Teamwork makes the dream work

Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami unveils five-match, four-country preseason journey

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Lionel Messi is getting one other preseason tour with Inter Miami, this one a five-match journey that can see the reigning MLS Supporters’ Protect winners taking part in in 4 totally different international locations because it tunes up for the 2025 season.

Introduced Friday have been three matches in South America and Central America. Inter Miami opens that swing with a recreation in opposition to Peruvian champion Membership Universitario de Deportes in Lima on Jan. 29.

From there, the membership goes to Panama Metropolis to tackle Sporting San Miguelito on Feb. 2, adopted by a visit to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, for a Feb. 8 match in opposition to Membership Deportivo Olimpia.

The primary and final preseason matches have been already identified: Inter Miami will play Mexican energy Membership America in Las Vegas on Jan. 18 and shut the exhibition slate in Tampa, Florida, in opposition to MLS rival Orlando Metropolis on Feb. 14.

“We’re very excited to unveil the 5 matches in opposition to home and worldwide opponents throughout the Americas that can put together us for a extremely anticipated 2025,” Inter Miami president of soccer operations Raul Sanllehi stated. “These fixtures will put us in the absolute best place forward of an unparalleled marketing campaign with numerous competitions we’re taking part in for this 12 months — the FIFA Membership World Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and MLS.”

With 34 common season MLS matches, 5 preseason video games and the three cup tournaments, Inter Miami might simply exceed 50 matches this season — and possibly will play much more than that. And that does not even rely worldwide matches for Messi and sure a number of different Inter Miami gamers.

This 12 months’s preseason tour is not fairly as bold because the one Inter Miami deliberate final 12 months, with matches in Dallas, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan on that schedule. A lot of that journey did not go as envisioned: A Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo matchup in Saudi Arabia did not occur as a result of Ronaldo was sidelined by damage, and followers in Asia have been angered by Messi lacking one match there and taking part in sparingly in one other. Some refunds have been even issued to assist appease disenchanted ticket-holders, a few of whom spent greater than $600 with hopes of seeing Messi play.

Inter Miami’s coaching camp begins with physicals on Saturday. The primary observe underneath new coach Javier Mascherano is Monday.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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