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MLS and Messi are making headlines these days, as the soccer legend announced his move to Inter Miami FC on Wednesday12
Messi shocked the soccer world by leaving Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons and snubbing a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal12 He said he wanted to leave Europe and experience soccer in a different way in the U.S. league1
Messi’s move to MLS is expected to boost the league’s popularity and revenue, as he is the most recognizable and decorated soccer player in the world. He has won seven Ballon d’Or awards, the most by any player, and led Argentina to World Cup glory in 202212
Messi will also receive a share of the revenue from Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, which broadcasts the league’s games, and be able to maximize his existing sponsorship deal with Adidas3 He will also have an ownership stake in Inter Miami FC after he retires3
Inter Miami FC is owned by David Beckham and other investors, and plays its home games at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The club joined MLS in 2020 and has some notable players such as Gonzalo HiguaÃn, Rodolfo Pizarro and Blaise Matuidi45
Messi’s arrival will make Inter Miami FC one of the most exciting and competitive teams in MLS, as well as a huge attraction for fans and media. He is expected to make his debut for the club in July, after a short vacation following the World Cup26
Are you excited to see Messi play in MLS? 😊
Inter Miami CF is an American professional soccer club based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was founded in 2018 by former soccer star David Beckham and other investors. It began to play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the 2020 season12
The club currently plays its home matches at DRV PNK Stadium, which has a capacity of 18,0001 The club’s nickname is The Herons and its colors are black, pink and white1 The club’s head coach is Javier Morales, who took over as interim coach after Phil Neville was fired in October 20223
Inter Miami CF has some notable players on its roster, such as Gonzalo HiguaÃn, Rodolfo Pizarro, Blaise Matuidi and Kieran Gibbs3 The club also has a second team, Inter Miami CF II, that plays in the MLS Next Pro league2
In 2022, Inter Miami CF finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and twelfth overall in the MLS regular season. It qualified for the playoffs for the first time in its history, but lost to New York City FC in the first round3 The club also reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout tournament open to all U.S. soccer teams, after defeating Birmingham Legion FC in the quarterfinals2
Inter Miami CF is one of the most popular and valuable clubs in MLS, with a large fan base and a high-profile ownership group. The club is also planning to build a new stadium and training complex in Miami Freedom Park, a proposed mixed-use development near Miami International Airport12
The owners of Inter Miami CF are:
- Jorge Mas, CEO, and managing owner. He is a Cuban-American businessman and philanthropist who is also the chairman of MasTec, a telecommunications and infrastructure company12
- David Beckham, co-owner. He is a former soccer star who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, and other teams. He is also a global icon and ambassador for the sport13
- Jose Mas, co-owner. He is the brother of Jorge Mas and the CEO of MasTec. He is also involved in various civic and charitable organizations in Miami12
- Ares Management, preferred equity investor. It is a global alternative investment manager that operates in the credit, private equity, and real estate markets. It joined the club as an investor in September 20213
Previously, the club also had two other owners who were bought out by the current owners in 2021:
- Marcelo Claure, co-founder and former co-owner. He is a Bolivian-American entrepreneur and executive who is the CEO of SoftBank Group International and the executive chairman of Sprint Corporation. He was one of the original partners of David Beckham in pursuing the Miami franchise43
- Masayoshi Son, former co-owner. He is a Japanese billionaire and founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, a technology conglomerate that owns stakes in companies such as Alibaba, Uber, and WeWork. He joined the club as an investor in 2017
As of 2023, there are 29 teams in MLS1 The league plans to expand to 30 teams in the future2
The 29 teams are divided into two conferences: Eastern and Western. Each conference has 14 teams, except for the Eastern Conference which has 15 teams3
The teams in the Eastern Conference are:
- Atlanta United
- Charlotte FC
- Chicago Fire FC
- FC Cincinnati
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Inter Miami CF
- CF Montréal
- Nashville SC
- New England Revolution
- New York City FC
- New York Red Bulls
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
The teams in the Western Conference are:
- Austin FC
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo FC
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- Minnesota United FC
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- St. Louis CITY SC
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC