Inter Miami: An ambitious young franchise and haven for former Barça stars
Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) American adventure at the FIFA Club World Cup has the feel of a reunion. On Sunday, June 29, PSG will play for a place in the tournament's quarter-finals at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Kickoff is at 6 pm, mainland France time. Their opponent: Inter Miami, home to former PSG star Lionel Messi. The Argentine left a bittersweet legacy in Paris. He described his time in the French capital (2021-2023) as a "difficult period" during which he "didn't feel happy."
Now based in Florida, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, 38, has flourished at the club chaired by David Beckham. The former Manchester United star, who also wore the PSG shirt for half a season in 2013, has expressed pride in bringing Messi on board, who is regarded by many as the best footballer in the world.
Messi's arrival has turned Inter Miami into the second most valuable franchise in Major League Soccer (MLS), the North American league. According to Forbes magazine, the club is now valued at more than $1.2 billion (over €1 billion). The club now boasts its own stadium: gone is the 21,000-seat Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, located 45 kilometers from Miami. In its place is Miami Freedom Park, a 25,000-seat venue near the city's international airport. This project is expected to be completed just in time for the FIFA World Cup, which will be held across Canada, Mexico and the United States in the summer of 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
28 minutes ago
- France 24
Algeria sentences French football journalist to seven years in jail
Algeria 's authorities have sentenced a prominent French sports journalist specialised in African football to seven years in prison for "glorifying terrorism", media rights campaigners RSF said Sunday, denouncing the verdict as "nonsensical". Christophe Gleizes, 36, who contributes to the So Foot magazine, was ordered by the court in Tizi Ouzou to be immediately incarcerated and will appeal the ruling on Monday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said. "He has now been unjustly convicted and imprisoned for simply doing his job," said the group. Gleizes, who has co-authored a book about football in Africa, was arrested in May 2024 and then placed under judicial control and was unable to leave the country, RSF said. "Christophe Gleizes has been subjected to an absurd judicial control order for over a year," said Thibaut Bruttin, RSF's director general. "His seven-year sentence is nonsensical and demonstrates one thing: today, nothing escapes politics," he added. Gleizes travelled to the country and Tizi Ouzou to write about the local football club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie, named after Algeria's Kabylia region, home to the Berber Kabyle people. "We are in shock," his family said in a statement shared by RSF. "There is no justification for Christophe having to endure this ordeal. How can one justify punishing a journalist for practising his profession with integrity?" 'In shock' As well as "glorifying terrorism", he was convicted of "possessing publications for propaganda purposes harmful to national interests", RSF said. It said Gleizes had 2015 and 2017 been in touch with a Tizi Ouzou football figure prominent in the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), designated a "terrorist" organisation by the Algerian authorities in 2021. "The first two interactions between Christophe Gleizes and this individual occurred well before this designation," it said adding he had also not concealed contacting the person again in 2024 as part of preparations for the report. "Imprisoned for doing his job!" said So Foot. "His loved ones and editorial team are in shock," it added. The jailing of Gleizes comes at a time of growing tension between Algeria and former colonial master France. Algeria arrested and jailed French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in November on national security charges and has defied calls from President Emmanuel Macron for his release. Macron angered Algiers in July 2024 when he backed Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, where Algeria backs the pro-independence Polisario Front.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
PSG dominate Messi's Inter Miami to reach Club World Cup quarters
Paris Saint-Germain steamrollered Lionel Messi 's Inter Miami 4-0 to reach the Club World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. Miami hoped the Argentine superstar's magic could help them produce an unlikely result against his former side, but the Major League Soccer side were dismantled in Atlanta by Luis Enrique's rampant European champions. Ageing great Messi and his former Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba had done well to reach the last 16 but the gulf in quality between the teams was laid bare over the 90 minutes. Joao Neves netted twice for PSG, who benefitted from a Tomas Aviles own goal, while Achraf Hakimi was also on target. After Neves opened the scoring early on Miami resisted until PSG hit three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half. Messi was the main draw, as fans chanted his name and most of the 66,000 crowd were clad in Miami's hot pink interspersed with Argentina shirts. PSG dominated from the start, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia floating into the box and teeing up Bradley Barcola, but Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari thwarted him with an outstretched leg. However shortly afterwards over-run Miami right-back Marcelo Weigandt fouled Desire Doue and it led to PSG's opener. Vitinha whipped a free-kick to the back post where Portuguese midfielder Neves ran in completely unmarked, stooping to nod past Ustari after six minutes. PSG's Fabian Ruiz had a goal disallowed for offside before Miami defender Noah Allen limped off injured in a further blow for Javier Mascherano's side. With the Ligue 1 champions pressing high and keeping possession Miami found it hard to get Messi involved. The 38-year-old Argentine superstar played a superbly weighted pass down the right flank for Tadeo Allende but a rare Miami break came to nothing. Messi's intermittent interventions were not enough to hold back the Parisian tide. PSG doubled their lead in the 39th minute when veteran holding midfielder Busquets got his footwork wrong in front of his own box. Spanish compatriot Ruiz rapidly relieved him of the ball and combined with Barcola to set up Neves to tap home his second. PSG grabbed their third when Aviles deflected Doue's cross into his own net, and Hakimi netted the fourth before half-time to put PSG out of sight. The Morocco international's first effort was deflected onto the crossbar but he stayed alert at the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fire home the rebound. Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi lost his cool with a swipe aimed at Vitinha as the Argentine raged against the midfielder, Miami's impotence and PSG's swagger. Determined Messi Messi produced a brilliant pass for Suarez early in the second half, chipping a ball over the PSG defence, but the Uruguayan could not finish to offer Miami a lifeline. Despite the impossibility of a comeback -- there was to be no comeback like the one Luis Enrique's Barcelona managed in 2017 against PSG from four goals down in which Messi and Suarez scored -- the Argentine was determined to bow out with a bang. Messi drew a first save from PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma after the hour mark with a low effort. Luis Enrique sent on winger Ousmane Dembele for his first appearance at the tournament after a hamstring injury, but the Frenchman was rusty and imprecise. When Suarez was fouled by Lucas Beraldo on the edge of the box Messi had the chance to repeat his free-kick winner against Porto in the group stage, but his effort hit the wall. It was not to be for Messi or Miami, but their second-half performance was respectable and the defeat was by a lesser margin than the French side's 5-0 Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan. PSG will face Bayern Munich or Flamengo in the quarter-finals in Atlanta on Saturday.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
PSG rout Messi's Inter Miami to reach Club World Cup quarters
Miami hoped the Argentine superstar's magic could help them produce an unlikely result against his former side, but the Major League Soccer side were dismantled in Atlanta by Luis Enrique's rampant European champions. Ageing great Messi and his former Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba had done well to reach the last 16 but the gulf in quality between the teams was laid bare over the 90 minutes. Joao Neves netted twice for PSG, who benefitted from a Tomas Aviles own goal, while Achraf Hakimi was also on target. After Neves opened the scoring early on Miami resisted until PSG hit three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half. Messi was the main draw, as fans chanted his name and most of the 66,000 crowd were clad in Miami's hot pink interspersed with Argentina shirts. PSG dominated from the start, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia floating into the box and teeing up Bradley Barcola, but Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari thwarted him with an outstretched leg. However shortly afterwards over-run Miami right-back Marcelo Weigandt fouled Desire Doue and it led to PSG's opener. Vitinha whipped a free-kick to the back post where Portuguese midfielder Neves ran in completely unmarked, stooping to nod past Ustari after six minutes. PSG's Fabian Ruiz had a goal disallowed for offside before Miami defender Noah Allen limped off injured in a further blow for Javier Mascherano's side. With the Ligue 1 champions pressing high and keeping possession Miami found it hard to get Messi involved. The 38-year-old Argentine superstar played a superbly weighted pass down the right flank for Tadeo Allende but a rare Miami break came to nothing. Messi's intermittent interventions were not enough to hold back the Parisian tide. PSG doubled their lead in the 39th minute when veteran holding midfielder Busquets got his footwork wrong in front of his own box. Spanish compatriot Ruiz rapidly relieved him of the ball and combined with Barcola to set up Neves to tap home his second. PSG grabbed their third when Aviles deflected Doue's cross into his own net, and Hakimi netted the fourth before half-time to put PSG out of sight. The Morocco international's first effort was deflected onto the crossbar but he stayed alert at the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fire home the rebound. Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi lost his cool with a swipe aimed at Vitinha as the Argentine raged against the midfielder, Miami's impotence and PSG's swagger. Determined Messi Messi produced a brilliant pass for Suarez early in the second half, chipping a ball over the PSG defence, but the Uruguayan could not finish to offer Miami a lifeline. Despite the impossibility of a comeback -- there was to be no comeback like the one Luis Enrique's Barcelona managed in 2017 against PSG from four goals down in which Messi and Suarez scored -- the Argentine was determined to bow out with a bang. Messi drew a first save from PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma after the hour mark with a low effort. Luis Enrique sent on winger Ousmane Dembele for his first appearance at the tournament after a hamstring injury, but the Frenchman was rusty and imprecise. When Suarez was fouled by Lucas Beraldo on the edge of the box Messi had the chance to repeat his free-kick winner against Porto in the group stage, but his effort hit the wall. It was not to be for Messi or Miami, but their second-half performance was respectable and the defeat was by a lesser margin than the French side's 5-0 Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan. © 2025 AFP
