Soccer livestream

Lionel Messi Plays His Debut Game for Inter Miami Today — Here’s How to Watch It Live

It’s a momentous day for soccer fans everywhere as Lionel Messi takes to the field for Miami for the first time — here’s how to stream his first game online

By Oscar Hartzog

Oscar Hartzog

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July 21, 2023

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how to watch messi debut game miami online

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF trains during an Inter Miami CF Training Session at Florida Blue Training Center on July 20, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Hector Vivas/Getty Images

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Quick Answer: The best way to watch Lionel Messi’s debut game with Miami is MLS Season Pass. Sign up here.

Buy MLS League Pass $12.99+

Lionel Messi is about to make his official debut as an Inter Miami player — and you don’t have to be a soccer fan to appreciate the gravity of this occasion.

The Argentinian star, who made the jump to Miami from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, is widely regarded as one of, if not the best soccer player of all time. His arrival in Miami will undoubtedly bolster exposure for soccer in the United States (much like David Beckham did for the league when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007), furthering the league’s goal of competing with the top foreign soccer leagues.

Messi is expected to make his debut with Miami on Friday when the team plays Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the first game of the 2023 Leagues Cup. This means it won’t be Messi’s official Major League Soccer debut, but his first playing for an American team.

The game is happening at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but Messi fans all over the States (and the world) will be tuning in from home. If you’re one such fan, read on: Below is a quick guide on how to stream Messi’s debut game with Miami.

How to Stream Messi’s Debut Game With Miami

The best way to watch Messi’s debut game is MLS Season Pass, which is now the only place to watch every MLS game — as well as every Leagues Cup game.

Buy MLS League Pass $12.99+

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MLS Season Pass is a new feature within the Apple TV app, so current Apple TV+ subscribers get a discount when signing up. If you’re already an Apple TV+ member, MLS Season Pass costs $12.99 a month or $79 for the year. If you’re not an Apple TV+ subscriber, MLS Season Pass will run you $14.99 a month or $99 a year. But we suggest signing up for Apple TV+ regardless, as it only costs $6.99 a month (after a seven-day free trial) and gets you great original content like Ted Lasso and Severance.

Buy Free Trial Apple TV+

Once you’re signed up for MLS Season pass, you’ll be able to access your account on any device with the Apple TV app (which is virtually every major device including most smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, laptops, streaming sticks, and gaming consoles).

Looking for a Spanish broadcast of Messi’s debut game? Head to Univision. The Spanish-language channel will be the only other place streaming Miami vs. Cruz Azul today. If you don’t have cable, you can sign up for a five-day free trial to DirecTV Stream to watch Messi’s debut game for free in Spanish.

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Buy Free Trial DirecTV Stream

When is Messi’s Debut Game?

Messi’s debut game with Miami is happening today, Friday, July 21. The game — Miami vs. Cruz Azul — kicks off at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

Where to Get Messi Miami Jersey

Want to sport the jersey of Miami’s new star player? Head to MLSStore.com, where you can buy a Messi jersey online. The site currently has some Messi jerseys in stock, as of writing, but that could change given the buzz around Messi and Inter Miami, so we recommend grabbing one while you can.

Buy Inter Miami Lionel Messi Replica Jersey $124.99

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Why Did Messi Go to Miami? Move Background

When his contract was up with PSG, Messi reportedly had offers from his former club, Barcelona, and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, in addition to Miami. When announcing his choice to go to Miami, Messi said, “I want to get back to enjoy myself, to enjoy my family, my children, the day-to-day.” The 36-year-old said he wasn’t happy during his time at PSG, citing lost time with his wife and three sons.

Miami also offered Messi a landscape-altering deal that includes equity in the team, as well as a $50-$60 million yearly salary. Plus, Apple (the league’s new broadcaster) and Adidas both offered Messi a share of revenues, though exact details have not been revealed.

Messi isn’t the first star player to make the jump to MLS. Pele joined the New York Cosmos in 1975, kicking up interest in soccer in the States. In 2007, David Beckham made a similar move, joining LA Galaxy. Both helped increase MLS viewership, but Messi’s move could be the final lift that MLS needs to reach the level of top leagues abroad.

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