Lafc Vs Inter Miami: Messi cleared for Los Angeles season opener as Beckham rallies La Familia
Inter Miami confirmed Lionel Messi will be available for the season opener against Los Angeles FC, a development that shapes the high-profile Lafc vs inter miami matchup and heightens scrutiny around both clubs as the 2026 campaign begins. The availability follows a left hamstring strain sustained in a preseason friendly and comes as co-owner David Beckham publicly urged supporters that the club is “hungry for more” after last season’s title.
Messi, hamstring strain and return to training
Head coach Javier Mascherano said Messi "is fine" and has trained at the same level as his teammates throughout the week, confirming the forward will be available for selection for the Saturday night opener in Los Angeles. Messi suffered a muscle strain in his left hamstring during the preseason match against Barcelona SC on Feb. 7; he started that friendly but left the pitch in the 58th minute and watched the remainder from the sideline. Since then, Messi has been reintegrated into full training with the squad.
Mascherano names traveling roster and highlights new arrivals
Mascherano added that all players who traveled with the team to California will be available for selection, explicitly naming newly signed Designated Player Germán Berterame and permanent squad member Tadeo Allende. The coach warned the matchup will be difficult given the quality on both rosters and outlined his tactical aim: control possession, maintain long spells of the ball and prevent Los Angeles from exploiting quick transitions.
Beckham addresses La Familia before Lafc Vs Inter Miami opener
Co-owner David Beckham delivered an emotional address to supporters, commonly known as La Familia, declaring the club is "hungry for more" after lifting the MLS Cup in 2025. Beckham said, “As the new MLS season begins, I’m so excited for what’s in store for our club. It was always our dream to be MLS Champions, but we are hungry for more and can’t wait to start our title defence today. ” The message came after Inter Miami completed a three-match preseason tour of South America and traveled to the West Coast for the marquee clash.
LAFC lineup and the budding Messi–Son rivalry
The Los Angeles side arrives with a star-packed front line that includes former Premier League attacker Son Heung-min, former MLS MVP Denis Bouanga and midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, a longtime Portuguese top-flight player. The meeting represents only the fourth MLS clash between the two clubs since Miami joined the league in 2020 and is billed as the debut of a burgeoning rivalry between Son and Messi, with Messi noted in club materials as the two-time defending MLS MVP.
Schedule implications: Cups, travel and the Concacaf path
Inter Miami begin the season as reigning MLS champions after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps to win the 2025 MLS Cup and will juggle multiple competitions in 2026, including the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup alongside the MLS regular season. After the opener in Los Angeles the team faces three away MLS matches at Orlando City, D. C. United and Charlotte FC before starting their Concacaf Champions Cup tie on March 18 in Fort Lauderdale against either Nashville SC or Canadian Premier League champions Atlético Ottawa. While Miami will play away to start that Concacaf tie, the second leg will take place at Chase Stadium, where unclear in the provided context.
Commentary split and broader stakes
Media commentators Herculez Gomez and Mau Pedroza are split between Inter Miami and LAFC for the winners of the 2026 MLS Cup, underscoring how tightly contested the fixture is perceived. What makes this notable is that both clubs enter the season with elevated expectations—Miami as defending champions and LAFC with recent high-profile signings—so early results will influence narratives about title contenders and squad depth across multiple competitions.
With Messi available, Beckham vocal in support and a congested calendar looming, the Lafc vs inter miami showdown on Saturday represents more than a single match: it is a tactical and psychological opening that will set immediate expectations for both sides as they move into a season with domestic and continental ambitions.
