Inter Miami: Building a Global Soccer Legacy in South Florida

Inter Miami: Building a Global Soccer Legacy in South Florida

Inter Miami CF, officially Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, is Major League Soccer’s most glamorous and globally recognized franchise. Founded in 2018 and playing its inaugural season in 2020, the club has quickly grown from an ambitious expansion project into an international powerhouse. Much of that transformation has to do with one name: David Beckham. The English icon, who became a global household name during his time with Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, and England’s national team, exercised his option to own an MLS expansion club after his playing career ended. Miami, a city known for its diverse immigrant communities, particularly Latin American, Caribbean, and European, was the perfect choice for building a team that aimed not just to compete domestically but also to resonate globally.

From the very beginning, Inter Miami’s identity has been tied to culture and spectacle. The club’s pink, black, and white branding set it apart from the traditional palettes of American sports. Its crest, featuring two herons forming an “M,” symbolizes freedom and resilience, and the name “Inter” was deliberately chosen to echo storied global clubs like Inter Milan, emphasizing the international flavor. In its first years, the franchise struggled on the pitch, with managerial changes, inconsistent performances, and logistical hurdles regarding stadium arrangements. But the ambition was never in doubt.

The turning point came in July 2023, when the team signed Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. The addition of Messi — soon joined by Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and eventually Luis Suárez — transformed Inter Miami from an MLS expansion club into a global media phenomenon. Matches sold out instantly, TV rights values skyrocketed, and merchandise sales placed Inter Miami atop the MLS and among the best-selling sports brands in the U.S. The “Messi effect” turned South Florida into a soccer capital almost overnight, while also raising the league’s profile worldwide.

Culturally, the club embodies Miami’s fusion of cultures. Fans hear Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Creole in the stands. Food trucks outside the stadium offer Cuban sandwiches, Colombian arepas, and Argentinian empanadas. The chants often switch between English and Spanish, giving the club one of the most authentically international atmospheres in American sports. For Miami’s large Latino population, Inter Miami represents more than a team: it’s a cultural statement, a place where fútbol connects identity, heritage, and community pride.

In just a few years, Inter Miami has built what many older MLS clubs took decades to achieve: a worldwide fanbase, a celebrity aura, and a narrative of ambition. It’s a club that started as a dream on paper and quickly became the epicenter of global soccer in the United States.

Rivalries

Rivalries in MLS develop through geography, competition, and sometimes sheer intensity of encounters. For Inter Miami, the biggest rivalry so far has been with Orlando City SC, just a few hours north on Florida’s I-95 corridor. Nicknamed the “Florida Derby” or “Sunshine Clásico”, this rivalry pits Miami’s flash and glamour against Orlando’s grit and loyal supporter base. Matches between the two clubs are feisty, and fan travel between the cities is common, fueling the derby atmosphere.

Another growing rivalry is with Atlanta United, whose fanbase often travels well to South Florida. The connection deepened when Messi’s first MLS match came against Atlanta in 2023 — a night in which the Argentine scored twice and dazzled fans worldwide. Atlanta supporters, who pride themselves on having MLS’s largest crowds, view Inter Miami as the flashy new challenger stealing their spotlight. Miami’s fanbase, on the other hand, enjoys mocking Atlanta for being humbled by Messi on such a global stage.

Beyond MLS, the Messi-led squad has generated rivalries with Mexican clubs during Leagues Cup play. Matches against Cruz Azul, Monterrey, and Club América have carried heavy intensity, drawing large TV audiences in the U.S. and Latin America. These games are often seen as symbolic battles for regional dominance in North American soccer.

While Inter Miami is still a young club, its global appeal makes every opponent feel like a rival. Teams across MLS now circle the date when Messi and company visit, often breaking attendance records in their stadiums. This phenomenon has created an “anyone vs. Inter Miami” atmosphere, in which Miami is the team everyone wants to beat. In that sense, the club’s very success and stardom have turned it into the league’s “villain” — a role that many Miami fans embrace.

Trivia: The Florida Derby gained a new chapter in 2024 when Miami eliminated Orlando in a dramatic U.S. Open Cup tie, with Messi assisting the game-winning goal. That match is already considered a classic among MLS rivalries.

Inter Miami: Ownership

Inter Miami is owned by Jorge and José Mas, Cuban-American brothers who run MasTec, a Fortune 500 infrastructure company. David Beckham, of course, remains the global face of the ownership group, though his role is as much symbolic and cultural as it is executive. Beckham’s star power attracts sponsors, celebrities, and international attention, while the Mas brothers provide the financial resources and local connections.

The ownership has been ambitious from the beginning. They were determined to sign global stars, secure a world-class stadium deal, and make Inter Miami the MLS club with the strongest international profile. This strategy has paid off spectacularly with the Messi signing and the global media frenzy that followed. However, it has also come with challenges: MLS operates under strict salary cap and roster rules, forcing the ownership to balance star signings with depth-building.

One of the ownership group’s biggest projects is the construction of Miami Freedom Park, a planned $1.3 billion stadium and entertainment complex near Miami International Airport. Slated to open in 2026, this project will include a 25,000-seat stadium, retail space, offices, and public green areas. The approval process took years, filled with political negotiations, zoning debates, and environmental concerns. But once complete, it will cement Inter Miami’s place in the city and MLS for decades to come.

Trivia: When Beckham signed with LA Galaxy in 2007, part of his contract included an option to buy an MLS expansion team for just $25 million. He exercised that option in 2014, choosing Miami. Today, MLS expansion fees exceed $500 million, making Beckham’s deal one of the most remarkable bargains in sports business history.

Watch Inter Miami

Currently, Inter Miami plays at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, about 30 miles north of Miami. Originally built as a temporary solution, the 21,000-seat stadium has become more than just a placeholder. With its sharp pink-and-black seating and intimate design, DRV PNK offers one of the most vibrant atmospheres in MLS. Fans chant in both English and Spanish, and the La Familia supporter group creates a party-like scene every matchday.

The stadium also holds symbolic value. DRV PNK is named after an automotive group’s cancer charity initiative, highlighting Inter Miami’s ties to community causes. Despite being “temporary,” it has hosted not only MLS matches but also international friendlies, youth tournaments, and even Argentina’s national team training sessions.

But the long-term plan is Miami Freedom Park, which promises to be one of the most modern soccer-specific stadiums in North America. Beyond the 25,000-seat stadium, the complex will feature restaurants, retail, hotels, and public parks. Ownership envisions it as a global soccer destination where fans from across the world can come to experience both Miami’s culture and Inter Miami’s brand.

Trivia: When Messi made his Inter Miami debut at DRV PNK in July 2023, tickets sold on the secondary market for over $3,000, making it the most expensive MLS ticket in history. Celebrities from LeBron James to Kim Kardashian were in attendance.

Inter Miami: This Season

The 2025 MLS season is pivotal for Inter Miami. With Messi entering what many believe could be his final full season at peak level, the club has built a squad around him designed to compete for every trophy. Alongside Messi, veterans like Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba bring both world-class talent and Barcelona chemistry. Younger talents such as Benjamin Cremaschi, an Argentine-American midfielder, and Diego Gómez, a Paraguayan prospect, provide balance and a glimpse into the future.

Manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who previously coached both Barcelona and Argentina, has implemented a possession-based system with flexibility. Miami can dominate with the ball, but thanks to Messi’s creativity, they’re equally dangerous on the counterattack. The challenge, however, has been defensive stability. Injuries in the backline and fixture congestion (with MLS, U.S. Open Cup, and Leagues Cup commitments) have tested squad depth.

So far this season, Inter Miami has been near the top of the Eastern Conference. Messi remains decisive, leading in both goals and assists. Suárez has rediscovered his scoring touch, while Busquets continues to dictate tempo. The club’s performances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup have been closely watched, as success there would signal Miami’s ability to dominate not just domestically but continentally.

Fan expectations are sky-high. Anything short of winning silverware is seen as a disappointment. But with aging stars, squad rotation, and travel demands, balancing competitions remains tricky.

Trivia: In 2024, Inter Miami won its first-ever trophy — the Leagues Cup — with Messi scoring 10 goals in the tournament. That run is widely credited with cementing his status as the league’s most transformative signing.

Inter Miami: What to Follow

Looking ahead, Inter Miami’s journey is full of storylines. The most immediate question is: how long will Messi play? His contract runs through 2025 with an option for 2026, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup in the United States. If he stays until then, Miami will remain the epicenter of global soccer.

The development of Miami Freedom Park is another major storyline. Once completed, it will redefine both the club and MLS’s infrastructure. Fans should also follow the club’s youth academy, which has begun producing promising talent. The integration of homegrown players alongside international stars could define Miami’s sustainability long-term.

There’s also the business angle: Inter Miami has become the most marketable MLS club, attracting sponsorships from Adidas, Apple, and international partners. Its ability to convert global fandom into revenue will determine if it can compete financially with European giants in the transfer market.

Finally, the evolution of rivalries — particularly with Orlando, Atlanta, and Mexican clubs — will shape Miami’s sporting identity. These matches are not just about points but about pride, culture, and bragging rights across the Americas.

Trivia: Inter Miami’s pink jersey became the best-selling soccer jersey in the United States in 2023, outselling even European clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Inter Miami CF is unlike any other MLS club. In just a few years, it has grown from a risky expansion idea into a global cultural force. With Lionel Messi as its centerpiece, a star-studded ownership group, and ambitious plans for Miami Freedom Park, the franchise embodies both the present and future of soccer in the U.S. While challenges remain — squad depth, long-term sustainability, and the transition beyond Messi — the club’s legacy is already cemented.

For fans, following Inter Miami is about more than soccer. It’s about community, culture, and being part of a global story unfolding in South Florida. Whether you’re watching in Fort Lauderdale, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, or Tokyo, Inter Miami is a team that captures the imagination.