MLS has already moved all its pieces to ensure the big day arrives without complications: Lionel Messi will inaugurate Inter Miami’s new stadium on April 4, 2026, just two months before the World Cup. The league adjusted the schedule to accommodate the plan of the front office led by David Beckham, who wants the franchise’s new home to debut with the Argentine on the pitch.

A schedule built around Freedom Park

Inter Miami’s first official match of 2026 will be February 21 against LAFC away from home. In fact, the team’s first five league fixtures will be on the road. This is no coincidence: MLS wants to ensure the club reaches the Miami Freedom Park opener in optimal condition, both competitively and in terms of visibility.

On April 4, against Austin FC, the new stadium will host its grand debut. It is Beckham’s flagship project, a state-of-the-art complex that also served as the venue where the club announced Messi’s contract extension through 2028. The Argentine has become the centerpiece of the Inter Miami brand and a strategic figure for the league, which sees him not only as a player but also as a partner in the expansion of soccer in the United States.

On May 25, MLS will pause due to the start of the World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, so the league’s schedule was designed to fit all protocol commitments beforehand. If Inter Miami is eliminated from its series against Cincinnati, Messi will not play at home again until the stadium inauguration in April.

A monumental stadium for Miami’s new football era

The Miami Freedom Park is set to become one of the most advanced football venues in the continent. With elite technology and a design focused on transforming the fan experience, it will be the new sporting landmark in South Florida. For MLS, the stadium’s opening marks a key milestone in a 2026 that will be remembered as a turning point in North American football.

Meanwhile, from afar, a parallel headline emerges in Barcelona. Jordi Alba, Messi’s teammate in Miami, was asked by Cadena SER about rumors that the Camp Nou could adopt the Argentine’s name after the renovation. The full-back was direct: “I don’t think Leo wants that. Camp Nou is fine.” Another reminder of the emotional bond that Messi’s inner circle still maintains with Barcelona, even as the new epicenter of his career is being built in Miami.