Inter Miami CF is preparing to face the distinguished Liga MX team, Club América, in a pre-season friendly scheduled for January 18, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This match not only marks the beginning of Inter Miami’s 2025 season preparations but will also serve as the managerial debut of their new head coach, Javier Mascherano.
Inter Miami enters this significant matchup following a highly successful 2024 season, having clinched the Supporters’ Shield and setting a new league record by accumulating 74 points in a single season. Meanwhile, their opponents, Club América, are celebrating a remarkable achievement as three-time consecutive champions of Liga MX. After securing victories in the 2023 Apertura and the 2024 Clausura, they solidified this streak by defeating CF Monterrey on aggregate in the latest Apertura final.
Beyond the immediate excitement of the friendly, the two teams have an added incentive as they both qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. This potential future meeting heightens the relevance of the upcoming match, providing both sides with a valuable opportunity to gauge their progress against strong opposition.
Javier Mascherano, taking over from Gerardo Martino, will oversee his first match as head coach during this fixture. His appointment follows Inter Miami’s elimination from the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, a factor that surely motivates the team to start strong under new leadership. Discussions about the match have included inputs from América’s sports president Santiago Baños, who anticipates a competitive and thrilling encounter that benefits both clubs and their global fanbases.
In addition to this high-profile game, Inter Miami also announced another pre-season friendly against Orlando City, set to take place on February 14 in Tampa, Florida. Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has outlined plans for a comprehensive pre-season tour. This tour aims to prepare the team thoroughly while ensuring players’ wellbeing by learning from past experiences, such as the 2023 tour, which included extensive global travel and the associated risk of player fatigue.
With the managerial debut of Javier Mascherano and both teams’ recent successes, the upcoming friendly between Inter Miami and Club América in Las Vegas promises to be a compelling fixture. It provides an important prelude to the competitive matches expected in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, reflecting the teams’ ambitions for the forthcoming season.
Source: Espn
