The storm of confetti had barely been cleared from Chase Stadium in early December when Inter Miami — still awash in MLS Cup revelry and ravenous for a second trophy — was back at work retooling inventory and identifying pieces to accompany the luminous Lionel Messi on another bubbly voyage.
Needing a goalkeeping upgrade, the champions signed one of Major League Soccer’s best, free agent Dayne St. Clair, from Minnesota.
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Needing to fill the void left by the retired Jordi Alba at left back, Tottenham Hotspur’s Sergio Reguilón joined the party.
Another forward, you say? Monterrey star Germán Berterame from the Mexican national team was on the way.
For those reasons, among others, the pink-splashed Floridians will begin MLS’ 2026 campaign this weekend with high hopes of becoming the first repeat champions in 14 years.
Miami also converted two 2025 loans into permanent acquisitions: Argentines Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende, who set a playoff record with nine goals in six matches. De Paul will step into a larger role following Sergio Busquets’ retirement.
(Illustration by Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)
(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports illustration)
Messi, who has won consecutive MVP awards, has shown no signs of slowing down, compiling 57 goals and 45 assists in 62 regular-season and playoff appearances. But this is a World Cup year, and with him expected to play for reigning champion Argentina one last time, don’t be surprised when he and Miami manage his minutes the first part of the season. He was nursing a hamstring injury late in preseason.
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The club will begin its title defense with five away matches before christening Freedom Park, a 25,000-seater near Miami International Airport that sits 30 miles south of its makeshift stadium used the past six seasons.
Here are 11 other talking points ahead of Major League Soccer’s 31st season:
Will MLS keep playing during the World Cup?
No way. The summer belongs to the World Cup. MLS will go dark for seven weeks starting May 25 — 17 days before the tournament begins — and resume a few days before the July 19 Cup final.
Five stadiums used by MLS teams (Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Atlanta and New England) are reserved for tournament matches, while multiple MLS training facilities will host World Cup teams.
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Besides, with an international soccer spectacle on home ground consuming attention, MLS understands it needs to just get the heck out of the way.
For fitness and sharpness…
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