January 13 – Inter Miami who caused a rumpus last year during pre-season when Lionel Messi was a no-show in Hong Kong, are on the road again playing games in North, Central, and South America.
Peru, Panama, and Honduras will be the lucky recipients of the Miami roadshow according to president of football operations Raúl Sanllehí who said in a statement: “These fixtures will put us in the best possible position ahead of an unparalleled campaign with various competitions we’re playing for this year – the FIFA Club World Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and MLS.
Pre-season officially begins in Florida at the Blue Training Center on Monday. Under new boss, former Barcelona great, Javier Mascherano the team will train for a few days before traveling to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where they will face Liga MX giants Club America on Saturday, January 18.
Messi, should he make the trip, will then head south to take on Club Universitario de Deportes at Estadio Monumental in Lima; Sporting San Miguelito at Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez in Panama City; and Club Deportivo Olimpia at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.
They’ll then return to Florida to play fellow Major League Soccer (MLS) club, Orlando City SC at Raymond James Stadium before piloting the choppy waters of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
As always the Barcelona vibe is strong with Inter Miami and the three games in Central and South America are being organised by Andres Iniesta and his marketing agency, Never Say Never. In a statement announcing the tour, the agency called the showcase “a historic occasion for thousands of Latin-American fans” to see players like Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
The full tour dates are as follows…
- Jan. 18 vs Club América, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)
- Jan. 29 vs Club Universitario de Deportes, Estadio Monumental (Lima, Peru)
- Feb. 2 vs Sporting San Miguelito, Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez (Panama City, Panama)
- Feb. 8 vs Club Deportivo Olimpia, Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano (San Pedro Sula, Honduras)
- Feb. 14 vs Orlando City SC, Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida, USA)
Whether Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba will appear for the 2024 MLS Supporters Shield winners is yet to be confirmed.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1736758956labto1736758956ofdlr1736758956owedi1736758956sni@o1736758956fni1736758956