Javier Mascherano answered skeptics with MLS Cup title. Here’s his plan for 2026
Javier Mascherano faced a daunting task and a whole lot of skeptics when he showed up at Inter Miami preseason training camp as a rookie coach in January 2025.
The former Argentina and FC Barcelona star had just taken over Major League Soccer’s most high-profile team following the unexpected resignation of respected, veteran coach Tata Martino, who led Miami to the Supporters’ Shield with an MLS record for points before the team tumbled in the first round of the playoffs.
Enter Mascherano, who was 40 at the time, and despite his stellar playing career had never coached a professional team and had no experience in the league.
His brief coaching career was with Argentina’s youth national teams. Critics said his main qualification for the Inter Miami job was that he was a friend and former teammate of Lionel Messi.
Truth is, he and Inter Miami had a relationship long before Messi entered the picture. Mascherano came extremely close to joining the club in August 2019 for the final year of his playing career with the intention of shifting into a coaching role. He backed out last minute because his father-in-law was ill in Argentina and Mascherano wanted to stay close to support the family.
“We’re very aspirational, and we have enormous trust in Javier leading us to the heights we want, and this is, frankly, a journey with Javier,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said when the club hired Mascherano. “In August of 2019, Javier and I were in my office in Miami. We spent a whole night together talking… We were doing a multilayer deal with him playing his last year and then coaching.”
Mascherano shared Mas’ confidence that he was the right man to lead the team last year.
“I have no doubt I can do this job; but in the end, no matter what I say, the results and the season and what people see is where the opinion will emerge as to whether the skeptics were correct or wrong,” he said at his first press conference.
Turns out the skeptics were wrong.
Under Mascherano’s leadership, Inter Miami won its first MLS Cup trophy. The team also reached the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the knockout stage of the Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup final.
He is ready for more in 2026.
Mascherano spent a month relaxing with family and friends in Argentina and then plunged into preseason training camp as the team aims to defend its league title and add other hardware to its trophy case.
The first test is a preseason game Saturday in Peru against Alianza Lima, followed by games the following two weekends against Atletico Nacional in Colombia and Barcelona de Guayaquil in Ecuador.
“We will be facing teams that play at a high level in South America, in Copa Libertadores, so for us it is important preparation,” Mascherano said.
Inter Miami returns many key players and added new players at key positions, as well.
Messi and Rodrigo De Paul are back. Luis Suarez, who turns 39 on Saturday, returns for his final season. Asked what his role will be after being benched during the playoffs, Mascherano assured that the Uruguayan forward remains an important part of the club.
“When we start preseason, everyone starts at zero, and we will evaluate everyone’s level and put out the most competitive team possible,” Mascherano said.
Tadeo Allende, who was on loan from Celta de Vigo and scored an MLS-record nine goals in the playoffs, just signed a permanent transfer to Miami through 2030.
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retired. Club management, with input from Mascherano, focused on replacing the Spanish legends. The bulk of the new signings were on the defense, including MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair, who plays for the Canadian national team, Argentine right back Facundo Mura, Argentine defensive midfielder David Ayala, Spanish left back Sergio Reguilon and Brazilian center back Michael.
“We not only want to repeat as MLS champion, but also go for the titles that we left at the door, the Leagues Cup, the Champions Cup, we want to compete for it all, like we did last year,” Mascherano said Wednesday before training.
He added that he is pleased with club’s strategy in signing players to longer deals, when possible, to avoid drastic turnover year after year.
“The new players who have arrived so far are in positions we had to reinforce because of players who left,” Mascherano said. “We lost Chelo [Weigandt] at right back, so we signed Facu [Mura]. David Ayala, a central midfielder, came because we lost Busi [Busquets], [Sergio] Reguilon for Jordi, Michael at center back because we felt that was an area that needed strengthening, and Dayne [St. Clair] is a high-caliber keeper who was a free agent.”
Mura said he had been contacted by Inter Miami two years ago, but he was under contract with Racing in Argentina and a deal could not be worked out then. He is happy to finally be here and feels his versatility is his strongest suit.
“It’s a dream come true to be a teammate of Leo’s [Messi],” Mura said Wednesday. “For any Argentine, any South American, any player anywhere, it is the same. We have a group of important players who will fight for titles; and I am very excited to get going.”
Mascherano said there could be a few more additions but would not address the status of negotiations for Monterrey forward German Berterame, an Argentina native and member of Mexico’s national team. Mas confirmed on Saturday that Inter Miami made an offer for Berterame and hoped to have an answer in the coming days.
“We are still reconstructing the roster,” Mascherano said. “Although some players have been announced, some are not here yet, some are dealing with visa paperwork. So, we must focus on the players we already have here because in three days we have a game.
“It is very important for us to establish a good energy from Day 1 and to be competitive in preseason. We don’t treat our preseason as a tour to get to know South America. We want the team to start competing right away and set a winning tone so we will be ready for the MLS opening game February 21.”
Miami opens the 2026 MLS season on the road Feb. 21 at Los Angeles FC and will play the first five games away from home while construction of Miami Freedom Park Stadium is completed.
The first home game in the new stadium is scheduled for Apr. 4 against Austin FC. In mid-March, Inter Miami will compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup. They got a bye to the Round of 16 and will play at Nashville SC or Atletico Ottawa March. 11 in the first leg and return to Chase Stadium for the second leg Mar. 18.
Inter Miami ticket information for the 2026 season can be found at intermiamicf.com/tickets
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 4:22 PM.