What time is Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys? Live stream, TV channel, kickoff start for Lionel Messi friendly

The 2024 MLS season is little over a week away from commencing, as Inter Miami, the club who have fast-become one of the biggest names in the league, continue their preparations for the upcoming campaign.

The Fort Lauderdale-based outfit, owned by David Beckham and captained my enigmatic Argentine genius Lionel Messi, play their final preseason friendly match tonight, against the club where it all began for Messi as a youngster in Rosario — Newell’s Old Boys.

The Lepers have many a favourite son in the world of football: Diego Maradona made five appearances for the club at the tail-end of his career and their stadium itself in the centre of Rosario is named after title-winning manager Marcelo Bielsa. However, despite leaving for Barcelona as a 13-year-old, there’s little doubt that Messi is the greatest footballing export to have come out of the club — or any club, for that matter.

Tonight’s friendly therefore sees Messi come full-circle, pitting his current, and perhaps final club up against the one where it all began for the 2023 Ballon d’Or winner. There’s no doubt that the Newell’s players will be fired up for this game too, making it a stern test for Inter Miami ahead of their fifth season of MLS football.

MORE: Lionel Messi facing fitness battle as Inter Miami begin MLS preseason friendlies

This friendly match will take place at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday, February 15, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:

  Date Kickoff time USA Thurs, Feb. 15 7:30 p.m. ET Canada Thurs, Feb. 15 7:30 p.m. ET UK Fri, Feb. 16 12:30 a.m. GMT Australia Fri, Feb. 16 11:30 a.m. AEDT India Fri, Feb. 16 6:00 a.m. IST
Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys live stream, TV channel This match is available via Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, which is available across the US, UK, Canada, Australia and India. Apple+ also has a FREE TRIAL so you can try it before you buy.

Apple TV have exclusive rights to the MLS, and are streaming every single game this season for subscribers — as well as free-to-air coverage of a certain number of matches each week. You’ll need an MLS Season Pass to stream these matches, which can be purchased at a set price for the season, although if you’re already an Apple TV+ subscriber you can do so at a discounted rate!

An MLS Season Pass is separate from Apple TV+, meaning those with Apple TV+ would still need to subscribe if you want to stream all the games. Customers without Apple TV+ can still sign up for the MLS Season Pass without needing a full Apple TV+ subscription though.

Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys lineups, team news After missing Inter Miami’s friendly win over the Hong Kong league select XI, Lionel Messi came off the bench last time out against Vissel Kobe, which the Florida side eventually lost on penalties. However, against the club where his record-breaking career begin, the Argentina skipper should be a shoe-in to start from the off.

Messi’s ex-Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets picked up an injury of his own against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, and is expected to miss this final friendly with Inter kicking off their MLS campaign against Real Salt Lake on February 21.

Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): Callender (GK) — Yedlin, Aviles, Allen, Alba — Gregore, Campana, Ruiz— Gressel, Suarez, Messi.

Inter Miami subs (9): TBC

Newell’s are in the midst of their 2024 Primera Division campaign, with their squad heading north to Miami bolstered by the recent signing of Ever Banega, who returns to the Lepers 10 years after a successful loan spell.

Newell’s Old Boys (4-2-3-1 right to left): Macagno (GK) — Mendez, Velasquez, Glavinovich, Martino — Diaz, Fernandez — May, Banega, Aguirre — Ramirez.

Newell’s Old Boys subs (9): TBC

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