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Jorge Mas, Inter Miami owner, speaks to the press during a discussion to celebrate the relationship between FIFA and Miami Dade College and the role of soccer in Miami and across United States on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Miami Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College in Miami. Andrew Uloza \/ for Miami Herald<\/p>\n
Andrew Uloza<\/p>\n
for Miami Herald<\/p>\n
Construction of Miami Freedom Park, the new 25,000 Inter Miami home stadium, is on schedule, according to club managing owner Jorge Mas. He was beaming as he shared details with reporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A crew of 1,300 workers is on site daily. The natural turf field is growing on a farm in Palm Beach and will begin to be laid down in the next few weeks. The seats, which are pink, black, gray and white, are being installed. The East Club lounge is nearly completed. Parking lots are well underway.<\/p>\n
The opening game will be April 4 at 7:30 p.m. against Austin FC.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re kicking off April 4; it\u2019s going to be an amazing day,\u201d Mas declared after participating in a FIFA panel at Miami Freedom Tower on the impact of soccer in Miami. \u201cIt\u2019s a mad rush. The stadium will be ready; as close to 100 percent as a new stadium can be without rehearsals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to make an amazing fan experience. If there are some details left to do, they won\u2019t be able to see them, paint and some finishes, but it will be fine. The stadium will be in optimal condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
He promised \u201ca very pleasant\u201d arrival and exit to the stadium and \u201ca great product on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way, the stadium is stunning,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely beautiful. Each day that passes you can sort of envision and visualize what we want it to be. Through the course of the first few months we\u2019ll get all the kinks out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xavier Asensi, Inter Miami\u2019s President of Business Operations, echoed Mas\u2019 optimism in a recent interview with the Miami Herald.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first game will happen on April 4,\u201d he said. \u201cThere will be seats. There will be grass. There will be concessions, lights, speakers, two goals, four corner flags, don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asensi said while the club has enjoyed playing in Fort Lauderdale the past six years, having a permanent home in the heart of Miami will vault the club to new heights.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been waiting to be able to be in Miami-Dade, in 305,\u201d he said. \u201cHaving a permanent home is like a before and after for our club. Day and night. We finally will have a place we can call our true home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mas confirmed that the club is in conversation with England\u2019s national team about holding a pre-World Cup warmup match in early June at Miami Freedom Park. Inter Miami\u2019s co-owner happens to be English legend David Beckham.<\/p>\n
TEG Sport and the Football Association announced two weeks ago that The Three Lions will play New Zealand and Costa Rica during a preparation camp in South Florida. Thomas Tuchel\u2019s team face the All Whites on Saturday June 6 before taking on Los Ticos on June 10.<\/p>\n
An announcement about the match venues is expected soon.<\/p>\n
An Inter Miami club source confirmed to the Miami Herald that Miami Freedom Park will host at least one pre-World Cup friendly but would not confirm whether that match will include England.<\/p>\n
The Inter Miami training grounds in Fort Lauderdale might also be used as a Match Day-Minus One practice facility for World Cup teams playing games at Hard Rock Stadium. Teams with group stage games in Miami include Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Scotland, Cape Verde, Colombia and Portugal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been conversations with England,\u201d Mas said. \u201cI know they\u2019re planning their pre-World Cup friendlies and we are in conversations with them, so we\u2019ll see where that ends up. Nothing\u2019s finalized.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that he expects Inter Miami facilities to be utilized during the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur city being involved is already amazing and we have multiple facilities, our training facility in Fort Lauderdale and our stadium here,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be used. It\u2019s going to be busy. It\u2019s going to be a showcase and used during the World Cup, our grounds and our stadium. Miami Freedom Park is going to be an amazing asset for our community, our fans and our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mas said he never imagined, when Inter Miami launched its first season seven years ago, that it would sign Lionel Messi, win an MLS Cup title and be on the verge of opening a $350 million stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven years ago, we were sitting in a conference room in our office with a blank board and sort of saying, `What do we do next?\u2019\u2019\u2019 he said, smiling. \u201cTo today, a club that has global visibility. We\u2019re the best-selling jersey on the planet. We have the world\u2019s best player here. We\u2019re the MLS Cup champions. We have the World Cup in our city. We live in the best city in the world. I mean, things can\u2019t get better. It\u2019s a pinch me moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, during the panel, Mas spoke about the personal significance of having Miami Dade College and FIFA museum housed at Miami Freedom Tower.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, this is a very special moment, personally, what it means to me and my family and the Cuban American community,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is akin to Ellis Island. My mother came through here when she arrived from Cuba with nothing but hopes and dreams of returning to her homeland. She ended up building a beautiful family and is our matriarch.\u201d<\/p>\n
He recalled driving past the Freedom Tower in 1997 and lamenting that it was in disrepair.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it is in honor and a tribute to my father and the generation that came to Miami and built this future for us to restore it to what it deserves to be,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is exactly what I dreamed this tower be able to represent, the beautiful cultural mosaic that is South Florida and educating young men and women who are our future.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 6:41 PM.<\/p>\n
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