Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will begin a busy 2025 with matches in Las Vegas, Tampa and Kansas City, the MLS club has announced.
Messi’s first game in the new year will be at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, when Inter Miami meets Mexican champions Club América on Jan. 18. The Saturday night match will begin at 7 p.m. PST (10 p.m. ET).
Inter Miami’s second preseason match will be Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa against in-state rival Orlando City, which reached the Eastern Conference final in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Then, Inter Miami will turn its attention to the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup – one of five possible trophies it could win in 2025 – with the first leg against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.
MESSI JERSEY: How to buy new Inter Miami away kit modeled by Messi
The second leg of Inter Miami’s first-round tilt with Sporting KC will be played on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. ET at home inside Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The 2025 MLS season begins on Feb. 22-23, with the upcoming schedule expected to be released later this week. So, another match will likely be added to Inter Miami’s schedule between the first two legs of the Champions Cup.
Messi and Inter Miami will play in the Champions Cup, the Club World Cup, and the Leagues Cup tournaments in 2025, while defending their Supporters’ Shield title and contending for another postseason berth in the MLS Cup playoffs next year.
Inter Miami learned its Club World Cup draw earlier this month. It will open the tournament on June 14 against Egyptian side Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The club will also face FC Porto (Portugal) in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 19, and return to Miami for its final group stage match against SE Palmeiras (Brazil) on June 23.
WORLD CUP: Saudi Arabia wins 2034 games, while six countries will host in 2030
Messi won MLS MVP in 2024, helping Inter Miami win the regular-season title and set the MLS single-season points record (74) before the club’s first-round playoff exit to Atlanta United.
The club will also have a new coach in 2025, after Messi’s longtime teammate Javier Mascherano was hired to replace Tata Martino, who resigned following last season.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
Jan. 18: Inter Miami vs. Club América, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (preseason)
Feb. 14: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa (preseason)
Feb. 18: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City (Concacaf Champions Cup)
Feb. 25: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City, Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Concacaf Champions Cup)
Inter Miami’s Club World Cup schedule
June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy (Egypt), Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
June 19: Inter Miami vs. FC Porto (Portugal), Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
June 23: Inter Miami vs. SE Palmeiras (Brazil), Hard Rock Stadium
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
