Inside Inter Miami: What went wrong in LA? Messi outburst, new stadium update
The start of the 2026 MLS season was not what defending champion Inter Miami or its fans had hoped for.
Lionel Messi and his teammates were shut out 3-0 by Los Angeles FC in front of a record crowd of more than 75,000 at the LA Coliseum over the weekend. LAFC’s dynamic duo of Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga outshined Messi and new $15 million striker German Berterame. Miami’s defense, expected to be stronger this season, looked vulnerable in transition.
Messi was visibly frustrated after the match, giving an earful to the referees and following them into a hallway before teammate Luis Suarez wisely redirected him to avoid further confrontation.
Despite the difficult opening night, Coach Javier Mascherano and center back Maxi Falcon said there is no reason to panic.
The team planned to continue fine-tuning during Thursday’s friendly match in Puerto Rico against Ecuadorean team Independiente de Valle, rescheduled from the preseason because of Messi’s injury a few weeks ago. Then, it’s off to Orlando for a Sunday MLS match against rival Orlando City.
In this week’s jam-packed episode of the Inside Inter Miami podcast, we break down what went wrong in L.A., Messi’s outburst, get analysis from Mascherano and Falcon, get an update on Miami Freedom Park stadium from team owner Jorge Mas, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino addresses security concerns about Guadalajara hosting World Cup play-in games in March and World Cup matches in June in light of escalated cartel violence in the region.
You can tune into the show here, or on YouTube, Apple podcasts, Spotify, or other podcast channels. Enjoy! And send us your comments on YouTube.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 2:02 PM.