After winning the Major League Football 2025 championship, InterMiami are already looking ahead. In addition to roster updates, including the departure of key players and negotiations for new signings, Lionel Messi and his teammates are slowly becoming familiar with the schedule they will face in the first months of next year.
MLS The action doesn’t resume until late February, with the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup takes place a few weeks later. This means that the Herons will be without official competition for more than two months, giving them the opportunity to undertake an extensive pre-season.
In addition to conditioning work, InterMiami will play various friendly matches during this period to build up match fitness and prepare as best as possible for the start of the season. The first confirmed matches for 2026 have now been announced.
Messi and his teammates will begin a South American tour in Colombia on Saturday, January 31. On that day they will be confronted Atletico Nacional de Medellin at Estadio Atanasio Girardot in front of more than 40,000 spectators.
a general view of Estanasio Girardot in Medellin, Colombia.
Exactly a week later, Inter Miami plays another match, this time against Sports club Barcelona In Ecuador at Banco Picin Farf in Ecuador in Guayaquil, which has a capacity of almost 60,000 fans. The South American tour could also include a match in Perualthough that possibility has not yet been confirmed.
see also
Lionel Messi sees three Inter Miami teammates depart ahead of the 2026 MLS season
The impact of Messi’s visit to South America
After the confirmation of the matches that Inter Miami will play in South America early next year, some organizers involved in the friendlies discussed what Lionel Messi’s visit would mean.
“Meeting Inter Miami and hosting in our home stadium players who have made history in world football is an opportunity to once again show that Atletico Nacional is a club of international caliber.says Sebastian Arango, president of the Colombian club TN.
“Maybe it will be the last time fans see Messi playing in Ecuador as World Cup champions.says Daniel Molina, one of the organizers of the agreement between Inter Miami and Barcelona Sporting Club One football. He also explained that the choice of Estadio Banco Pichincha was for the match “to reach the largest number of people in the country, because fans will come from all over the world,” highlighting the significance of Messi’s visit.
Messi needs a strong pre-season
In addition to organizing friendly matches, the main goal of the preseason will be the physical condition of the Inter Miami players. They face a demanding year with three simultaneous competitions, but some will have another goal in mind: the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Only three months of MLS competition precede the match FIFA tournament, making it essential to avoid injuries that could jeopardize the participation of the top stars. Lionel Messi in particular has repeatedly emphasized during these months the importance of good preparation to maintain his physical top condition and ultimately confirm his participation in the World Cup with Argentina.
#Lionel #Messi #tour #South #America #Inter #Miami #plans #preseason #friendlies