Photo: Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Reveals Renderings of New Stadium to Open in 2026
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 4, 2024
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Inter Miami CF is coming to, well, Miami in 2026.
The MLS club, which currently plays at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced Wednesday that it will move to Miami Freedom Park in the city starting with the 2026 season:
Inter Miami CF @InterMiamiCFWe’re coming home đ Miami Freedom Park 2026 pic.twitter.com/1haJN0tBPW
Miami Freedom Park @miafreedomparkOur new home đđ Join the dream and place your deposit for our 2026 season now:https://t.co/LXKUaK4llR pic.twitter.com/ciQDXmkDp3
Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald noted the club’s ownership, which includes soccer legend David Beckham, has been working toward securing a permanent stadium in Miami since its inaugural season in 2020.
“After years of dreaming, it is so exciting to be sharing that in 2026 Inter Miami will be moving to its long-term home at Miami Freedom Park,” Beckham said. “Miami Freedom Park is the culmination of years of hard work and a desire to realize a vision and create a lasting legacy for the fans and the community of Miami and South Florida. I’m so happy to see that dream finally coming to life.”
The 26,700-seat stadium will be part of a larger development that will feature a public park, entertainment venues, restaurants and hotels. The 2026 opening date is also surely not a coincidence, as it matches up with the United States being one of the hosts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Inter Miami is one of the headline teams in the MLS in large part because of the presence of arguably the greatest soccer player of all time in Lionel Messi. They are in first place in the MLS standings this season and will look to add an MLS Cup to their trophy case that includes last season’s Leagues Cup title.
It remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old Messi will still be suiting up for Inter Miami when the new stadium opens in 2026, but he has kept the organization in the spotlight and surely played a factor in ownership being able to secure its desired location.
For now, the club is focused on pursuing a title this season and will return to the field Saturday to take on the Philadelphia Union.
