Lionel Messi will be playing his first Major League Soccer game in Inter Miami’s new stadium on April 4. This is one of the highlights from the schedule released Thursday. The 2026 MLS regular-season starts February 21 and runs until November 7. It’ll be the last season in the February-to-November model, with a shortened season planned for 2027 and then the new summer-to-spring calendar for the 2027-28 campaign to closer align with other global leagues.Inter Miami will open the season with five consecutive road matches, which presumably will allow for the finishing touches to be made to Miami Freedom Park — the team’s still-under-construction home near Miami International Airport. There is no word yet on whether there will be any preseason or other games at the stadium prior to April 4. The home opener for Inter Miami against Austin FC will take place at 7:30 p.m. inside the new, 25,000-seater stadium. Messi signed a three-year extension in recent weeks to remain with the team into 2028 and getting that deal done cemented that he — as the team long hoped — would be there for the start of their run at the new facility.Miami Freedom Park’s opening will start a planned run of three new MLS stadiums in a three-season span, with New York City Reporting by The Associated Press. Want the best stories delivered to your email? Sign up or create a FOX Sports account to get a daily newsletter! FOLLOW Personalize your FOX Sport experience by following your favorites
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2025-11-20 20:33:17
