MIAMI, FL — Inter Miami will begin a new chapter Saturday night when it hosts Austin FC in the first-ever match at Nu Stadium, the centerpiece venue of the Miami Freedom Park development. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on April 4.
The club has played its home matches in Fort Lauderdale since entering MLS in 2020, but MLS says Nu Stadium’s opening formalizes the long-planned move into Miami proper, with the venue located within a 131-acre Miami Freedom Park project near Miami International Airport and public transit.
Local 10 reported construction has been “coming down to the wire,” with the stadium still a work in progress this week as Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham visited the site and checked out the real grass field ahead of opening night. The outlet also noted fans were invited for a sneak preview to walk the stadium and explore seating sections before the inaugural match.
One of the main opening-week storylines is the “Leo Messi Stand.” Reuters reported Inter Miami is naming a stand after Messi ahead of the stadium’s first match — a rare tribute for an active player — as the club prepares to host Austin FC in the venue opener. MLS echoed that the Messi stand is a defining feature of Nu Stadium’s debut, calling it an uncommon case in global sports.
Inter Miami has marketed April 4 as a historic date for the club and confirmed single-match tickets for the opener are on sale, again listing Austin FC as the opponent and 7:30 p.m. ET as the kickoff time.
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