March 1, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) scores a goal in the second half against Orlando City at the Inter & Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Image Since Lionel Messi signed with Inter Miami in 2023, several MLS matches have been moved to larger stadiums to accommodate fans eager to see the Argentine superstar.
D.C. United did the same Saturday by moving its high-profile game against Inter Miami to Baltimore’s 71,000-seat M&T Bank Stadium.
This game is a match between DC United (1-1-0, 3 points), which had the worst performance in the league last season, and the defending MLS champion Herons (1-1-0, 3 points).
DC midfielder Jackson Hopkins said: “(Messi) is probably the best player of all time. He is improving our league a lot.” “It’s an opportunity for us to compete against each other. We can beat him too, so it’s a great opportunity for everyone.”
Miami got off to a rough start this season, losing 3-0 to Los Angeles FC before the second-largest crowd in MLS history (75,673) and falling behind 2-0 against Orlando City at halftime on Sunday night.
But Miami went on to win 4-2, with Messi scoring twice and Telasco Segovia scoring the go-ahead goal and assisting on two others.
“What I took away from him is his desire to win,” Segovia said of Messi. “He’s already won everything, and he wants to keep winning. That’s what impressed me the most.”
DC United, which gave up the most goals (66) among Eastern Conference teams last season, has given up only one goal so far. They lost 1-0 at Austin FC on Sunday.
DC took the opener as Tai Baribo scored the game’s lone goal to beat his former team, the Philadelphia Union.
While traveling north, Inter Miami visited the White House on Thursday. The club presented President Donald Trump with an Inter Miami jersey with his name and number 47 engraved on the back.
Miami is likely to return several players who missed the trip to Los Angeles, including attacker Luis Suarez (knee tendinitis), midfielder David Ayala (death in the family) and defender Sergio Reguilon (knee).
Moving the game to Baltimore is an attempt to grow the sport in the region, according to D.C. United CEO Jason Levien. He lobbied Maryland leaders to build a 12,000-seat stadium that could attract a women’s professional team and possibly an MLS franchise.
“We are building an ecosystem of soccer infrastructure in the DMV,” Levien told Axios. “It shows the demand to fill the stadium and the passion for Maryland football.”
–Field level media
