MLS
How to watch Inter Miami - América: Preseason fixtures, 2025 schedule
Lionel Messi begins the new year with a trip to Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas to take on Mexican champions Club América.

It’s been more than two months since Inter Miami last took to the field, suffering a shock playoff loss to Atlanta United that ended their MLS Cup hopes. Lionel Messi and co. have not played since mid-November but the team returned to the practice facility this week as they embark on a new journey in 2025, when the focus on a championship will be more intense than ever before.
Inter Miami start their preseason fixture list with a game against Mexican giants Club América this weekend. América finished 2024 as the Liga MX Campeón de Campeones and recently started the Clausura season, meaning that they will already be up to speed.
The game will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with kick-off set for 8pm ET / 5pm PT on Saturday, January 18. The game will be streamed live on Apple TV+ for free. For anyone without access to the MLS Season Pass service this represents a rare chance to watch Messi’s Inter Miami without a subscription.
Will Lionel Messi play against Club América?
Last week Inter Miami announced full details of their five-game preseason schedule. The Herons will travel to Peru, Panama and Honduras ahead of the new MLS season, a busy schedule but less taxing that the ambitious worldwide tour that the team embarked on in 2024.
In addition to games in the US, last year’s Inter Miami preseason fixtures took them to El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan, but ended in controversy when Messi was forced to sit out a game. Fans in Hong Kong had paid up to $600 per ticket to see the Argentinian World Cup winner in the flesh but Messi sat on the bench, forcing the organising company to issue partial refunds to furious supporters.

Miami have arranged a more limited schedule this time around, suggesting that they are hoping to ensure that Lionel Messi can take part in every game of preseason. But Messi he is 37 years old and new head coach Javier Mascherano admitted that he may need to limit his captain’s playing time.
“We have several preseason games, and we’ll see how many minutes he plays based on how he feels. We don’t want to take any risks,” Mascherano said.
Inter Miami schedule for preseason 2025
The Herons will kick-start their preparations with the América friendly this weekend, the first chance to see how Mascherano’s Miami line up. Former head coach Tata Martino fluctuated between a 4-3-3 and a 3-5-2 in 2024, playing different systems depending on the availability of the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets.
The preseason fixtures may reveal Mascherano’s plans for the team as he attempts to balance the on-ball talents of the ex-Barcelona quartet and the need to include younger, more energetic players.
Inter Miami preseason fixtures
- Janary 18 - Club America, Las Vegas
- January 29 - Club Universitario de Deportes, Lima
- February 2 - Sporting San Miguelito, Panama City
- February 8 - Club Deportivo Olimpia, San Pedro Sula
- February 14 - Orlando City, Tampa
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said that this year’s tour will be different to last year’s more hectic affair. Speaking to reporters Mas confirmed: “We will do a tour, but it will be one where we take care of the players’ physical needs first and foremost. It will be different from last year. To ensure the players can have a proper season, we won’t compromise their well-being for global exposure. This preseason will be different.”
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