For Inter Miami, a busy preseason schedule begins this Saturday with a trip to Peru to take on 25-time Peruvian champions Alianza Lima.
The friendly fixture will be the first outing for the Herons in 2026, a first game for the team as reigning MLS Cup champions. However the XI that takes to the field on Saturday could be very different from the one that triumphed over the Vancouver Whitecaps last month.
Miami have been busy in the offseason, with plenty of high-profile arrivals and departures in South Florida. Mascherano has lost veteran stars Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets to retirement, while Tomás Avilés has been sent on loan to Montreal to make space in the roster.
In their place, Miami have brought in reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair, former Premier League star Sergio Reguilón and proven MLS performers David Ayala and Micael. There will almost certainly be at least one more big-name arrival, with Mexican international Germán Berterame set to sign on a $15 million deal.
Speaking from the team’s practice facility this week, head coach Javier Mascherano outlined some of the main objectives for 2026. Understandably, the expectations are high.
“We are excited about having a very good season, just like last season,” Mascherano said. “It will be a season of many challenges. The responsibility of this club is to compete, game by game.”
“It is very normal in this league to have to rebuild the team, season by season. Clearly, we have lost some very important players... We must try to replace them in the best way possible.”
Miami heading to South America
For the third season in a row, Inter Miami will be embarking on an international preseason tour in a bid to build the club’s brand outside of the United States. This year’s schedule takes the team to Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Puerto Rico, playing games against high-quality local opposition.
Some coaches may get frustrated by the intense travel schedule and the time commitments that this sort of country-hopping tour demands. But for Mascherano, this is a necessary step in the young club’s development.
“Firstly, it’s very important for the club to be able to continue growing the brand. We had the same last year, a tour very similar and there is real love there for the players. Obviously to have Leo [Messi] in the team, makes it more special.”
“It’s always good to have that contact with South America. It’s a continent that is very lively, full of soccer, and so in terms of the soccer it will serve us well. We will play against competitive teams, teams that normally compete in the Copa Libertadores, that are at a very good level. Doing this serves our preparations well.”
Inter Miami have less than a month to go until the start of the 2026 MLS season, which begins with a much-anticipated meeting of two of the strongest teams in the league. The Herons kick-start the season with a trip to Son Heung-min’s LAFC on Saturday, February 21.