Inter Miami Faces LAFC in Blockbuster Opener at LA

Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min are set to face off for the first time in Major League Soccer when reigning champions Inter Miami CF visit Los Angeles FC in the 2026 season opener Saturday at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a matchup billed as the league’s biggest star clash since Messi’s arrival and a perfect curtain-raiser for MLS’s World Cup year.

The game, kicking off at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT) as the inaugural Walmart Saturday Showdown on Apple TV, pits the Argentine legend against the South Korean superstar in what could be a preview of high-profile battles throughout the campaign. Messi, who led Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup and back-to-back Landon Donovan MVP awards, returns from a minor hamstring strain that sidelined him briefly but saw him back in full training Feb. 18. Son, in his first full MLS season after joining LAFC mid-2025 from Tottenham Hotspur in a record transfer, dazzled with 12 goals and four assists in 13 appearances (including playoffs), earning MLS Goal of the Year honors.

The venue shift from BMO Stadium to the 77,000-plus capacity Coliseum — the first time LAFC has moved a home match — reflects massive anticipated demand for the generational showdown. Tickets sold briskly, with expectations of a near-sellout crowd drawn by the two global icons and supporting talent like Denis Bouanga (LAFC’s 2025 Golden Boot contender) and Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul.

Messi enters 2026 as MLS’s undisputed face, having tallied 29 goals and 19 assists in the 2025 regular season before adding a postseason record 15 goal contributions en route to the title. At 38, he uses league play to stay sharp for what may be his final World Cup this summer in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Son, 33, brings explosive pace, elite finishing and leadership — he captained South Korea — to LAFC, where he formed a lethal partnership with Bouanga (combined 25 goals, eight assists post-arrival in 2025). His free-kick wizardry and versatility make him a preseason MVP favorite alongside Messi.

Head-to-head history is limited: the pair met twice internationally (Argentina vs. South Korea friendlies or qualifiers), with Messi edging the record 1-0-1 in those encounters, scoring twice while Son contributed one assist. No prior club clashes exist, making Saturday’s meeting a fresh chapter. Comparisons highlight Messi’s unmatched vision and playmaking (career assists leader) against Son’s directness and work rate, though Messi’s trophy haul (World Cup, multiple Ballon d’Or) dwarfs Son’s Premier League and Asian records.

Both teams boast strong squads: Inter Miami features World Cup winners and a younger, faster core after offseason tweaks, while LAFC adds depth around Son and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (another World Cup captain). The match tests Miami’s title defense against LAFC’s ambition to dethrone them.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber called it “the perfect way to launch a season in a World Cup host nation,” emphasizing the league’s star power. Broadcast on Apple TV globally (with local options), the game draws eyes from Argentina, South Korea and beyond, where fan bases for both players are massive.

As Messi and Son prepare — Messi rested selectively, Son skipping some preseason to peak — the clash promises fireworks. LAFC seeks revenge after Miami’s 2025 dominance, while Inter Miami aims to start strong in their back-to-back bid.

With kickoff approaching, anticipation builds for what could be MLS’s defining moment of 2026.