Lionel Messi was the sensation of Major League Football since arriving in North America in mid-2023, capturing the interest of fans and celebrities alike in a wave of attention often referred to as the “Messi Effect.” Ahead of the 2026 MLS season, that interest has yielded yet another milestone: as DC United will switch locations for their match against Inter Miami.
Of “MLS Is backDuring the weekend of February 21 and 22, Inter Miami will play several road matches before the inauguration of Miami Freedom Park against Austin FC on April 4. For matchday 3, the Herons will visit DC United on March 7and prior to that match the hosts made an exceptional decision.
DC United has decided to move the game from Audi Field to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, the venue is now set to host Lionel Messi and InterMiami.
“DC United vs. Inter Miami CF on March 7, 2026 will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD” the club announced on its official website, in addition to releasing special access to pre-sale tickets. The main motivation behind the move is to expand capacity, increasing attendance at Audi Field’s approximately 20,000 seats. to more than 70,000 in the Ravens’ home stadium.
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF is challenged by Kye Rowles #15 of DC United.
Since Messi’s arrival to the MLS, Inter Miami and DC United have faced each other four times, twice in Miami and twice in the American capital. However, Messi was unavailable for both matches played in Washington, DCwhile recovering from injuries, participating in both Fort Lauderdale meets.
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With a perfect home record of two wins from two games, Messi is now expected to make his first away appearance against DC United, barring an unexpected setback. For that occasion, the hosts have opted for a big change, moving the match from the nation’s capital to Baltimore.
Other location changes since Messi’s arrival
Although the initial boom of mid-2023 has cooled somewhat, Messi continued to generate record attendance figures throughout the 2025 season, and that trend is expected to continue into 2026 with the World Cup approaching. In that sense, DC United is not the first club to move a match due to the presence of Argentina.
In 2024, Sporting Kansas City moved the match against Inter Miami from Children’s Mercy Park to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on April 13. A year later, in April 2025, on matchday 9, Columbus Crew moved their match from Lower.com Field to Huntington Bank Stadiumhome of the Cleveland Browns, both moves intended to receive a larger audience for Messi’s visit.
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