The Inter Miami team plane landed at 4 a.m. Thursday after a brutal 1-0 road victory against Sporting KC in sub-zero temperatures in Kansas City. Coach Javier Mascherano gave players the day off, saying they deserved it after playing in conditions he described as “inhumane”, so they had only Friday to prepare for Saturday’s big home game.

Inter Miami approach the 2025 season with one goal in their sights, to lift MLS Cup for the first time. This is the final guaranteed year of Lionel Messi’s two-and-a-half-year deal and, although he may choose to extend, it represents the team’s best chance at success.

Inter Miami is embarking on a new era under the leadership of Javier Mascherano, who is determined to achieve more than the team did last season in MLS. The Florida team won the Su