Inter Miami CF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Inter Miami

Full name	Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami
Nickname(s)	The Herons
Short name	Inter Miami
Founded	January 29, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-01-29)
Stadium	Chase Stadium Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Stadium capacity	21,550
Owners	David Beckham Jorge Mas Jose Mas
President	David Beckham
Head coach	Javier Mascherano
League	Major League Soccer
2024	Eastern Conference: 1st Overall: 1st Playoffs: First round
Home colors Away colors Third colors

Inter Miami, officially known as Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, is a professional soccer team. It is based in the Miami metropolitan area in the United States. The club plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Eastern Conference. Inter Miami's home games are currently held at Chase Stadium. The team plans to move to a new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, in 2026.

MLS officially approved a new team in Miami on January 29, 2018. The club gained international attention because of its co-owner, David Beckham. It became even more famous in 2023 when superstar player Lionel Messi joined the team. Since starting to play in the 2020 season, Inter Miami has signed other well-known players. These include Blaise Matuidi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez.

After Messi joined, the club won its first major trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup. This win also allowed the team to play in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time. In the 2024 season, Inter Miami won their first Supporters' Shield. This award goes to the team with the best regular season record. According to Forbes magazine, the team's value was estimated at $1.2 billion in 2025. This makes them the second most valuable club in the league.

Team History

How the Team Started

In November 2012, Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber said the league wanted to have a team in Miami again. The city had a team called the Miami Fusion before, but it stopped playing after the 2001 season.

David Beckham, a famous soccer player, had a special deal when he joined MLS in 2007. His contract allowed him to buy an expansion team for $25 million after he stopped playing. When Beckham retired in April 2013, MLS talked with his business manager, Simon Fuller, about starting a team in Miami. Other investors also showed interest in owning a Miami team.

In December 2013, Miami-Dade County officials voted to let Mayor Carlos A. Giménez talk with Beckham's group about a new stadium. On February 5, 2014, MLS announced that Beckham's group, Miami Beckham United, would own a team in Miami. This was if they could agree on stadium funding. The group considered names like "Miami Vice" and "Miami Current" for the club.

The stadium plans faced some challenges. Commissioner Garber said the team would not be approved until a downtown stadium plan was set. Later, Simon Fuller introduced Beckham to Jorge and José Mas, who helped move the plan forward. Beckham bought out Fuller's share in May 2019.

On January 29, 2018, the Miami Beckham United group was officially given the 25th MLS team. The team was set to start playing in the 2020 season. This was four years after their first announcement. The group included Beckham, Marcelo Claure, Simon Fuller, Masayoshi Son, and Jorge and José Mas. The league was expanding to 26 teams by 2020 and 30 teams later. The team's ownership group was later renamed Miami Freedom Park LLC. On September 5, 2018, they announced the club's official name: Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, shortened to Inter Miami CF.

For the 2020 season, MLS held a draft for new teams. Inter Miami won a coin toss and chose to pick first in this draft on November 19, 2019. On December 30, 2019, Diego Alonso, a former player and coach, became the club's first head coach.

First Seasons (2020–2023)

Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuaín joined Miami in September 2020.

Inter Miami played its first MLS game on March 1, 2020. They lost 1–0 to Los Angeles FC. Rodolfo Pizarro scored the team's first goal on March 7. This was in a 2–1 loss to D.C. United. Their first home game was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 23, 2020, Inter Miami won their first game, beating Orlando City SC 3–2.

Diego Alonso left the team on January 7, 2021. On January 18, 2021, Phil Neville, a former England Women's team manager, became the new head coach. Chris Henderson was hired as chief soccer officer.

In 2021, the Mas brothers became the main owners of the team. On May 28, 2021, MLS fined Inter Miami $2 million. This was because the club broke rules about player salaries in 2020. They had too many "Designated Players" (players whose salaries don't fully count against the team's salary cap).

On July 19, 2022, Inter Miami played a friendly game against FC Barcelona, losing 6–0. Gonzalo Higuaín joined Inter Miami on September 18, 2020. He scored his first goal for Miami on October 7, a free kick against the New York Red Bulls. Higuaín retired at the end of Inter Miami's 2022 MLS season. His last game was a 3–0 loss in the playoffs.

Leonardo Campana joined Inter Miami on loan in January 2022. He scored his first goal on March 6, 2022. Campana signed a permanent contract with Miami in January 2023. He extended his contract through 2027 in September 2023. In January 2023, Josef Martínez was traded to Inter Miami. He made his debut on February 25, 2023, in a 2–0 win.

DeAndre Yedlin joined Inter Miami on February 2, 2022. He signed a four-year contract. Coach Phil Neville said Yedlin's experience and leadership were very important for the team.

The Lionel Messi Era (2023–Present)

On June 1, 2023, Inter Miami and coach Phil Neville decided to part ways. The club was in last place in the Eastern Conference at the time. Four days later, Lionel Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, announced he would join the club. He joined as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. Messi signed his contract on July 15, 2023. Former Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino became the new head coach on June 28.

Argentine forward Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023.

Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets were officially introduced on July 16. Their unveiling ceremony was watched by over 3.5 billion people worldwide. Five days later, another former Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, also signed with Miami. After Messi's arrival, Inter Miami became the top-selling team for sports merchandise. Messi also broke the record for most shirt sales in 24 hours. Ticket prices for Miami matches increased a lot. Forbes valued Inter Miami at around $1 billion, a 72% increase from 2023.

Messi and Busquets played their first game on July 21. It was a 2–1 home win against Cruz Azul in the 2023 Leagues Cup. Messi scored the winning goal from a free-kick in the final moments. This ended Miami's 11-game winless streak. On August 19, Inter Miami won their first trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup, by beating Nashville SC in a penalty shootout. This win also qualified them for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

On August 23, Inter Miami beat FC Cincinnati in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinals. They won on penalties after a 3–3 draw. They then played in the final on September 27 but lost 2–1 to Houston Dynamo FC. Messi could not play in that final. On August 26, Messi, Busquets, and Alba played their first MLS game together. They won 2–0 against the New York Red Bulls, with Messi scoring a goal. On September 16, Miami lost for the first time with Messi on the team. They lost 5–2 to Atlanta United FC without Messi or Alba playing. This ended their 12-match unbeaten streak. On October 7, Miami lost to FC Cincinnati, which meant they could not make the MLS playoffs.

On October 30, Inter Miami became the only MLS team to have a current player win the Ballon d'Or, as Messi won his 8th award. Inter Miami played a friendly match called Noche d'Or against New York City FC to celebrate this. Messi's 8th Ballon d'Or was presented at Chase Stadium, though the team lost the game 2–1.

On December 22, 2023, Inter Miami signed Luis Suárez, another former Barcelona teammate of Messi. In February 2024, a friendly game against a Hong Kong XI caused a controversy because Messi did not play. This led to a pause in partnership between the Argentine and Chinese Football Associations. The team lost in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup against Monterrey. This meant they did not qualify for the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. In June 2024, they played a friendly match with FC Bayern Munich.

On October 3, 2024, Miami won their first Supporters' Shield. Messi scored two goals and Suárez scored one against Columbus Crew. On the last day of the season, Miami beat New England Revolution 6–2. They finished with a league record of 74 points. On October 19, FIFA announced that Miami would host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

On November 10, 2024, Inter Miami was eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs in the first round. They lost 3–2 to Atlanta United FC. This was considered a big upset. Messi's former teammate, Javier Mascherano, was hired as the new head coach. Inter Miami then hosted the opening of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Ah Ahly from Africa. The game ended in a draw. Inter Miami was later eliminated from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after losing 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain FC in the round of 16.

Team Colors and Badge

The Inter Miami CF team name and colors were revealed on September 5, 2018. The official name is Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami (Inter Miami CF).

The team's badge, or crest, is designed with colors and a style that reminds people of Miami's Art Deco buildings. It shows two great white herons with their legs linked together to form the letter "M". Between the herons is an eclipse, with the sun having seven rays. This is a tribute to the number David Beckham often wore as a player. The full badge shows the team name around the outside. The Roman numerals MMXX represent the year 2020, which was the team's first season. The three-pointed shield on the badge stands for the three main communities in South Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

The club's main colors are pink, white, and black, with a touch of blue. Inter Miami's main sponsor is the Royal Caribbean Group.

There was some discussion about what kind of birds were on the crest. Some thought they were flamingos or egrets. The team later confirmed they are white herons.

The club's name has been part of a legal disagreement with the Italian club Inter Milan. Inter Milan had tried to trademark the name "Inter" in 2014. MLS argued that "Inter" is a common name used by many clubs. The two clubs reached an agreement in 2021, allowing David Beckham's team to keep its name.

Team Uniforms

Home Uniforms

2020–2021

2022–2023

2024

2025–

Away Uniforms

2020

2021–2022

2023–2024

2025–

Third Uniforms

2024

Team Sponsors

Inter Miami CF has many partnerships with well-known companies. On April 9, 2021, they announced a three-year deal with AutoNation. In March 2024, Tudor became the official timekeeper. In April 2024, Lowe's started a partnership where fans could meet players. Later in May 2024, Visa announced its sponsorship, giving it special rights to promote the brand internationally.

Team Stadiums

Chase Stadium

Chase Stadium entrance

New seats were added for the stadium.

Chase Stadium is a soccer stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is built on the site of the old Lockhart Stadium. The stadium is designed so the sun does not bother the goalkeepers. It is also the main headquarters for the team and its youth academy. The total cost for building this stadium was about $140 million.

After Lionel Messi joined in June 2023, the stadium added 3,000 to 3,200 more seats. These new seats came from the Miami International Autodrome, a temporary track for Formula One races. On February 20, 2024, the stadium was renamed Chase Stadium. This was part of a new partnership with JPMorgan Chase.

The old Lockhart Stadium was not used and fell apart after 2016. In January 2019, Inter Miami announced plans to use the Lockhart Stadium site. They wanted to build a training ground for their main team, their reserve team (Inter Miami CF II), and their youth academy. The plan also included a 21,550-seat stadium. This stadium would be the permanent home for Inter Miami CF II. It would also be the temporary home for Inter Miami for at least their first two seasons.

The Fort Lauderdale city council approved Inter Miami's plan in March 2019. In July 2019, they approved a 50-year lease agreement. The city still owns the land, but the club is responsible for building and maintaining the new facilities. In April 2021, the stadium was named DRV PNK Stadium. This name was part of AutoNation's campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer. In January 2024, more seats were added, bringing the total capacity to 21,550.

Miami Freedom Park

The site of the former Melreese Country Club is the future location of Miami Freedom Park.

Inter Miami started playing in Fort Lauderdale in March 2020. They will continue to play there until their new stadium, called Miami Freedom Park, is finished. This project will include a 25,000-seat stadium. It will be part of a larger complex on the former Melreese Country Club site. This site is near the Miami International Airport.

The plan for the stadium was approved by voters in November 2018. The total project is worth over $1 billion. In August 2019, it was found that the land at Melreese golf course had a lot of pollution. There were high levels of arsenic, barium, and lead.

Despite this, a judge's decision in Miami-Dade County upheld the referendum results. This allowed city officials to negotiate a 99-year lease with the team's owners. The project will include the stadium, a hotel, offices, and shops. It will also have 23 acres of public soccer fields and a 58-acre public park. The club owners will also pay $20 million each year for 30 years to improve public parks in the city.

The location for the new stadium was chosen after looking at many other places. These included Dodge Island at PortMiami and a site near Marlins Park.

David Beckham announced in June 2019 that Freedom Park was planned to open in 2022. On April 28, 2022, the Miami City Council approved a 99-year lease for the Melreese site. The stadium was expected to open in the 2025 MLS season. Construction began in August 2023, with plans to open in 2026.

Training Complex

In January 2019, the club announced plans for a training ground in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This facility would be for the first team, youth academy, and reserve team.

The training facility is north of Chase Stadium and covers 30 acres. It includes a park, youth soccer fields, and a community center. It has seven training fields. This is the permanent training home for all Inter Miami teams, from the youth academy to the senior team. In September 2022, Florida Blue bought the naming rights for the facility. The Florida Blue Training Center also has the 5,000-seat AutoNation Sports Field. This field is home to the Major League Rugby team Miami Sharks.

Transportation to Stadiums

The Freedom Park site is close to Miami International Airport. It is also near the Miami Intermodal Center, a station for trains and buses. You can take Metrorail trains to Downtown Miami. Tri-Rail commuter trains go to northern suburbs.

Chase Stadium is near Interstate 95 in Fort Lauderdale. The stadium has parking lots for fans who buy tickets in advance. The closest Tri-Rail station is Cypress Creek. However, there is no extra train service at night for Inter Miami matches.

In April 2022, Inter Miami partnered with Brightline to offer passenger trains. These trains go from Miami and West Palm Beach to the Fort Lauderdale station. A special shuttle takes fans from the station to the stadium. This service is called the GOOOL Getter.

Team Ownership

The group that owns the team was first called Miami Beckham United in 2013. Now, it is known as Miami Freedom Park LLC. The original group included Miami businessman Marcelo Claure. Later, Masayoshi Son and brothers Jorge and Jose Mas joined in 2017. The idea for the team came from a contract David Beckham signed with MLS in 2007. This contract gave him the option to own a new team at a lower price.

On September 17, 2021, it was announced that Beckham and the Mas brothers had bought out Claure and Son's shares. Ares Management also joined the ownership group.

Team Supporters

Supporter section at Chase Stadium with The Siege (Siege Miami) on the right and Vice City 1896 and Southern Legion (La Legion) in the middle

Inter Miami has four official fan groups. They are called The Siege, Southern Legion, Vice City 1896, and Nación Rosa Y Negro.

Team Rivalries

Inter Miami has a rivalry with Orlando City SC. This is because Orlando City is the closest other MLS team in Florida. Orlando City joined MLS in 2015. They had to wait until Inter Miami joined in 2020 to play a game against another team from Florida. This rivalry is called the "Florida Derby" by MLS.

The club also has a rivalry with the USL Championship team Miami FC. This is a local rivalry known as the "Miami Clásico".

Team Awards

Individual Club Awards

• Ballon d'Or: 2023
• The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2023
• Landon Donovan MVP Award: 2024

Players and Staff

Current Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Drake Callender 2 DF Gonzalo Luján 5 MF Sergio Busquets (DP) 6 DF Tomás Avilés 7 FW Fafà Picault 8 MF Telasco Segovia 9 FW Luis Suárez 10 FW Lionel Messi (captain; DP) 11 MF Baltasar Rodríguez (on loan from Racing Club) 15 DF Ryan Sailor 17 DF Ian Fray (HG) 18 DF Jordi Alba (DP) 19 GK Óscar Ustari 21 MF Tadeo Allende (on loan from Celta Vigo)

No. Position Player 22 FW Leo Afonso 25 GK William Yarbrough 26 DF Tyler Hall (HG) 29 FW Allen Obando (on loan from Barcelona SC) 30 MF Benjamin Cremaschi (HG) 32 DF Noah Allen (HG) 34 GK Rocco Ríos Novo (on loan from Lanús) 37 DF Maximiliano Falcón 41 MF David Ruiz (HG) 42 MF Yannick Bright 55 MF Federico Redondo 57 DF Marcelo Weigandt (on loan from Boca Juniors) 62 DF Israel Boatwright (HG) 81 MF Santiago Morales (HG)

Coaching Staff

As of January 28, 2025

Name	Position	Nationality
Javier Mascherano	Head coach	Argentina
Lucas Rodriguez Pagano	Assistant coach	Argentina
Leandro Stillitano	Assistant coach	Argentina
Javier Morales	Assistant coach	Argentina
Mauro Dobler	Goalkeeping coach	Argentina
Pablo Blanco	Fitness coach	Argentina
Lucio Stortoni	Video analyst	Argentina
Erik Marquis	Video analyst	Argentina
Garrison Draper	Performance director	United States
Mai Shoji	Sporting director	Japan
Niki Budalić	Director of soccer operations	Canada
Sam Gregory	Chief analyst	Canada
Xavier Asensi	Chief business officer	Spain
Guillermo Hoyos	President of football operations	Argentina
Kieran Gibbs	Media director	England

Head Coaches History

As of May 16, 2025

Name	Nationality	Tenure	G	W	D	L	Win %
Diego Alonso	Uruguay		&&&&&&&&&&&&&024.&&&&&024	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014	&&&&&&&&&&&&&029.17000029.17
Phil Neville	England		&&&&&&&&&&&&&090.&&&&&090	&&&&&&&&&&&&&035.&&&&&035	&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013	&&&&&&&&&&&&&042.&&&&&042	&&&&&&&&&&&&&038.89000038.89
Javier Morales (interim)	Argentina		&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.29000014.29
Gerardo Martino	Argentina		&&&&&&&&&&&&&067.&&&&&067	&&&&&&&&&&&&&035.&&&&&035	&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016	&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016	&&&&&&&&&&&&&052.24000052.24
Javier Mascherano	Argentina		&&&&&&&&&&&&&029.&&&&&029	&&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&051.72000051.72

Designated Players History

Designated Players (DPs) are special players whose salaries do not fully count against the team's salary cap. This allows teams to sign high-profile players.

Player	Previous club	Years as DP
Matías Pellegrini	Estudiantes	2020
Rodolfo Pizarro	Monterrey	2020–2023
Gonzalo Higuaín	Juventus	2020–2022
Blaise Matuidi	Juventus	2021
Gregore	Bahia	2021–2023
Alejandro Pozuelo	Toronto FC	2022
Leonardo Campana	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2023–2024
Lionel Messi	Paris Saint-Germain	2023–
Sergio Busquets	Barcelona	2023–
Jordi Alba	Barcelona	2025–

Team Records

This table shows the results of Inter Miami CF's seasons.