Beginning with the 2024 pre-season, Inter Miami will use the winter break before the MLS regular season to expand the club’s international footprint while generating significant commercial revenue. In 2024, the club held a pre-season match in El Salvador. In 2025, Inter Miami expanded the concept, traveling to Peru, Panama and Honduras.

The 2026 tour goes one step further. In addition to playing against Independiente Valle de Ecuador in Puerto Rico on February 13, the club will also visit Colombia and Ecuador for the first time, while also returning to Lima, Peru, this time against Lima Union. The result was more than just a physical exercise, but for a team of mostly South American players, a palpable exposure to MLS football culture on a different emotional level.

Competitive results and palpable atmosphere in South America

The final match of Inter Miami’s South American tour was played in Guayaquil against Barcelona SC, the most supported club in Ecuador. On the pitch, the results were respectable rather than spectacular. Lionel Messi scored, as did new arrival German Berterame, who plays as a forward after joining from Liga MX.

Defensively, this game exposed more problems. Canada international Dayne St. Clair endured an inconsistent performance in goal and “Un Solo á dolo” struck again after Inter Miami’s late red card. The game ended with a score of 2-2 in front of the crowd, but the crowd did not treat the match as a friendly match.

In three games, Inter Miami was beaten 3-0 by Peru’s second-best team, Union Lima, in a game that highlighted the rust in the defense. They defeated Colombian cup kings Atlético Nacional 2-1 in Medellín before drawing with Barcelona SC in Ecuador.

These results wouldn’t look out of place in an away game in the Copa Libertadores. Four points from three away games is usually enough to advance from the group stage – a relevant comparison given Inter Miami’s rumored participation in the 2027 Copa Libertadores.

Unforgettable atmosphere in Ecuador

Monument Stadium was packed when both teams took the field. The organizers were all about spectacle: fireworks, smoke, coordinated flares, Inter Miami’s pink feathers and Barcelona SC’s yellow feathers. Colombian anchor WestCol is the most-watched live broadcast anchor in Latin America. Wearing an Inter Miami team jersey, he broadcast live from the sidelines. Even through the mobile phone camera, the atmosphere of the scene can be clearly felt.

The tour atmosphere is strongest in Guayaquil, but Lima and Medellin are by no means secondary. When Inter Miami visited Colombia for the first time, fans flocked to the team hotel as soon as they arrived, and the game brought millions of dollars to the local economy. The situation is similar in Peru, although there are reports that ticket sales are slower than expected.

Inter Miami remains the only MLS club in Latin America to achieve true continent-wide recognition. Whether that focus will continue after Messi retires remains an open question, but the scale of South America’s involvement is undeniable.

New faces, familiar questions for Inter Miami 2026

Javier Mascherano continues to integrate new pieces ahead of the 2026 season. With Luis Suarez’s role naturally declining with age, German Beltrame is expected to play a prominent role up front. David Ayala joins from Portland to add depth to the midfield. Dayne St. Clair serves as the starting goalkeeper. Brazilian centre-back Mikael joined from Palmeiras, while Facundo Moura joined from Athletic Club to fill the right-back position.

In a 30-team league, Inter Miami remains the MLS Cup favorite, the defending champion, and remains one of the top contenders for the CONCACAF Champions League. Challenges will come from rising MLS teams such as Son Heung-min’s Los Angeles FC, San Diego FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps, as well as established teams such as the Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati.

As Messi prepares for his final World Cup with Argentina – a chance to defend his title on American soil – the formula remains familiar. Inter Miami’s offense created moments and goals. However, the defense continued to ask questions.

Two months until Liberty Park in Miami

Inter Miami’s long-awaited move to Miami Liberty Park is scheduled for early April, ending the club’s days at Chase Field in Fort Lauderdale. The new venue will seat about 25,000 fans and offer a more modern stadium experience, although it will still be smaller than MLS venues like Seattle’s Lumen Field or Toronto’s BMO Field. Regional rivals Atlanta United and Charlotte play home games in NFL-sized stadiums, although Inter Miami is rarely at a disadvantage on the road due to Messi’s global and national influence.

The unresolved issue is the atmosphere. Miami has proven it can create a good football atmosphere during Copa America and Club World Cup events, but these moments are exceptions due to the importance and rarity of these competitions rather than being a weekly routine. What Inter Miami experienced in Lima, Medellin and Guayaquil was constant noise, smoke, coordinated performances and total participation. MLS has done well with fan bases in places like Portland, Los Angeles FC and Columbus, but emotional support across stadiums remains sparse. Games in Miami in particular are also seen as an opportunity for social media influencers to show off their love for the sport rather than a gathering of fervent supporters.

American sports culture does not naturally encourage screaming, crying, and keeping everything in the stands to the teams themselves. This happens every week in South America. Whether Inter Miami can bridge that gap at Liberty Park will determine the club’s identity long after the tour ends.

The Major League Soccer (MLS) season kicks off on Saturday, February 21, with Inter Miami visiting Los Angeles FC in Los Angeles.

Main photo credit: Smartframe Images