Luis Suarez reflects on bench role, World Cup, facing Muller in MLS Cup Final
Luis Suarez, the Inter Miami forward and Uruguayan legend, was in Little Havana on Wednesday night, much to the surprise of passers-by on Calle Ocho.
He stopped by the Pulisic Stomping Grounds soccer facility to promote the new Puma shoe he will debut at the MLS Cup Final against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday afternoon.
Suarez spoke with the Miami Herald during his visit and opened up about the team’s road to the MLS championship game, facing Vancouver’s German star Thomas Muller, how he has handled being benched during the playoffs the past few weeks, and whom he considers favorites for the 2026 World Cup.
He would not answer any questions about his future or offer any hints on whether he plans to seek a new contract or retire just shy of his 39th birthday.
Suarez also kicked the ball around with local players from the ABFC Sports club, which provides underserved youth with a safe place to play soccer and do other activities in partnership with Puma and U.S. national team star Christian Pulisic’s Legacy Program. NWSL players Lilly Reade of Gotham FC and 17-year-old Doral native Kimmi Ascanio of the San Diego Wave were also in attendance.
Each soccer fan walking by did a double-take after seeing Suarez through a window with the bright orange Future 9 Unleashed boot on full display.
“Luchoooo!” one yelled, calling Suarez by one of his nicknames. “Pistolero!” (Gunslinger) yelled another.
Here is what Suarez had to say during his interview with the Herald…
On Inter Miami reaching the MLS Cup Final after a grueling year with 57 games: “What players like the most is playing games, playing games, and playing more games. It doesn’t matter if we are tired or not. We got to this stage of the season with our adrenaline very high because we are coming off winning the conference final, and now we want to win the trophy that we crave so much.”
On how it felt celebrating the Eastern Conference title after a 5-1 win over NYCFC: “After winning, we took it as, `We won, but there is more left to win.’ It’s a bit of a muted celebration because we still have another step to get to where we want.”
On facing German legend Thomas Muller, whom he faced many times when Muller was with Bayern Munich and Suarez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano were with FC Barcelona: “Obviously, he is a player who has won it all. You have to give him the upmost respect. You have to be very careful with players like him, who don’t have to run much to make a difference in a game. He’s a Class A player who is very smart. We suffered losses against him in Europe. We also won several times.
“Those are the types of games we all like to play, us as well as him. We have the same desire and objective. The most important thing is to give the fans a great final. The people were hoping Inter Miami would make the final. They were also hoping (LAFC star) Son Heung-Min or Muller would make it. We hope it is a big party and may the best team win.”
On how this match will be different from when Inter Miami lost 5-1 aggregate over two Champions Cup games against Vancouver in April: “That was a bad experience with two losses, but that was a different stretch of the season. Not an excuse, but during that time we were very tired with many games and a lot of travel. I don’t remember how many trips we made over three or four weeks. Now, we are playing very well. It’s a totally different game. And it’s a final.”
On how he, as a team leader and legendary player, handled being left off the starting lineup the past two playoff games: “The game against Cincinnati was a tactical decision, and you understand that perfectly. You understand the characteristics the coach needs against certain opponents, and you try to show the most positive attitude you can for the group. Because when someone is in a bad mood or angry, it’s not good for the group. And being one of the bigger players on the team, I can’t do that.
“The [NYCFC] game, for me, was a little different. We played at home in a game I would have liked to have played more time because I know I am capable, and I have demonstrated that I can play more than the eight minutes I got to play. But that’s the coach’s decision and I have to accept it with no problem and try to do things better to play more minutes. Also, you have to applaud and see how well the team is playing and when a team is playing so well, with a great dynamic, we have to celebrate that as a group.”
On his favorites for the 2026 World Cup with the Draw coming up on Friday: “It’s difficult to pick favorites because a World Cup is a World Cup and you have to play it. There are people who don’t appreciate some of the teams that have qualified, but in a World Cup, you win with ambition, with desire, and you win with a group. Sometimes those so-called weaker teams have strong team unity and can pull off upsets. But some of the strongest teams are Argentina, Spain, Brazil, France, and I hope Uruguay is a strong contender, too.”
On the United States as a World Cup co-host: “The United States, Mexico and Canada are prepared to host a World Cup and know what to expect. They are organized, have the infrastructure. A World Cup with 48 teams there will be many good games, big crowds, and a lot of fans traveling from other countries which should create a great atmosphere.”
On what he has learned during his two seasons with Inter Miami: “When we arrived..well, I arrived later than Leo, Busi and Jordi, but I think we showed that age doesn’t matter. What matters is your commitment to keep winning, growing and learning. That wasn’t too firm here and that is a message for all the young people here in the United States that there are always things to learn, things you can do better and it doesn’t matter your age.”
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 10:42 PM.