LAFC dominates Messi, Inter Miami in impressive season-opening win

Los Angeles FC delivered a statement victory over reigning league champion Inter Miami in what might have been Major League Soccer’s most enticing season-opening game in the league’s 31-year history.

LAFC dominated Inter Miami, 3-0, in front of 75,673 fans at the historic L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 21. That attendance number marks the second-most ever for a standalone MLS game. With the victory, LAFC has won every season-opening game (9-0-0) in team history.

Instead of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion Lionel Messi delivering in the game’s pivotal moments, it was David Martinez, Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz who assured LAFC emerged with an impressive victory. Son Heung-min also played a huge role in the victory, assisting on the game’s opening goal.

The defending MLS Cup champions going down on the road against LAFC isn’t a total surprise … the Black and Gold — alongside Messi’s team — are considered a favorite to win MLS Cup this season. It was the matter in which Miami was defeated. LAFC dominated — outside of possession (63% for Inter Miami) — as Messi and Co. struggled to break down LAFC’s defense.

Both squads have a season of high expectations lying ahead. In addition to being considered top MLS Cup contenders, Inter Miami and LAFC are the league’s best hopes of winning Concacaf Champions Cup (something an MLS club hasn’t done since 2022), and will also take part in the Leagues Cup later this summer.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights for the LAFC-Inter Miami match:

LAFC vs. Inter Miami highlights

LAFC 3, Inter Miami 0: Nathan Ordaz seals the victory

Ordaz, the pride of Encino, secured an impressive season-opening win for LAFC over the defending MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami.

The stoppage-time goal gave LAFC an emphatic win at the historic L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

LAFC 2, Inter Miami 0: Denis Bouanga extends Los Angeles’ lead

Inter Miami had dominated for much of the second half, but LAFC can strike in an instant. That instant came in the 73rd minute when Denis Bouanga caught Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in no-man’s land and put the ball in the back of the net to put LAFC up 2-0.

Germán Berterame nearly equalizes with diving header

Inter Miami’s high-priced newcomer came very close to scoring the tying goal on a diving header in the 63rd minute. However, the attempt flew wide right of goal and LAFC continues to hold onto a 1-0 lead.

Inter Miami, however, has been the more dangerous side during the first 20 minutes of the second half.

Inter Miami makes halftime player swap

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano made a tactical switch at intermission, replacing right back Ian Fray with Facundo Mura. This is Mura’s Inter Miami debut after joining the team in January from Racing Club in Argentina.

Lionel Messi just misses on shot on goal

Seven minutes into first-half stoppage time, Messi collected the ball just outside the 18-yard box and fired a shot that just missed the upper left corner of the goal mouth as LAFC’s Hugo Lloris dove in an attempt to block the shot.

It might have been Inter Miami’s best goal opportunity of the first half. LAFC enjoyed the better chances and it shows on the score line as the hosts lead, 1-0.

Maximiliano Falcón issued a yellow card

Three minutes into first-half stoppage time, Inter Miami defender Maximiliano Falcón was shown a yellow card after leaping onto LAFC’s Timothy Tillman. It was the first yellow card of the game.

LAFC 1, Inter Miami 0: David Martinez scores after giveaway

Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul lost possession at midfield and LAFC made the Herons pay for the bad giveaway.

Son Heung-min delivered a quick pass to David Martinez, who beat Dayne St. Clair for the game’s opening goal.

This is a big season for Martinez, a 20-year-old from Venezuela who’s entering his third season with LAFC.

Still scoreless after a half hour of play

Inter Miami has enjoyed more possession, LAFC has had more chances on goal.

Neither team has been able to break through for the game’s opening score.

Miami has a 58% possession edge, while LAFC has generated eight shots to Miami’s one. LAFC’s efforts also created four corner kicks.

Lionel Messi has yet to take a shot.

LAFC with first scoring chance

After Inter Miami dominated possession in the first few minutes at the Coliseum, LAFC had a breakaway chance in the sixth minute with Son Heung-min leading the charge. Son had to break off the attack and pass to Denis Bouanga, whose shot was saved by Dayne St. Clair.

The ensuing corner kick didn’t result in a scoring threat.

Score: LAFC 0, Inter Miami 0

How to watch LAFC vs Inter Miami

Date: Saturday, Feb. 21
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Live stream: Apple TV
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Watch MLS games on Apple TV

Inter Miami starting 11: Lionel Messi, Germán Berterame in lineup

Two-time reigning league MVP Lionel Messi and high-priced newcomer Germán Berterame are in Inter Miami’s starting lineup for the showdown against LAFC at the Coliseum.

Dayne St. Clair, another big offseason acquisition for Miami, makes his debut with the team. St. Clair was MLS Goalkeeper of the Year last season with Minnesota United.

LAFC starting 11: Son Heung-Min anchors front line

LAFC is rolling out the same starting lineup that throttled Real España of Honduras, 6-1, in Concacaf Champions Cup play on Feb. 17.

In that match, Denis Bouanga had a hat trick, and Son Heung-Min scored on a penalty kick and had three assists. Son and Bouanga will need to be very active if LAFC looks to knock off the reigning league champions.

Who is Germán Berterame?

Germán Berterame, a 27-year-old forward, joined Inter Miami on a reported transfer fee of $15 million in January.

Berterame had previously played for Liga MX powerhouse Monterrey, scoring 68 goals in 153 appearances in all competitions over the course of four seasons with Los Rayados. Berterame, who was born in Argentina and began his professional career for Argentine club San Lorenzo, plays for the Mexican national team and made his international debut against the USMNT on Oct. 16, 2024.

Berterame occupies a designated player spot and is under contract through the 2028-29 MLS season with an option for 2029-30.

Lionel Messi injury update: Reigning two-time MVP to play vs. LAFC

Lionel Messi picked up a hamstring injury during the preseason, forcing the postponement of an Inter Miami friendly match in Puerto Rico.

On Friday, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Messi’s availability for the 2026 MLS season opener in Los Angeles.

‘Messi is good. He trained the whole week with the group and had a very good feeling,’ Mascherano said. ‘He comes in well, ready just like the rest of the team.’

Inter Miami posted a photo of Messi training inside BMO Stadium, home of LAFC.

Why is Inter Miami vs LAFC being played at the LA Coliseum?

The presence of Lionel Messi has made away matches for Inter Miami a hot ticket wherever the club travels. LAFC also has shown it can attract a huge crowd. Saturday’s LAFC-Inter Miami game could be one of the highest-attended standalone matches in the league’s history.

An LAFC match against El Tráfico rival LA Galaxy drew an MLS-record crowd of 82,110 at the Rose Bowl on July 4, 2023. On the Fourth of July the following year, LAFC defeated the LA Galaxy in front of 70,076 fans.

On April 13, 2024, Inter Miami’s visit to play Sporting Kansas City drew 72,610 fans to Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. That represents the third-highest attended standalone match in league history. Per ESPN, Messi also helped draw crowds of 60,000-plus for six matches and another six matches at 50,000-plus in attendance.

So much sports history at LA Coliseum

Built in 1923, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will become the first stadium to host three Summer Olympics when the city hosts the 2028 Games. It was also the centerpiece venue for the 1932 and 1984 Olympics.

The Coliseum serves as the regular home for the USC Trojans football team, but has also been the home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams (1946-1979 and 2016-2019) and Raiders (1982-1994). The Coliseum also hosted Super Bowl I — then referred to as the first AFL–NFL World Championship Game — as well as Super Bowl VII, which was won by the Miami Dolphins to complete their undefeated 1972 season.

The UCLA Bruins football team played at the Coliseum for more than five decades (1928-1981), including when Hall of Fame baseball player Jackie Robinson was star football and track and field athlete for UCLA, with games and meets taking place at the iconic venue.

On top of hosting international soccer matches and friendlies through the years, the Coliseum was briefly the home stadium for the Los Angeles Aztecs of the original NASL.

MLS schedule: Opening weekend games

(All games on Apple TV)

Saturday, Feb. 21

St. Louis City SC 1, Charlotte FC 1
FC Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 0
D.C. United 1, Philadelphia Union 0
New York Red Bulls 2, Orlando City SC 1
Vancouver Whitecaps 1, Real Salt Lake 0
Austin FC 2, Minnesota United 2
FC Dallas 3, Toronto FC 2
Houston Dynamo 2, Chicago Fire 1
Nashville SC 4, New England Revolution 1
Los Angeles FC 3, Inter Miami 0
Portland Timbers 3, Columbus Crew 2
San Diego FC 5, CF Montreal 0
San Jose Earthquakes 3, Sporting Kansas City 0

Sunday, Feb. 22

LA Galaxy vs. New York City FC, 7 p.m. ET
Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapids, 9:15 p.m. ET (FS1)

MLS 2026 season predictions

Can Lionel Messi lead Inter Miami to consecutive league championships, thus becoming the first repeat MLS Cup winner since the Los Angeles Galaxy did it in 2011-12? Which teams are the top contenders to displace Miami’s station atop the league? Who will win league MVP honors? Which player will score the most goals and claim the Golden Boot?

MLS championship odds

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC are the favorites to win the 2026 league championship:

Inter Miami: +400
Los Angeles FC: +600
San Diego FC: +900
Vancouver Whitecaps: +900
Philadelphia Union: +1400
FC Cincinnati: +1400
New York City FC: +1800
LA Galaxy: +1800
Seattle Sounders: +1800
Columbus Crew: +1800

Which MLS clubs are in Concacaf Champions Cup?

Both Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC are among the nine MLS teams taking part in this year’s edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the top club competition for North, Central America, and the Caribbean.

While Inter Miami (along with the Seattle Sounders) earned byes into the Round of 16, LAFC already played its first game, earning a resounding 6-1 win over Real España of Honduras on Feb. 17. LAFC — a two-time runner-up in the competition (2020 and 2023) — hosts Leg 2 at BMO Stadium on Feb. 24.

MLS clubs in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament are:

FC Cincinnati (2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings)
Inter Miami (2025 MLS Cup winner)
LA Galaxy (2025 Leagues Cup third-place finisher)
Los Angeles FC (2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings)
Nashville SC (2025 U.S. Open Cup winner)
Philadelphia Union (2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield winner)
San Diego FC (2025 MLS Western Conference regular-season winner)
Seattle Sounders (2025 League Cup winner)
Vancouver Whitecaps (2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings)

Inter Miami 2026 schedule

(All games on Apple TV unless otherwise noted)

Feb. 21 – at Los Angeles FC (L.A. Memorial Coliseum), 9:30 p.m. ET
March 1 – at Orlando City SC, 7 p.m. ET
March 7 – at D.C. United, 4:30 p.m. ET
March 14 – at Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
March 18 – Concacaf Champions Cup vs. TBD (Inter Miami CF Stadium), 7 p.m. ET (FS2, TUDN)
March 22 – at New York City FC, 1 p.m. ET
April 4 – vs. Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
April 11 – vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
April 18 – at Colorado Rapids, 4:30 p.m. ET
April 22 – at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m. ET
April 25 – vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 2 – vs. Orlando City SC, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
May 9 – at Toronto FC, 1 p.m. ET
May 13 – at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 17 – vs. Portland Timbers, 6 p.m. ET
May 24 – vs. Philadelphia Union, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)
July 22 – vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET
July 25 – at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 1 – vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 15 – at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 19 – at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 22 – vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Aug. 29 – vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 5 – vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 9 – at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 12 – vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sept. 20 – vs. San Diego FC, 7 p.m. ET
Sept. 27 – at Columbus Crew, 7 p.m. ET
Oct. 10 – vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 14 – vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 17 – at Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 24 – at New York Red Bulls, 4:30 p.m. ET
Oct. 28 – vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
Nov. 1 – at New England Revolution, 7 p.m. ET
Nov. 7 – vs. Charlotte FC, 4 p.m. ET

LAFC 2026 schedule