IInter Miami made history in Major League Soccer by becoming Eastern Conference champions with Lionel Messi, and then went on to win the 2025 MLS Cup against tough teams like the Vancouver Whitecaps. But they are not resting on their laurels and have now set their sights on the Concacaf Champions Cup, with pre-season in Latin America already preparing for next year, which will also be a World Cup year for many of their stars.
During the pre-season announced by the Florida team, it has been confirmed that all of Florida’s star players such as Lionel Messi, Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez will be in attendance, and it is a big attraction for the Latin nationals to see numbers of that level against their own team, playing the role of “Las Garzas” as they prepare for a new challenge in 2026.
Messi once again shows why he will improve every team he joins
When and which teams will Lionel Messi and Inter Miami play in Latin America?
Inter Miami will begin this tour at the end of January 2026, with two matches confirmed so far, but it is expected to serve as a warm-up as the MLS season does not start until February 21st and the Herons will begin their title defense with a visit to LAFC.
The following matches are scheduled for Inter Miami’s Latin American tour: Inter Miami vs. Atlético Nacional
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026 Stadium: Attanasio Giraldot City: Medellin, Colombia
Inter Miami vs Barcelona SC
Date: February 7, 2026 Stadium: Banco Pichincha City: Guayaquil, Ecuador
What’s next for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in MLS 2026?
Inter Miami will have significant absentees next season as Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets have officially announced their retirement from professional football. The board is already working on reinforcements for 2026, and after losing in the quarter-finals and semi-finals in recent competitions, their next challenge is to win the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Rodrigo de Paul will remain at Inter Miami, where he has activated his purchase option with Atlético Madrid, but various media outlets are reporting that Sergio Reguilon will come to Florida to replace Jordi Alba. There are also rumors that Timo Werner could be the next bombshell, although nothing has been officially announced yet. Quality reinforcements are expected to arrive to help Inter Miami maintain their dominance in MLS.
This preparation for Inter Miami will help Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul as they prepare to defend their title with the Argentina national team at the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
