The Verdict: Just another week in Inter Miami’s wild, unusual MLS existence

BALTIMORE — Inter Miami's schedule this week was anything but ordinary. Sandwiched between trips to Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, and Nashville, and following a heated rivalry match in Orlando, Lionel Messi and his teammates found themselves in the East Room of the White House. There, they stood uncomfortably as U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the war he initiated five days earlier in Iran.

“It was definitely a little bit awkward,” said Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. The visit was meant to celebrate the team's 2025 MLS Cup victory, but Trump's opening remarks on geopolitics, missiles, oil, and the U.S. military caught many off guard. “We were there to be congratulated for what the team did last year,” St. Clair explained. “So the opening remarks [about Iran] kind of threw a lot of guys off, because it was supposed to be about the team and winning [MLS Cup] last year.”

Trump praised the military as “the greatest military anyone’s seen” before shifting to congratulations for Inter Miami. Teammate Germán Berterame, a 27-year-old Mexican-Argentine forward who joined in January, noted his limited English but said he tried to enjoy the experience. “I still don’t know much English,” Berterame said. “I’m learning little by little. Afterwards, I was made aware of that moment. But those are things I try not to get involved in.”

The White House appearance sparked controversy across America, Argentina, and beyond. At head coach Javier Mascherano’s pre-match news conference the next day, the first question addressed the visit. “I thought we were going to talk football,” Mascherano replied with a smile, “but oh well, I’m out of luck.” He framed it as part of a U.S. sports tradition for champions, scheduled nearly two months prior, and unrelated to their sporting focus.

Less than 24 hours after the White House event, the players were training at a nearby university. Another 24 hours later, they took the field at M&T Bank Stadium—an NFL venue hosting its first MLS match—for a 2-1 victory over D.C. United before over 70,000 fans, the largest “home” crowd in D.C.'s history.

For D.C. United, the game felt like a Super Bowl, complete with pre-match musical performances, halftime show by rapper Wale, a color guard, and fireworks. Coach René Weiler called it an “honor to play against Messi and his team.” Forward Jackson Hopkins added, “What I’m looking forward to the most … is just playing in an NFL stadium here, at home, in front of my family.”

St. Clair, who signed with Miami after seven years in Minnesota, reflected on the intensity: “I mean, even look at the amount of reporters here,” he told a scrum of about 15 journalists post-match. “I knew what I was signing up for. But at the same time, living it is a different experience.” He contrasted it with the more routine MLS life elsewhere, where teams like Vancouver and San Diego thrive, while Atlanta and New England struggle, and players like Sam Surridge score amid familiar rhythms.

Mascherano emphasized maturity in handling distractions: “We are mature enough to understand that one thing has nothing to do with the other.” He viewed the travel as potentially positive, allowing more team bonding. On the pitch, Miami's talent shone through; they dominated the first half against D.C. before easing to victory, showcasing their ability to win with less than full effort—though not always, as evidenced by a 3-0 season-opening loss to LAFC.

Looking ahead, Inter Miami faces a Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 clash with Nashville on Wednesday, their first high-stakes game. Nashville, bolstered by players like Cristian Espinoza, Hany Mukhtar, and Surridge, could challenge Miami's firepower. The Champions Cup is a priority as Miami's path to the Club World Cup and their only missing trophy among four possible in 2026.

Mascherano stressed competing in all competitions: “I think it would be a big mistake to pick and choose competitions. We’re a team that has to compete equally in every competition.” The schedule remains grueling: after Nashville, it's an NFL stadium in Charlotte, then back to Miami and New York, logging over 10,000 air miles and 720 minutes of soccer in 31 days.

This chaos stems from a rescheduled preseason friendly in Puerto Rico due to Messi's minor injury and commercial deals, underscoring Inter Miami's exceptional existence since Messi's arrival. For veterans like Mascherano and Rodrigo De Paul, it's tame compared to Europe or Argentina, but for newcomers like St. Clair, it's amplified. “There’s more responsibilities,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the goal on the field is still the same. It’s to keep the ball out of the back of the net, and to win games as a team, and to lift trophies.”

Mascherano added, “We’ve already normalized everything Leo brings. Above all, our self-imposed standards are far more important than anything that might come from outside. We have a very demanding club.”