History of Inter Miami CF in Timeline
Inter Miami CF is a professional soccer club located in the Miami metropolitan area. They participate in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Eastern Conference. Currently, their home games are held at Chase Stadium, but the team intends to relocate to Miami Freedom Park by 2026.
2001: Miami Fusion folded
After the 2001 season, the Miami Fusion folded, leading to MLS's renewed interest in placing an expansion franchise in Miami in November 2012.
2007: Fuller negotiates Beckham's MLS deal
Back in 2007, Simon Fuller negotiated the deal that enabled Beckham to have a franchise at the end of his playing career.
2007: Beckham joins MLS with option to purchase team
In 2007, David Beckham joined the league with an option to purchase an expansion team.
2007: Beckham's Contract with MLS
In 2007, David Beckham signed a contract with MLS where he joined LA Galaxy and negotiated an option to own an expansion team at a discounted franchise fee.
October 2008: Miami expansion team announces bid
In October 2008, a Miami expansion team led by FC Barcelona and Marcelo Claure announced an expansion bid with plans to begin play in 2011.
2011: Original plan to begin play
In October 2008, an expansion bid planned to begin play in 2011, but in March 2009, Miami was no longer a candidate due to local market conditions.
November 2012: MLS renews interest in Miami expansion
In November 2012, MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed the league's renewed interest in placing an expansion franchise in Miami.
April 2013: Beckham ends playing career
In April 2013, after David Beckham ended his playing career, MLS held discussions with Simon Fuller about expansion targets, including Miami.
December 2013: Miami-Dade County votes to negotiate stadium deal
In December 2013, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted to allow Mayor Carlos A. Giménez to negotiate with the Beckham-led group on a new stadium in downtown Miami.
2013: Exploration of Dodge Island at PortMiami
In 2013, Dodge Island at PortMiami was considered as a potential location for the Inter Miami CF stadium.
2013: Formation of Miami Beckham United
In 2013, the ownership group behind the franchise was first formed as Miami Beckham United.
February 5, 2014: Beckham exercises option for Miami franchise
On February 5, 2014, the league announced that Beckham exercised his option, and Miami Beckham United would own an expansion franchise in Miami, assuming stadium financing could be agreed upon.
August 2014: Expansion contingent on stadium plan
In August 2014, Commissioner Garber reiterated that the expansion would not be approved until a downtown stadium plan was secured.
2014: Original announcement of pursuing team
Four years after the ownership's original announcement of pursuing a team in 2014, the Miami Beckham United group was awarded the twenty-fifth MLS franchise.
2014: Expansion bid accepted
In 2014, Claure joined David Beckham's group of investors for the Miami expansion bid that was accepted by the league.
2014: Exploration of Downtown Miami waterfront at Museum Park
In 2014, the Downtown Miami waterfront at Museum Park was considered as a potential location for the Inter Miami CF stadium.
2015: Exploration of site adjacent to Marlins Park and site in Overtown
In 2015, a site adjacent to MLB's Marlins Park and a privately owned site in Miami's Overtown were considered as potential locations for the Inter Miami CF stadium.
2015: Orlando City Joins MLS
Orlando City joined MLS in 2015 but had to wait until its sixth season to play a first intrastate match against an MLS opponent following the introduction of Inter Miami.
2017: Masayoshi Son and Mas Brothers Added to Ownership Group
In 2017, Masayoshi Son and brothers Jorge and Jose Mas were added to the ownership group.
January 29, 2018: MLS approves Miami expansion team
On January 29, 2018, MLS officially approved an expansion team in Miami.
September 5, 2018: Club name announced
On September 5, 2018, Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, shortened to Inter Miami CF, was announced as the club's official name.
January 2019: Intention to Pursue Lockhart Stadium Site
In late January 2019, the club announced its intentions to pursue the Lockhart Stadium site in Fort Lauderdale to serve as the club's training ground for its first team, youth academy, and future United Soccer League (USL) team.
May 2019: Beckham buys out Fuller
In May 2019, Beckham bought Fuller out.
June 2019: Freedom Park Launch Date Proposed
In June 2019, Beckham announced that Freedom Park had a proposed launch date of 2022.
August 6, 2019: Heineken is the official beer of Inter Miami
On August 6, 2019, Heineken became the official beer of Inter Miami.
October 6, 2019: Expansion Priority Draft coin toss won
On October 6, 2019, Inter Miami won the coin toss for the Expansion Priority Draft, and chose to select first in the expansion draft.
October 9, 2019: Reserve Team in USL League One
On October 9, 2019, the club announced that they were fielding a reserve team in the third tier of US Soccer, USL League One.
November 16, 2019: Protected rosters and draft-eligible players released
On November 16, 2019, lists of protected rosters and draft-eligible players were released by MLS.
November 19, 2019: MLS Expansion Draft
On November 19, 2019, Major League Soccer organized the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft with the addition of Inter Miami and Nashville SC for the 2020 season.
December 30, 2019: Inaugural head coach announced
On December 30, 2019, Diego Alonso was announced as Inter Miami's inaugural head coach.
2019: Establishment of Inter Miami CF Academy
In 2019, the Inter Miami CF Academy, the official youth academy and development system of Inter Miami CF, was established.
February 14, 2020: Pizarro joins Inter Miami
On February 14, 2020, Pizarro left Monterrey for Inter Miami, rejoining head coach Diego Alonso.
March 1, 2020: First MLS game played
On March 1, 2020, Inter Miami's first MLS game was played, losing 1–0 to Los Angeles FC.
March 27, 2020: Inaugural Season Match Postponed
On March 27, 2020, the team's inaugural season match against Union Omaha was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 3, 2020: Regional Television Deal with CBS Television Stations
On April 3, 2020, the club announced a regional English-language television deal with CBS Television Stations.
August 13, 2020: Matuidi signs for Inter Miami
On August 13, 2020, Matuidi signed for Inter Miami on a free transfer.
August 23, 2020: First franchise victory
On August 23, 2020, Inter Miami recorded their first franchise victory, 3–2 over Orlando City SC.
September 18, 2020: Higuaín signs for Inter Miami
On September 18, 2020, Higuaín signed for Inter Miami.
2020: First Intrastate Match
In 2020, Inter Miami's introduction as an expansion franchise enabled Orlando City to play their first intrastate match against an MLS opponent.
2020: Team begins playing
In the 2020 season, Inter Miami CF began playing and signed several high-profile players.
2020: Franchise launch
On January 29, 2018, Miami Beckham United group was awarded the 25th MLS franchise set to launch in the 2020 season.
2020: Addition of Inter Miami and Nashville SC
With the addition of Inter Miami and Nashville SC for the 2020 season, Major League Soccer organized the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft on November 19, 2019.
January 7, 2021: Diego Alonso leaves
On January 7, 2021, Diego Alonso left Inter Miami by mutual consent.
January 18, 2021: Phil Neville appointed as head coach
On January 18, 2021, Phil Neville was appointed as the new head coach of Inter Miami.
March 23, 2021: Kieran Gibbs to join Inter Miami
On March 23, 2021, it was announced that Kieran Gibbs would join Inter Miami when his contract with West Brom expired in the summer.
May 2021: Inter Miami fined for breaking MLS rules
In May 2021, Inter Miami had to pay a $2 million fine for breaking MLS rules, as Matuidi was the fourth designated player rather than the permitted three.
May 28, 2021: MLS sanctions Inter Miami for roster violations
On May 28, 2021, MLS announced sanctions against Inter Miami, owner Jorge Mas, and former sporting director Paul McDonough for violating roster rules during the 2020 season.
September 17, 2021: Beckham and Mas Brothers Buy Out Claure and Son's Stakes
On September 17, 2021, it was announced that Beckham and the Mas brothers had bought out Claure and Son's stakes in the ownership group. Ares Management was also added to the ownership group.
January 2022: Matuidi left off Inter Miami's roster
In January 2022, Matuidi was left off Inter Miami's roster for the 2022 season.
January 20, 2022: Campana joins Inter Miami on loan
On January 20, 2022, Leonardo Campana joined Inter Miami on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
January 26, 2022: Romeo Beckham makes senior debut
On January 26, 2022, Romeo Beckham made his non-competitive senior debut for Inter Miami during a pre-season win against Club Universitario de Deportes.
February 2, 2022: Yedlin joins Inter Miami
On February 2, 2022, DeAndre Yedlin joined Inter Miami on a four-year contract with an additional one-year option.
February 24, 2022: Fort Lauderdale CF Rebranded as Inter Miami CF II
On February 24, 2022, Fort Lauderdale CF announced that the team had rebranded as Inter Miami CF II ahead of their move to the MLS Next Pro.
March 6, 2022: Campana scores first goal for Inter Miami
On March 6, 2022, Leonardo Campana scored his first goal for Inter Miami in a 5–1 loss to Austin FC.
April 11, 2022: Campana named MLS Player of the Week
On April 11, 2022, Leonardo Campana was named MLS Player of the Week for his hat trick against the New England Revolution.
April 2022: Partnership with Brightline Announced
In April 2022, Inter Miami announced a partnership with Brightline to provide passenger trains from Miami and West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale station with a dedicated shuttle for fans.
April 28, 2022: Miami City Council Grants 99-Year Lease for Melreese Site
On April 28, 2022, the Miami City Council voted to grant Inter Miami a 99-year lease for the Melreese site, with the stadium projected to open in the 2025 MLS season.
July 19, 2022: Friendly game match with FC Barcelona
On July 19, 2022, Inter Miami had a friendly game match with the FC Barcelona losing 6–0.
July 31, 2022: Higuaín scores hat-trick
On July 31, 2022, Higuaín scored a free-kick and then netted two more goals to complete a first-half hat-trick against FC Cincinnati in a 4–4 draw.
September 2022: Florida Blue Purchases Naming Rights to Training Facility
In September 2022, the naming rights to the training facility were purchased by insurance company Florida Blue.
December 23, 2022: Matuidi retires from professional soccer
On December 23, 2022, Matuidi announced his retirement from professional soccer after an 18-year career.
2022: Youth Teams Compete in MLS Next
As of the inaugural 2022 season, all of Inter Miami's youth teams compete in the MLS Next soccer league.
January 20, 2023: Campana signs permanent deal with Inter Miami
On January 20, 2023, Leonardo Campana signed with Inter Miami on a permanent basis, occupying a Young Designated Player roster slot.
February 23, 2023: Gibbs deal terminated
On February 23, 2023, Kieran Gibbs and Inter Miami mutually agreed to terminate his deal at the club, and he joined the broadcasting team.
February 25, 2023: Martínez makes Inter Miami debut
On February 25, 2023, Josef Martínez made his Inter Miami debut in a match against CF Montréal, ending in a 2–0 win.
June 1, 2023: Inter Miami parts ways with Phil Neville
On June 1, 2023, Inter Miami announced that the club had parted ways with coach Phil Neville, with the team in last place in the Eastern Conference.
July 15, 2023: Lionel Messi signs with Inter Miami
On July 15, 2023, Lionel Messi officially signed his Designated Player contract with Inter Miami, joining the team through the 2023 MLS season.
July 17, 2023: Messi's Unveiling Presentation Gains Massive Viewership
On July 17, 2023, Lionel Messi's unveiling presentation as an Inter Miami player garnered over 3.5 billion views worldwide.
July 21, 2023: Messi and Busquets debut for Inter Miami
On July 21, 2023, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets made their Inter Miami debuts in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul. Messi scored the winning goal, ending the team's 11-game winless streak.
August 2023: Construction of Miami Freedom Park Commenced
In August 2023, construction of Miami Freedom Park began, with intentions to open in 2025. The final legal hurdle had been cleared.
August 23, 2023: Inter Miami Advances to U.S. Open Cup Final
On August 23, 2023, Inter Miami defeated FC Cincinnati in penalties after a 3-3 draw to advance to the U.S. Open Cup final.
August 26, 2023: Messi, Busquets, and Alba Debut in MLS
On August 26, 2023, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba made their first MLS appearances for Inter Miami against the New York Red Bulls, resulting in a 2-0 victory with a goal from Messi.
September 15, 2023: Campana contract extension announced
On September 15, 2023, Inter Miami announced the signing of forward Leonardo Campana to a contract extension through the 2027 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, with an option for 2028.
September 16, 2023: Inter Miami Loses First Match in Messi Era Without Key Players
On September 16, 2023, Inter Miami was defeated 5-2 by Atlanta United FC, marking their first loss in the 'Messi era' in a match where neither Lionel Messi nor Jordi Alba played, ending their 12-match unbeaten run.
October 7, 2023: Inter Miami Eliminated from MLS Playoffs
On October 7, 2023, Inter Miami was defeated by FC Cincinnati, a result that eliminated them from contention for the MLS playoffs, despite Messi's appearance as a substitute.
October 21, 2023: Inter Miami Loses Decision Day Match
On October 21, 2023, Inter Miami was defeated 1-0 by Charlotte FC in their Decision Day match, despite Lionel Messi playing the entire match.
October 30, 2023: Inter Miami Player Wins Ballon d'Or, Friendly Match Held
On October 30, 2023, Lionel Messi secured his 8th Ballon d'Or, making Inter Miami the only MLS team to have a current player win the award. A friendly match named Noche d'Or was played with New York City FC, where Messi's Ballon d'Or was presented despite the team losing 2-1.
December 2023: Inter Miami Signs Luis Suárez
In December 2023, Inter Miami officially announced that they signed striker Luis Suárez to a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
2023: Expiration of Regional Television Contracts
After the 2023 season, all of Major League Soccer's regional television contracts expired, with all television coverage moving to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
2023: Signing of Lionel Messi
In 2023, Inter Miami garnered international attention with the signing of Lionel Messi on a free transfer.
2023: Leagues Cup win
In 2023, Inter Miami won their first major trophy, the expanded Leagues Cup, which qualified the team to the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
January 2024: Second Expansion of DRV PNK Stadium Completed
In January 2024, Inter Miami completed a second expansion of DRV PNK Stadium, increasing capacity to 21,550 seats with new sections and boxes.
February 15, 2024: Partnership with Duracell
On February 15, 2024, Inter Miami announced a multi-year partnership with battery brand Duracell as its official power partner.
February 20, 2024: DRV PNK Stadium Renamed Chase Stadium
On February 20, 2024, Inter Miami announced a naming rights partnership with JPMorgan Chase, rebranding DRV PNK Stadium as Chase Stadium, effective immediately.
March 12, 2024: Renewal of Partnership with XBTO
On Tuesday March 12, 2024, Inter Miami formally announced the renewal of its partnership with XBTO, retaining them as the Official Cryptofinance Partner.
March 2024: Tudor announced as the official timekeeper
In March 2024, Tudor was announced as the official timekeeper for Inter Miami.
April 2024: Lowe's launches partnership with the club
In April 2024, Lowe's launched a partnership with Inter Miami CF where fans could meet players at select stores and earn loyalty points.
May 2024: Partnership with Visa Inc.
In May 2024, Inter Miami announced a premium multi-year international partnership with Visa Inc.
May 2024: Visa announces sponsorship of the club
In May 2024, Visa announced their sponsorship of Inter Miami CF with a deal that gives it exclusive rights to activate the brand internationally.
October 3, 2024: Inter Miami Secures First Supporters' Shield
On October 3, 2024, Inter Miami secured their first Supporters' Shield after a brace by Messi and a header by Suárez against Columbus Crew.
November 22, 2024: Javier Mascherano Hired as Inter Miami Head Coach
On November 22, 2024, Javier Mascherano was reported to be the new Head Coach of Inter Miami.
2024: Miami Sharks Debut at AutoNation Sports Field
In 2024, the 5,000-seat AutoNation Sports Field became the home ground of Major League Rugby club Miami Sharks since their debut.
2024: Supporters' Shield secured
In the 2024 season, Inter Miami secured their first Supporters' Shield and the team's estimated value according to Forbes is $1.03 billion.
2024: Avg. attendance used from another source
The 2024 season avg. attendance is used from another source.
2025: Projected Opening of Stadium
The stadium is projected to open in the 2025 MLS season.
2026: Move to Miami Freedom Park
In 2026, Inter Miami CF plans to move to Miami Freedom Park.
