2026.
The other big change is the address. After six seasons at their temporary Fort Lauderdale home, Inter Miami moved into the new roughly 26,000-seat stadium at Miami Freedom Park in 2026, the centerpiece of a 131-acre development next to Miami International Airport that includes the city’s largest public park. It is the stadium David Beckham spent a decade fighting for: he began pursuing a Miami franchise in 2013, and the club, co-owned by Beckham with Jorge and Jose Mas, was awarded MLS’s 25th franchise in January 2018 before debuting in 2020.
The 2026 season now runs on two tracks: the Supporters’ Shield race in MLS, where Miami are pushing for the best regular-season record, and the Leagues Cup, the summer tournament against Liga MX clubs that this year stages matches in Mexico for the first time. With Messi under contract through 2028 and back among the goals, every one of those matches doubles as a possible chapter in the closing act of the greatest career the sport has seen. Sources: ESPN, MLSSoccer, beIN Sports, Inter Miami CF.
People also ask
True or false?
No. He returned to Inter Miami on August 2 and scored twice in the Leagues Cup on August 5. His club contract runs through 2028. (ESPN)
Correct, the club moved into the new stadium at Miami Freedom Park for the 2026 season after six years in Fort Lauderdale. (MLSSoccer)
They beat Vancouver 3-1 in the MLS Cup final on December 6, 2025, the first title in club history. (MLSSoccer)
Widely speculated after the World Cup final, but Messi himself has announced nothing. Any specific date is guesswork. (ESPN)
The 2026 edition is the first to hold matches in Mexico as well. (AP)