Lionel Messi took to the field for Inter Miami CF as Major League Soccer launched its new sprint season format on October 24, 2026, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The match against the New York Red Bulls marked the opening night of the revamped competition, which introduces significant structural changes to the league calendar.
Photographs from the game show Messi, wearing the number 10 jersey, observing proceedings ahead of kickoff. The contest between the Red Bulls and Inter Miami served as the inaugural fixture of the sprint season, a concept designed to condense the schedule and increase intensity.
Further details on the format alteration and its implications for the 2026 campaign are expected to be outlined by league officials in the coming days.
